What to wear on the Fox Glacier heli-hike
What Fox Glacier Guiding supplies, the layers to wear underneath, what to leave behind, the weight and age limits, and how the 4-hour heli-hike day runs.
Wear three or four warm layers on top, track pants or other long pants that are not jeans, and bring sunglasses and sunscreen. Fox Glacier Guiding supplies everything that touches the ice or keeps the rain off: leather boots and socks, crampons, walking poles, a waterproof jacket and overtrousers (rain pants), a hat and gloves, and a small pack. You arrive in your own clothes and comfortable shoes, and swap into the glacier kit at the base.
Plan on about 4 hours for the Fox Glacier Heli-Hike: Up to 3 Hours on the Ice, from check-in at 44 Main Road to your return, with up to 3 hours walking on Fox Glacier (Te Moeka o Tuawe), depending on the weather. The limits to check before you book are a minimum age of 9 and a body weight of no more than about 115 kg.
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The kit Fox Glacier Guiding hands you
You do not need hiking boots, crampons or a rain shell of your own. At check-in, Fox Glacier Guiding fits each guest with leather boots and socks, crampons, walking poles, a waterproof jacket and overtrousers, a warm hat and gloves. You also get a small backpack, and that supplied pack is the only bag you take onto the glacier. The operator does not allow your own backpack.
The company’s leather boots go on at the base, and your own shoes stay behind. Wear socks you are comfortable in for the walk to the base, but expect to change into the supplied pair.
If you feel the cold, ask for a fleece at check-in. Fox Glacier Guiding lends one free to anyone who needs an extra layer. Gloves and a hat are already part of the kit; bring your own as well if your hands or ears get cold easily, since a spare pair weighs little and fits in the pack.
The supplied pack has a carry limit of 3 kg. That is enough for a snack, a small water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, a camera and any medication you take. Food and drinks are not included on the heli-hike, so buy what you want in the township before check-in. Fox Glacier Guiding lists a camera as a suggested item; it gives no specific rules on phones, so carry yours somewhere it cannot slip out when you take your gloves off.
Layers to wear underneath
Fox Glacier Guiding’s advice is three to four warm upper-body layers, for example a light shirt, a long-sleeve fleece and a windbreaker, with the supplied waterproof jacket on top when it rains or blows. Layers let you adjust as you warm up on the steps in the ice and cool down when the group stops to look around: take one off, put it in the pack, put it back on.
For your legs, the operator recommends track pants or long cotton pants. Jeans are not allowed on the GetYourGuide listing; the operator’s reason is that denim is heavy and cold once it gets wet. In summer, Fox Glacier Guiding says shorts are fine, with the supplied overtrousers available over the top.
The temperature on the ice gives you the range to dress for. Fox Glacier Guiding puts it at about +5 to +15°C (about 41 to 59°F) in summer and about -5 to +10°C (about 23 to 50°F) in winter, and says the weather can change in any season. Fox Glacier township averages around 5 meters of rain a year, so expect to use the waterproofs even when the morning looks clear.
Sun protection matters as much as warmth. Sun glare off ice and snow is hard on your eyes, and sunglasses are on Fox Glacier Guiding’s list as well as Franz Josef’s, where the guides call them essential. Put sunscreen on your face, ears and the back of your neck before you leave the base, and take the tube in the pack for the walk.
What to bring, what you get and what to leave behind
| Item | At Fox Glacier Guiding | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Boots and socks | Supplied (leather boots) | Arrive in any comfortable shoes |
| Crampons and walking poles | Supplied | Nothing |
| Waterproof jacket and overtrousers | Supplied | Nothing |
| Hat and gloves | Supplied | Bring a spare pair if you run cold |
| Fleece | Lent free if you need one | Ask at check-in |
| Warm upper layers | Not supplied | Wear 3 to 4 layers |
| Long pants | Not supplied | Track pants or long pants; no jeans |
| Sunglasses and sunscreen | Not supplied | Bring both |
| Food and water | Not included | Bring your own, within the 3 kg pack limit |
| Personal medication | Not supplied | Always carry it |
| Your own backpack | Not allowed | Use the supplied pack |
| Drones | Not allowed | Leave behind (NZ$5,000 fine) |
| Valuables, power banks, spare batteries | Not allowed | Leave behind |
| Vapes, cigarettes, lighters | Not allowed | Leave behind |
Fox Glacier Guiding’s FAQ does not mention lockers, so plan to leave luggage, valuables and spare batteries in your car or at your accommodation. The power-bank rule appears on one of the operator’s pages, so do not count on charging a phone during the trip.
