The Ultimate New Zealand Summer with INFLITE Group
December 24, 2024
From top to bottom, New Zealand is filled with ‘pinch me I’m dreaming’ adventures and we get to deliver them on a daily basis
Discover Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
Fully certified New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority ‘Adventure Aviation’ operators. And we have a 100% safety record.
Our Tandem Masters are world class, fun, vibrant and pride themselves on their professionalism. Our aircraft is maintained to an incredibly high standard, and our pilots are commercially rated mountain pilots who know the local weather conditions inside-out.
Awards & accreditations
Experiences
Deposit and cancellation information
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T FLY DUE TO BAD WEATHER?
Rest assured that tours booked directly with us are fully refundable if there is a cancellation due to the weather.
We will do our best to work with you to reschedule your flight to suit your travel plans.
Skydiving
5 experiences
From NZ$799
per person
Skydiving
10,000 ft Tandem Helicopter Skydive
- 3 Hours From The Time You Arrive
- Helicopter
- Franz Josef Airport
Experience the only Helicopter Skydiving in New Zealand. Soar in a smooth helicopter ride to 10,000 feet, taking in the breathtaking panorama before freefalling with your expert guide for an unforgettable adrenaline rush!
NZ$799
per person
Skydiving
18,000 ft Skydive - NZ'S Highest (Up To 85 Seconds Freefall)
- 1 Hour
- Plane
- Franz Josef Airport
Experience the thrill of NZ’s Highest Skydive from 18,000 ft (up to 85 seconds freefall) above the Westland & Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks’ which form part of the Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
NZ$549
per person
Skydiving
16,500 ft Skydive (Up To 70 Seconds Freefall)
- 1 Hour
- Plane
- Franz Josef Airport
Experience the thrill of a 16,500 ft Skydive (up to 70 seconds freefall) above the Westland & Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks’ which form part of the Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
NZ$429
per person
Skydiving
13,000 ft Skydive (Up To 45 Seconds Freefall)
- 1 Hour
- Plane
- Franz Josef Airport
Experience the thrill of a 13,000 ft Skydive (up to 45 seconds freefall) above the Westland & Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks’ which form part of the Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
NZ$349
per person
Skydiving
10,000 ft Skydive (Up To 30 Seconds Freefall)
- 1 Hour
- Plane
- Franz Josef Airport
Experience the thrill of a 10,000 ft Skydive (up to 30 seconds freefall) above the Westland & Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks’ which form part of the Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area with a 10 minute scenic flight.
Scenic Flights
5 experiences
Scenic flights
Glacier Freefall Trifecta - Ski Plane, Heli & Skydive Experience Combo
- 3.5 Hours (Not Including 30 Minute Travel Between Locations)
- Skydive, Helicopter, Ski Plane
- Departs From Pukaki Airport (30 Minutes From Mt. Cook Airport)
This world exclusive tour will leave you speechless. Fly in a ski plane and a helicopter on the same day and free-fall your way around the Southern Alps of New Zealand for an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy a scenic adventure that includes a glacier snow landing on the Tasman Glacier! – the perfect combination of adrenaline and picturesque scenery.
NZ$4,999
private charter
Scenic flights
Tasman Glacier | Picnic Amongst The Peaks
- 45 Minutes
- Helicopter
- Franz Josef Airport
Indulge in the silent serenity of the Southern Alps with a Helicopter flight and glacier landing with private picnic amongst New Zealand’s tallest mountain peaks. Including Franz Josef & Fox Glacier, Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, and West Coasts only private landing on NZ’s longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.
NZ$749
per adult
Scenic flights
Franz Josef, Fox & Tasman Glaciers | Grand Circle
- 1 Hour
- Helicopter
- Franz Josef Airport
A private glacier tour with the best natural landscapes in the South Island from La Peruse & Balfour Glaciers, Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers, native rainforest, and the towering peaks of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman with an exclusive landing on New Zealand’s longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.
