Trip to Glacier- South Island NZ- Need ideas which one to choose
 

I'm a bit confused about which Glacier trip to take...

Need help deciding whether to take a heli hike - which lands u on top of the glacier and then a hike there for a couple of hours... or

Do a half day hike to the Glacier.

My question is when you take the half day glacier hike do u climb to some distance on the glacier or half way???
Ive read some reports saying that the heli hike which is hiking right on top of the glacier is brilliant.. but of course it comes at a cost....

Any idea if the half day hike is as good? I was even considering if we did the half day hike and then weather permitting did the helicopter ride for half an hour with landing on the glacier.... Combined its cheaper then the helihike i thought...

It's been a few years since we've done this, but here was our experience with glacier hiking:

We planned to do the heli-hike as it had been recommended to me by my sister and brother-in-law who had done it and had had a great time. Unfortunately, our heli-hike trip was cancelled because of weather conditions. (I understand that fog is a big problem at the glaciers and helicopter trips can often get cancelled.)
So, we opted to do the half-day glacier hike at Franz Josef. They kit you out with everything you will need, including the boots. This is the one thing we didn't like because "rental boots" are never as comfortable or as good a fit as your own. We were bused from town to the glacier and were divided into 3 groups based on our self-stated hiking ability. (We placed ourselves in the "middle" group.) We then hiked about 1 km along the moraine to the face of the glacier. This was the hardest part of the hike because it's not easy to walk on rocks. At the face of the glacier, we climbed a ladder to the top of the glacier where we put on our crampons. The hiking on top of the glacier was excellent and the guide led us through and over crevices to some great places. We then pretty much re-traced our route back, however, we were able to take a shortcut back to the bus after we got off the glacier, bypassing some of the moraine hike. Even though we are in good shape and moderate hikers, this was a pretty strenuous half-day for us.
Since our heli-hike had been cancelled, the next day we were able to take a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier. It was a lot of fun (especially for our kids). We landed on top of the glacier for about 10-15 minutes. As it turns out, our trip was the last for the day because of more fog.

Thanks longhorn55... Question: with the hike do u hike to the top of the glacier like in the heli hike ?

IS the only reason to take the heli hike, to experience the flight and avoid the hike up?

BUKU -

I haven't taken the glacier hike, so I can't compare the two, but the helihike was the absolute highlight of one of our trips to NZ. You're deposited right on the glacial blue ice, which is much, much prettier than from below. The views from up top are gorgeous. You then embark on a hike across the glacier (boots and crampons supplied). We were blessed with a beautiful day and it was fantastic. Worth every cent.

IMO the helihike is the best of both worlds...a helicopter flight, seeing the glacier from up top, AND a hike on the glacier.

We found the hiking on the helihike very tame - the guide will only go as fast as the slowest walker.

Thanks Melnq8... What im trying to find out is when u do the half day hike, do you go to the top of the glacier?

Also what happens if u have bad weather and the trip is cancelled do u get a refund of ur money?

I don't know where the half day hike goes...I've seen the hikers scaling the glacier many times, but I don't know how far they go or where they end up.

We signed up for three helihikes before the weather actually cooperated, and we weren't charged until we actually went.

I suggest you direct your questions towards the tour operator.

The half-day glacier hike does not go to the top of the glacier. That would be too far to walk from the base of the glacier where you start. As Menq8 and I both mentioned, the helihike often gets cancelled due to weather, however, I think it would be rare for the half-day hike to be cancelled as you don't have the same weather problems at the base as you do at the top of the glacier. The weather is changable on the glacier, but they supply you with raingear for the hike. (We didn't need it.)
As Melnq8 said, you aren't charged for the helihike or the helicopter rides if they are cancelled.

BUKU, we did take the half-day hike at Fox Glacier. The hike leads you to a point which is a little distance up on the glacier, at which time you put on your crampons and start walking on the glacier. Total time spent on the glacier ice is about an hour. The views are excellent, and having done the arduous climb to reach there, you get a feeling of having "earned" the view !

We did not do the heli-hike, but I believe the helicopter deposits you at a point which is higher on the glacier, and you walk around there. I would imagine that the snow is more pristine there, and the views would be different. However, it is a lot more expensive.

Everyone who has done the heli-hike has great things to say about it. Ditto for the half-day hike. Different experiences, at vastly different prices. Select whichever one suits your fancy, and you will not go wrong. If the weather turns bad, you may not have a choice anyway.