Two items deserve a word. Medication goes with you because the operator states that if helicopters cannot reach a group on the ice, the guides wait for a weather window and can camp on the glacier overnight with stored emergency supplies. And drones are confiscated as well as fined.
Weight, age and fitness limits
Weight is the limit that catches people out. The GetYourGuide listing says the heli-hike is not suitable for people over about 115 kg, and heavier guests may have their trip cancelled on the day. If you are near that figure, contact Fox Glacier Guiding before you book. Other operators set their own limits, and some helicopter flights at the glaciers use different rules altogether, so check each listing separately.
The minimum age is 9, and children aged 9 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The trip is not suitable for wheelchair users. If you are pregnant, Fox Glacier Guiding will not advise you personally and notes that Fox is about 200 km from the nearest maternity hospital and emergency department.
Fitness is described as moderate, with no experience needed. The GetYourGuide listing asks for a reasonable level of fitness and agility, because the terrain on the ice is variable and reasonably challenging. In practice that means walking for up to 3 hours in crampons, on uneven ice and up and down steps your guide cuts. Franz Josef Glacier Guides puts it this way for its own heli-hike: if you can walk comfortably for 2 to 3 hours on uneven terrain, including steps cut into the ice, you will likely manage.
Fox Glacier Guiding needs at least 3 people for a departure, and it places smaller bookings with other guests where it can.
How long the heli-hike takes, step by step
The whole trip takes about 4 hours. Fox Glacier Guiding runs it at 8:50am and 11:50am all year, with extra departures on demand. Here is the sequence from the GetYourGuide itinerary:
- Check-in at 44 Main Road, Fox Glacier township, 20 minutes before your departure time.
- Safety briefing and kit fitting, about 30 minutes.
- Bus to the helipad, about 5 minutes.
- Helicopter flight onto the glacier, about 5 minutes.
- Guided walk on the ice, up to 3 hours, depending on the weather.
- Helicopter flight back, about 5 minutes.
- Bus back to the base, about 5 minutes, then a 10-minute break.
The final weather call comes 10 minutes before departure. If it is unsafe to fly, you get a full refund or a move to another departure, subject to space. That is why the operator and the listing both suggest booking your first day in Fox and keeping the next day free. If the weather cancels your trip, the guided walks and free viewpoint tracks are the fallback, and our weather guide covers the seasons.
The Franz Josef heli-hike’s rules, for comparison
If you are choosing between the two glaciers, the Franz Josef Glacier: 2.5-Hour Heli-Hike with Helicopter Transfer asks for similar clothing with stricter body limits. Franz Josef Glacier Guides supplies crampons, a harness, a helmet, a waterproof jacket and overtrousers, boots and socks, trekking poles, a waist pack, and a warm hat and gloves. You bring warm base layers, long pants (no jeans), sunglasses and sunscreen, and the listing adds a camera and a reusable water bottle.
The limits differ from Fox. Franz Josef’s minimum age is 10, guests must weigh at least 35 kg and stand at least 137 cm tall, and the maximum weight is 115 kg. Pregnant women cannot take part, and the listing marks the trip as unsuitable for people with back problems. Check-in is 15 minutes before departure, and luggage, large bags, drones, selfie sticks and vaping are not allowed. The listing gives up to 2.5 hours on the ice and about 4 minutes of flying each way. See our breakdown of the Franz Josef heli-hike or the full Fox or Franz Josef comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear on the Fox Glacier heli hike?
Three or four warm upper layers, track pants or long pants (no jeans), sunglasses and sunscreen. Fox Glacier Guiding supplies leather boots and socks, crampons, poles, a waterproof jacket and overtrousers, a hat and gloves, and a small pack.
What is the weight limit for the Fox Glacier heli hike?
The GetYourGuide listing is not suitable for people over about 115 kg, and heavier guests may have their trip cancelled. Contact Fox Glacier Guiding before booking if you are close to the limit.
How long is the Fox Glacier heli hike?
About 4 hours from check-in to return, with up to 3 hours on the ice depending on the weather. Departures are at 8:50am and 11:50am, and check-in is 20 minutes before.
Can I wear jeans on the heli-hike?
No. Jeans are not allowed on the GetYourGuide listing, and the operator says denim gets heavy and cold when wet. Track pants or long pants work best, and shorts are fine in summer.
Can I bring my own backpack?
No. You use the small pack Fox Glacier Guiding supplies, with a carry limit of 3 kg. Leave luggage, valuables, power banks and drones behind.
Kit sorted? Check availability for the Fox heli-hike. For the cost of the day and what is included, read our price guide, and for the verdict, our review of the heli-hike.
Related reading:
Pick Your Day on the Ice
Heli-hikes run on the weather, so book an early day of your stay and keep one free. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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