NZ$429
per adult
Scenic flights
Franz Josef & Tasman Glacier | Tasman Experience
- 30 Minutes
- Helicopter
- Franz Josef Airport
Get your cameras ready for a spectacular Helicopter flight and glacier landing experience. Fly from our Franz Josef Heliport on the West Coast above famous New Zealand views including National Parks, Rainforests, Franz Josef Glacier, and Aoraki/Mount Cook -to land on New Zealand’s longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.
NZ$749
per person
Scenic flights
Franz & Tasman Glacier And 13,000ft Skydive | Combo
- 30 Minute Helicopter/ 1 Hour Skydive
- Helicopter/ Plane
- Franz Josef Airport
Land on a glacier in a Helicopter and jump out of plane! The ultimate way to see the best views of New Zealand is to fly in a Helicopter over Franz & Fox Glacier and Aoraki Mount Cook to land on the Tasman glacier, THEN free-fall 13000ft out of a plane at Skydive Franz.
Experience Details
Experience skydiving like never before with Helicopter Skydiving NZ. This heli-jump experience is exclusive to just a handful of locations globally, and we offer it in Skydive Franz Josef. We are the only drop zone in New Zealand where you can skydive 10,000ft from a helicopter in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
With a camera package included to capture all the epic moments in this one-of-a-kind adventure!
Tandem skydiving is the fastest, easiest and safest way for an inexperienced skydiver to enjoy the thrill of jumping out of a plane, free falling through the sky at 200kph/120mph and floating safely to the ground under a parachute. The system includes a harness and parachute system for both the passenger and the instructor to share, so you can simply enjoy the thrill of the experience knowing your instructor has everything under control.
Nestled between New Zealand’s highest mountains, the Tasman Sea, stunning temperate rainforest, glowing glaciers, mirror lakes and braided river beds, Franz Josef Glacier has been described as one of the most beautiful place on earth. For this reason and many others, the region was included in the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.
Tandem skydiving is the fastest, easiest and safest way for an inexperienced skydiver to enjoy the thrill of jumping out of a plane, free falling through the sky at 200kph/120mph and floating safely to the ground under a parachute. The system includes a harness and parachute system for both the passenger and the instructor to share, so you can simply enjoy the thrill of the experience knowing your instructor has everything under control.
Nestled between New Zealand’s highest mountains, the Tasman Sea, stunning temperate rainforest, glowing glaciers, mirror lakes and braided river beds, Franz Josef Glacier has been described as one of the most beautiful place on earth. For this reason and many others, the region was included in the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.
Tandem skydiving is the fastest, easiest and safest way for an inexperienced skydiver to enjoy the thrill of jumping out of a plane, free falling through the sky at 200kph/120mph and floating safely to the ground under a parachute. The system includes a harness and parachute system for both the passenger and the instructor to share, so you can simply enjoy the thrill of the experience knowing your instructor has everything under control.
Nestled between New Zealand’s highest mountains, the Tasman Sea, stunning temperate rainforest, glowing glaciers, mirror lakes and braided river beds, Franz Josef Glacier has been described as one of the most beautiful place on earth. For this reason and many others, the region was included in the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.
Experience the thrill of a 10,000 ft Skydive (up to 20 seconds freefall) above the Westland & Aoraki/Mt Cook National Parks’ which form part of the Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area with a 10 minute scenic flight.
This world exclusive tour will leave you speechless. Fly in a ski plane and a helicopter on the same day and free-fall your way around the Southern Alps of New Zealand for an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy a scenic adventure that includes a glacier snow landing on the Tasman Glacier! – the perfect combination of adrenaline and picturesque scenery.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE
This world exclusive tour will leave you speechless. Fly in a ski plane and a helicopter on the same day and free-fall your way around the Southern Alps of New Zealand for an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy a scenic adventure that includes a glacier snow landing on the Tasman Glacier! – the perfect combination of adrenaline and picturesque scenery.
