Glacier Country, located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is one of New Zealand's best known destinations for international travellers, and is a 'must see' New Zealand experience. Living remnants of the ice ages carve a spectacular landscape on their advance from the vast snow and ice fields of New Zealand's Southern Alps to their terminal face just 300 metres above sea level in the lush rainforests of the beautiful West Coast. Some 140 glaciers flow from the Southern Alps. There are over 60 named glaciers in the Park, Balfour and La Perouse extend over 8 Km in length but it is the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers which are Westland's most famous attractions. The spectacular Franz Josef Glacier was first spotted by Captain Cook in 1769, but it was named by Austrian geologist Julius von Haast, in honour of his country's emperor. You can easily reach Glacier Country by road from Christchurch via Arthurs Pass or from Queenstown from the southern Haast Pass. There are also convenient air and rail connections at Greymouth and Hokitika, further north on the West Coast.

Find yourself in a magnificent land having Ancient Rivers of ice. The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers cut through dramatic glacial valleys to flow into temperate rainforest. While many glaciers world-wide have been retreating, these glaciers still flow almost to sea level, making them unique relics of the last Ice Age. These giant tongues of ice have squeezed down their valleys to just 250 metres above sea level. We suggest a helicopter landing or a guided walk onto the glacier. A scenic flight is a great way to view the glaciers. Choose from fixed wing and helicopter flights, some with a snow landing on the glacier or Get up close to the glaciers with a guided glacier walk. A variety of options are available, including helihikes, from a few hours to the whole day.

Glacier Country Climate : Weather in Glacier Country is spectacular with its sudden and intense contrasts. When it rains it 'fair buckets down'. Average rainfall is 4700mm falling on about 178 rain days. However, there are many clear, sunny days - an average of 1860 sunshine hours annually, more than in many other regions in New Zealand. Late summer and midwinter are particularly noted for milder than average South Island temperatures and high sunshine hours.

Temperature range
Summer days 10-21 degrees Celcius
Winter days 2-12 degrees Celcius
Daylight hours
Longest day 5.30am - 10.00pm
Shortest day 7.30am - 5.30pm

SKYDIVING : Skydiving New Zealand Style in Glacier country. This is Tandem Skydiving at its absolute best, NZ's most spectacular scenic flight and the most visually awesome Tandem Skydive you can imagine. 12000ft of Heart Thumping Adrenaline Pumping Action don't miss this opportunity! Combining NZ's most awesome scenery and a skydive in one. Take off over the Westcoast's magnificent rainforests with views of Lake Matheson and the Tasman Sea. Fly around Mt Cook and over the top of the Glaciers with panoramic views of the mighty Southern Alps. Then into freefall viewing the best New Zealand has to offer. Under the parachute the scenery is absolutely stunning, we recommend you take your camera.
Skydiving aircraft is equipped with a full perspex door offering ideal photo opportunities on the way to altitude. Jumps are made from 9000ft or 12000ft with 30 seconds freefall time and the ultimate 45 seconds freefall respectively, the choice is yours, the higher you go the more you see and the longer the fun lasts. Skydive New Zealand is well known for caring personal approach. All the Tandem Instructors are internationally qualified with thousands of skydives and are associate members of the New Zealand Parachute Federation NZPF. We take care of everything so you can focus on the amazing scenery and the ultimate freefall experience you will remember for ever.

Activities / Sightseeing

Glacier Scenic Helicopter Flights

DWFD - Flight 1 : Franz Or Fox Glacier (with Snow Landing and one Glacier) - Explore the Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers to 2000m and land in the snow with exceptional views across the Fox neve to Mt Cook and Tasman.
Duration: 20 minutes
Cost: NZ$200.00

DWFD - Flight 2 : Fox Glacier & Mt Cook with Snow Landing - Explore the Fox Glacier then fly by the sheer west faces of Mt's Cook and Tasman. A snow landing provides opportunities to photograph the magnificent scenery. [NB: This Flight is only available from Fox Glacier]
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost: NZ$275.00 

