Helicopter Flights in New Zealand

New Zealand's scenic helicopter flights in one place: glacier flights with snow landings at Franz Josef and Fox Glacier on the West Coast, alpine landings at Aoraki/Mount Cook and Wanaka, Queenstown's wide range from Remarkables landings to half-day Milford Sound trips, and flights over the fiord at Milford Sound itself. Every listed flight can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.

What do you want to see?

The eight departure areas

From the West Coast glaciers over the Alps to the fiord — in travel order:

Franz Josef Glacier flights with snow landing, twin-glacier routes and heli-hikes from Franz Josef village. 24 flights · from NZ$360 Fox Glacier The quieter of the two glacier villages — snow landings and Twin Glacier routes from the Fox side. 9 flights · from NZ$395 Mount Cook Alpine landings, Tasman Glacier flights, heli-hikes and the ski-plane combo at Aoraki/Mount Cook. 16 flights · from NZ$379 Lake Tekapo Short helicopter flights over the Mackenzie Basin with alpine or lupin-field landings — plus one marked plane flight. 3 flights · from NZ$380 Wanaka Alpine landings over Lake Wānaka and glacier flights into Mt Aspiring National Park. 9 flights · from NZ$380 Queenstown The biggest helicopter market in the south — Remarkables landings, glacier flights, Milford trips. 28 flights · from NZ$360 Te Anau Doubtful and Dusky Sound, the Kepler Mountains and Milford Sound — all flights with landings. 11 flights · from NZ$400 Milford Sound Scenic flights over the fiord — from Milford's own airport, from Te Anau and from Glenorchy. 7 flights · from NZ$445

Which base for which flight?

The glacier-to-fiord route

The eight departure areas line up along one classic loop: from the glacier villages on the West Coast over the Main Divide to Aoraki/Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, on to the southern lakes at Wanaka and Queenstown, and finally into Fiordland via Te Anau. Each page links to the next stop — plan your flights around the drive, or pick the one region that suits you best.

1. 1

   West Coast glaciers

   Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are neighbouring villages where helicopters lift off right from the main road: short flights with a snow landing on the névé, Twin Glacier routes over both glaciers, and heli-hikes with a guide on the ice.

   Franz Josef from NZ$360 Fox Glacier from NZ$395

2. 2

   Aoraki/Mount Cook

   East of the Main Divide, the flights circle New Zealand's highest peaks: alpine landings, the Tasman Glacier, heli-hikes — and the one combination that is partly flown in a ski plane, clearly marked as such. Lake Tekapo adds short flights over the Mackenzie Basin.

   Mount Cook from NZ$379 Lake Tekapo from NZ$380

3. 3

   Southern lakes

   Wanaka flies into Mt Aspiring National Park and lands high above its lake; Queenstown has the biggest choice — from a quick Remarkables landing to glacier flights and the classic Milford Sound heli trips.

   Wanaka from NZ$380 Queenstown from NZ$360

4. 4

   Fiordland

   Milford Sound is flown from its own airfield at the fiord, from Te Anau and from Glenorchy — short scenic flights over the fiord and its waterfalls, some with a glacier landing. From Te Anau, flights also head to the remote Doubtful and Dusky Sounds.

   Te Anau from NZ$400 Milford Sound from NZ$445

More ideas for your New Zealand trip

Good to know

• Free cancellation

  Every flight on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure — checked on each product page. Booking itself happens on GetYourGuide or Viator.

• Weather calls the shots

  Scenic flights depend on the weather, and operators decide on the day. If your flight is cancelled, you get an alternative date or a full refund.

• Weight rules

  Helicopters are loaded by weight, so operators ask for passenger weights at booking. From 120 kg several require an extra comfort seat (half the flight price, paid at check-in); INFLITE sets a limit of 116 kg.

• Heli-hike requirements

  Heli-hikes are for ages 10 and up (some from 9), ask for a reasonable level of fitness and carry weight limits — around 115 kg at Franz Josef, 150 kg including gear at Mount Cook. Boots, crampons and jackets are provided.

• Landing fees included

  National-park concession and landing fees are included in most listed prices; where an operator adds a surcharge, the flight card says so. Glacier Country Helicopters refunds its landing fee if weather prevents the landing.

• Landings depend on conditions

  Snow and glacier landings are never guaranteed — if the glacier can't be used, operators land on an alternative site. Glacier Southern Lakes points this out especially for January to June.

• Reading the durations

  “Flight time” on a card means pure time in the air; “Duration” is the whole experience including the landing or hike. Heli-hikes show the full tour length.

• Pickups and minimum numbers

  In Queenstown, several operators include hotel pickup or bus transfers. Some flights need a minimum number of passengers — two adults at Aspiring Helicopters, shared flights of six to nine at Glacier Southern Lakes; the product page states it.