INCLUSIONS
- Helicopter flight including landing or taking off on the Tasman Glacier – NZ’s Longest Glacier
- Departs from Mt. Cook Airport
- Ski Plane flight – NZ’s only Ski Planes
- Fly high in the Skydive plane – strapped to your tandem master
- Skydive from up to 15,000ft
- Departs from Pukaki Airport – 30 Minutes from Mt. Cook Airport
FRANZ JOSEF, FOX & TASMAN GLACIERS | GRAND CIRCLE
FRANZ JOSEF & TASMAN GLACIER | TASMAN EXPERIENCE
FRANZ & TASMAN EXPERIENCE AND SKYDIVE | COMBO
Nestled between New Zealand’s highest mountains, the Tasman Sea, stunning temperate rainforest, glowing glaciers, mirror lakes and braided river beds, Franz Josef Glacier has been described as one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Skydive Franz Josef & Fox Glacier is proudly Qualmark Gold – recognised by Tourism New Zealand as being amongst the very best operators in New Zealand. We are also COVID Clean approved, and winners of the 100% Pure New Zealand Experience award 2021
INFLITE Experiences, redefining the way we discover
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T FLY DUE TO BAD WEATHER?
Rest assured that tours booked directly with us are fully refundable if there is a cancellation due to the weather.
We will do our best to work with you to reschedule your flight to suit your travel plans.
About Franz Josef
FRANZ JOSEF VILLAGE
Today Franz Josef Glacier Village’s natural credentials are impeccable and there is a huge variety of natural attractions just a short distance from the Franz Josef Glacier Village. Lakes, rainforests, surging waterfalls and the glacial rivers of ice mean that the area is an adventure and leisure destination that is ready to be explored, the perfect location for your New Zealand skydive.
FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
The Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere) offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience a dynamic glacier, in a temperate environment, within easy driving and walking distance from the main highway.
In the last ice age the glacier extended in a huge ice-sheet to beyond the present coastline. Today echoes of its frozen past are still apparent in the landscape. The terminal face of the glacier is less than 300 metres above sea level.
Today this glacial fed river has aggregated as bulldozed debris from the glacier have been washed downstream by rainfall (6 metres a year!) As you drive along the West Coast Road you will see rivers smokey blue water. This glacial silt is evidence of a glacier high in the hills.
WHAT’S IN A NAME? FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER: KA ROIMATA O HINE HUKATERE
The Maori name for the glacier is Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere (‘The tears of Hinehukatere‘). The legend of the Makawhio people (a sub tribe of the Nga Tahu) says that Hinehukatere was an extremely fit and fearless young woman who loved climbing in the mountains. She persuaded her lover, Wawe to climb with her. Wawe was less experienced but enjoyed accompanying his beloved.
Disaster struck when an avalanche swept Wawe from the peaks to his death. Hinehukatere was broken hearted and her many, many tears flowed down the mountain. The gods froze these tears in a river of ice and the glacier formed as a reminder of her grief.
Leonard Harper crossed “Harpers Pass” in 1852 and named the Franz Josef glacier ‘Victoria’ and the Fox Glacier ‘Albert’ after the Monarchs’ that were ruling the British Empire at the time. Sadly the nineteen year old Leonard did not formerly register this name.
In 1865 Julius Von Haast decided to name the glacier after “His Imperial Majesty” Franz Josef I, Emperor of Austria and the local village later took its name from the glacier. This was only the first of a number of landmarks that Mr Haast did not actually ‘discover’ as a European explorer, yet, he took the liberty of naming.
Emperor Franz Josef “gifted” one of the Westland Tai Poutini National Park’s greatest pests. The two males and six female chamois were shipped to Wellington, taken by train to the Hermitige in Mt Cook National Park and released in 1907. As long as you hold a current permit the hunting of chamois is now unrestricted and even encouraged by the Department of Conservation to limit the animal’s impact on New Zealand’s native alpine flora
The Waiho River stays a chilly two degrees centigrade all year round and loosely translated the name means “Smoky Waters.” Whether this is because of the fine rock dust known as rock flour brought down by the Franz Josef Glacier makes the river look smokey; or because on a hot day the river seems to steam because of the difference between the ambient air temperature and water is unknown.
Skydive Franz Josef & Fox Glacier is proudly Qualmark Gold – recognised by Tourism New Zealand as being amongst the very best operators in New Zealand. We are also COVID Clean approved, and winners of the 100% Pure New Zealand Experience award 2021
INFLITE Experiences, redefining the way we discover
FAQs
Please check your activity details carefully for your report time. If your booking is impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions and border closures; Cancellation = 100% refund.
