Take to the skies over New Zealand’s Southern Alps with Glacier Country Helicopters’ Mt Cook Supreme private charter—60 minutes of glacier views, snow landings, and alpine thrills.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1 hour
Fitness Level
No special fitness required; the experience is seated and guided by the pilot.
Wildlife
History
The Southern Alps have long been revered by the Māori people, with Mount Cook (Aoraki) considered sacred and central to local legend.
Conservation
Glacier Country Helicopters supports sustainable tourism practices ensuring minimal environmental impact in these fragile alpine ecosystems.
Glacier Country Helicopters
Take to the skies over New Zealand’s Southern Alps with Glacier Country Helicopters’ Mt Cook Supreme private charter—60 minutes of glacier views, snow landings, and alpine thrills.
Glacier Country Helicopters is a Franz Josef, West Coast based helicopter operator offering scenic glacier flights, private transfers, and charter services across New Zealand's Southern Alps. The company specialises in point-to-point transfers such as Mount Cook to Franz Josef, Wanaka to Franz Josef, Christchurch to Franz Josef, Greymouth to Franz Josef, and Queenstown / Milford Sounds to Franz Josef, with published flight durations including 30 minutes, one hour and 1.5 hours depending on route.
In addition to private transfers, Glacier Country Helicopters operates a range of scenic experiences over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers including the Twin Glacier overflight (16–20 minutes), Glacier Explorer (25 minutes), Ultimate Discovery (45 minutes), and Mt Cook Supreme (60 minutes) with options that include snow or alpine landings. The operator also lists dedicated private charter options, proposal flights, shuttle links between Franz Josef and nearby airports such as Hokitika and Greymouth, and special packages like the Helicopter & Hummers – Fly & Dine Package.
Departure points referenced in trip descriptions include Mount Cook Airfield, Wanaka Airport, Christchurch Garden City Heliport and local Glacier Country Helicopters offices at Franz Josef. All trip summaries describe private or small-group helicopter operations tailored to transfers or scenic sightseeing. Glacier Country Helicopters provides a range of flight lengths and private charter options to suit traveler itineraries across the West Coast and Southern Alps.
Location
Franz Josef, West Coast
Central hub for glacier flights
Tours Offered
22
Range of transfers and scenic flights
Flight Times
16–90 min
Short overflights to hour-plus tours
Private Charters
Available
Custom flights and transfers offered
Secure a private transfer or scenic glacier flight — check availability for Mount Cook, Wanaka, Christchurch and regional transfers and charter options.
Book Early for Weight & Balance Accuracy
Provide accurate passenger weights during booking to ensure helicopter balance and avoid rescheduling.
Dress Warm and Layer Up
Temperatures can drop rapidly on snow landings, so wear insulated layers and windproof outerwear.
Bring a Camera with a Wide Angle Lens
Capture expansive glacier panoramas and alpine vistas with gear suited for landscape photography.
Check Weather Updates Before Departure
Mountain weather changes quickly; flexible scheduling may be required for optimal safety and views.
Warm Insulated Jacket
Keeps you comfortable during snow landings and cold alpine conditions.
winter
Sunglasses
Protects eyes from glare off glaciers and snowfields.
summer
Camera with Wide-Angle Lens
Captures sweeping mountain vistas and glacier expanses.
Layered Clothing
Allows easy adjustment to shifting temperatures on and off the helicopter.