NZ Day 14 – Franz Josef Glacier by Helicopter
We experienced substantial snowfall today.
We experienced substantial snowfall today.
This morning, we booked an online helicopter tour, opting for an extended flight to multiple glaciers. Sorry kids, we decided to splurge. With clear skies and no clouds in sight, we got organized, packed up, and drove 55ks to Franz Josef, a town situated near its namesake glacier. Excitedly clutching our electronic tickets, we hastily ascended the steps, only to be informed that two additional passengers were required to confirm the flight. Disappointed, we slowly exited and returned to our van.
Before we could cross the street, we were approached with an alternative option - for an additional $200, we could enjoy 30 minutes of flying time and over 20 minutes on the glacier with the engine off, essentially a private charter flight. We accepted this offer and took numerous photographs. The flight also included an aerial view of two of the largest glaciers and a close-up look at Mount Cook.
For us, the experience of being on a glacier by ourselves was truly unique and unlikely to be repeated.
Please enjoy the photos, although they do not fully capture the experience, and the videos are quite lengthy.
Tonight, we are heading further up the coast.
Photo placeholders — the original Facebook post included 29 photos that were not in the spreadsheet export. Add them in Admin → Blog.