Selfie sticks and drones are a safety hazard and are not permitted on our flights.
Yes, there is a weight limit of 100kg / 220lbs / 15.5 stone for every tandem passenger. Passengers between 100kg and 110kg may be able to jump, this decision is made individually and on the day of the jump, assessment is made by the TMs only.
We suggest allowing 1.5‐3 hours for the experience, however, sometimes it can take longer. This can depend on our busy summer season, large groups and the weather. If you are on a schedule, please let us know and we can advise you.
Absolutely! We love people‐the more the merrier. We have seating and tables available and you are welcome to bring snacks or lunch. If this is a special occasion, please let us know. For our courtesy shuttle, please check on availability as we have a limited number of seats.
Unfortunately at this stage it is not possible for tandem passenger to take a GoPro or any other recording devices on a tandem skydive. It is a company safety policy that is incorporated in our exposition that is required by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority.
Parental or guardian consent is required for anyone under 18. Children under 12 should be evaluated on an individual basis. We encourage people of all ages.
You will be fine keeping your contacts and glasses on. We let you determine whether or not to remove false teeth. People do scream for joy a lot.
Comfortable clothing for the season and shoes that won’t fall off.
In general, it is better to have something in your stomach and eat beforehand. However some people may be susceptible to stomach upset and/or motion sickness from all the excitement.
We’ll make a weather call an hour before the event and notify you of any cancellations or delays. We may delay due to wind at altitude, wind on the ground, heavy cloud or rain. Don’t sweat it though – we’ll find a new suitable jump time for you or give you a full refund on your booking.
Just arrive at your booking time.
You will land in front of our building. The landings are generally very soft.
We are open 364 days of the year weather permitting. It is always a good time to skydive! The light is different in the morning and afternoon or evening – but it’s all good.
Yes, one day you will. But not up here. There is as much chance of that as being run over by 3 buses in a row. Our record for safety is the highest around – 5 stars.
Testimonials
Breathtaking
“We had a 20-minute flight around Mount Cook, and over the fox glacier. unbelievable views and well worth the money!”
Do It!
“Well worth the investment! Not a bad seat in the helicopter, but they switch out seats on return trip so you get a bird’s eye view. Landing on the glacier is awesome. Can’t do angels in the snow, but good enough to toss a snowball or two. Crew very friendly and the views are magnificent. Have your camera ready!”
Great Helicopter Ride!
“Had to wait it out two days for the weather to clear. Boy, were we rewarded with a spectacular trip up Tasman Glacier and around the mountains to view other glaciers. Took the long tour and landed on Fox Glacier. It was worth it! Sarah was our pilot and did a great job. Loved her! She took us around Mt Cook and explained everything we were seeing. Thank you for a memorable trip!”
Stunning Beauty
“The helicopter took us low above Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers and landed on the snow field at the top of Fox. It was utterly beautiful and reduced me to tears of awe. We had 20minutes on the snow fields, ample time to take in Mount Tazman and to have some fun playing in the crystalline snow. Our pilot, Chris, was very knowledgeable and friendly. This was the highlight of our tour of NZ’s South Island.”
Stunning View
“This was much better than I have expected! The view of Fox and Franz Josef Glacier from the ski plane was really breathtaking. Originally, I thought the plane might go quite fast such that the image would past quite quickly but it was not that fast. There was plenty of time to take photos. The weather was good so very thankful to feel the great nature. Snow landing was such an interesting experience!”
Totally Amazing
“This is a fantastic experience from the moment we lifted off to the second we touched back down. Pilot was knowledgeable and friendly. The views going both up and down were spectacular and the stop on top of the mountain was incredible. I didn’t stop talking about it for weeks.”
Contact Us
Reservations & support
Latest news
ONLY Helicopter Skydive in New Zealand – Now at Skydive NZ
October 7, 2024
We’re the only operator in New Zealand to offer the rare experience of tandem skydiving from 10,000ft out of a helicopter to our thrill-seeking