DWFD - Flight 3 : Twin Glacier (Fox & Franz Glaciers with snow landing) - The flight gives you the opportunity to discover the scenic wonders of both the Fox and Franz glaciers. Again while landed on the snow photograph Mt.Cook and Tasman.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost: NZ$275.00 

DWFD - Flight 4 : Grand Scenic Spectacular (Fox / Franz / Tasman Glaciers. Mount Cook & Mount Tasman with snow landing) - The "grand-daddy" of all flights! Explore both glaciers as well as taking in Mt. Cook and Tasman. We top this off by landing you on the snow for photo opportunities. As a bonus, weather permitting we cross the main divide for you to view the Tasman Glacier.
Duration: 40 minutes
Cost: NZ$390.00 

AIR SAFARIS

DWFD - Flight 5 : The "Grand Traverse" Alpine Flight : The flight of a lifetime, with full entertaining commentary by pilots, the "Grand Traverse" is a spectacular scenic flight seeing experience allowing you to explore the Mount Cook and Westland National Parks. View New Zealand's highest mountains, ice and snowfields, including twelve major glaciers and fly over 200 kilometres of breathtaking alpine scenery, from beautiful turquoise-blue, glacier-fed lakes in the east, to great ice fields spilling down through the West Coast rainforests into the Tasman Sea below.

Features :

• Beautiful turquoise glacial lakes, golden tussock lands and braided river systems of the Mackenzie basin
  
  
• Remote High Country Sheep Stations, glacial valleys and landforms
  
  
• The Aoraki Mount Cook National Park – a magical world of permanent ice and snow
  
  
• New Zealand’s highest mountains and largest glaciers; including Aoraki Mount Cook, and the Tasman Glacier
  
  
• The Westland Tai Poutini National Park encompassing the magnificent Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers spilling down to the rainforests of Westland

Duration: 50 minutes
Cost: NZ$280.00

GUIDED GLACIER TRIPS

DWFD – 6 :  Walk to Terminal of Fox Glacier : Gentle walk to the dynamic face of this mighty river of ice with lots of interesting interpretation. Duration 2 hours. Easy travel, suits almost anyone. Trips run 1 November - 15 April. Reporting time 4.50pm or by arrangement ·
Cost: NZ$45.00

DWFD – 7 : Half Day Fox Glacier Walk : Delightful eco-tour featuring the transition from rain forest to an incredible world of ice accessed by a "secret" track · Duration: 3.5 - 4 hours. · Moderate fitness is required, involves uphill climbing. · Reporting times 9.15am and 1.45pm
Cost: NZ$89.00

DWFD - 8 : Full Day Glacier Walk : Access the glacier by a secret track through the rain forest then journey on the ice until confronted by the majestic pinnacles of the lower icefall · Excellent glacier option for the more adventurous · Duration: 6 - 7 hours · Good fitness required · Reporting time 9.30am all year round ·
Cost: NZ$135.00

DWFD - 9 : The Glacier Helihike : This premier trip combines the thrill of two helicopter flights with a chance to explore this remote part of the glacier by foot · Pristine ice caves and arches often seen · Duration: 3.5 hours · Some fitness and agility required · Reporting times: 9.00am & 12 noon, 1 September - 30 April plus 3pm frequently available in high season; 10.30am & 1.30pm May 12.00 noon, 1 June - 31 August ·
Cost: NZ$380.00

Skydiving
(all skydives include the unique scenic flight at no extra cost)

DWFD 10 : Tandem Skydive from 9000 ft.    
Cost: NZ$245.00

DWFD 11 : Tandem Skydive from 12000 ft.                                  
Cost: NZ$295.00
  
DWFD 12 : Wing Photo Option                                     
Cost: NZ$30.00
              
DWFD 12 : Freefall Video Option           
Cost: NZ$170.00

NOTE : Bookings in advance are essential. All the rates are in New Zealand Dollars, exclusive GST.