Getting up Close to the Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand

Last year I went on a New Zealand glacier helicopter tour. There’s something about the majesty of a glacier that you can’t quite get the full effect of from the ground level, separated by a fence and the cracking glacier a few meters away. Sure, the vistas and viewpoints provide great photo opportunities, and the hike is quite rewarding, punctuated with cascading waterfalls and framed by gorgeous mountains.