Lake Tekapo lies in the Mackenzie Basin on the road to Aoraki/Mount Cook. The helicopter flights here are short and scenic: Mackenzie Helicopters takes off 7 km south of the township and flies over the turquoise lake and the high-country sheep stations, with a landing in the mountains — or, from November to January, in a field of flowering lupins. For the big glacier flights, the helicopter bases at Mount Cook are the next stop.
One exception on this helicopter site: the 50-minute Air Safaris flight from Tekapo Aerodrome to Aoraki/Mount Cook and the West Coast glaciers is flown in a fixed-wing plane. We list it as a clearly marked exception so you can compare it with the helicopter flights.
| Flight | Time | Landing | from | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter flights from Lake Tekapo | |||||
 |
Mackenzie & Lakes Alpine Flight with Landing (25 min) Mackenzie Helicopters | 25 min | ✓ | NZ$395 | Details & booking → |
 |
Lupin Flight with Landing in a Lupin Field (approx. 20 min) Mackenzie Helicopters | 20 min | ✓ | NZ$380 | Details & booking → |
| Scenic flight by plane (not a helicopter) | |||||
 |
Mount Cook & Glaciers Scenic Flight by Plane (50 min) Plane Air Safaris | 50 min | — | NZ$565 | Details & booking → |
Two short flights with Mackenzie Helicopters, both with a landing: at a private alpine spot (on snow in winter) or in the lupin fields during the lupin season.
Over the Mackenzie Basin, Lake Tekapo and high-country sheep stations, with views to the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook, and a landing at a private alpine spot — on snow in winter.
| Sold by | from | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | NZ$395 | – | Book at GetYourGuide |
A short flight over Lake Tekapo and the high country to a private landing in a secluded field of flowering lupins. The product page lists 20 minutes of flying (the title says 25).
| Sold by | from | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | NZ$380 | – | Book at GetYourGuide |
Clearly marked exception: this flight is flown in a fixed-wing plane, not a helicopter. There is no landing, but the route reaches over the Main Divide to the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
Fixed-wing plane — not a helicopter
Not a helicopter: a fixed-wing plane from Tekapo Aerodrome over turquoise glacial lakes, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Tasman Glacier to the West Coast for views of the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. Every passenger gets a window seat; no landing; max. 130 kg per passenger.
| Sold by | from | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide | NZ$565 | ★ 5.0 (132 reviews) | Book at GetYourGuide |
Every flight listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure — checked on each product page.
Mackenzie Helicopters flies from its base on SH8, 7 km south of Lake Tekapo township — not from Tekapo Aerodrome, where the Air Safaris plane departs.
The lupin landing is only offered in the lupin season from November to January. The alpine flight lands on snow in winter.
Air Safaris allows a maximum of 130 kg per passenger on the plane flight. The helicopter product pages state no weight limit.
Yes — the 25-minute Mackenzie & Lakes flight has views of the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mount Cook. For flights right up to the summit and along the Tasman Glacier, the helicopter bases at Mount Cook are closer; from Tekapo, the Air Safaris plane flies over Mount Cook to the West Coast glaciers.
The operator offers the lupin landing flight from November to January, when the lupins are in flower. Outside that window, the alpine landing flight is the helicopter option.
No. The 50-minute flight from Tekapo Aerodrome is flown in a fixed-wing plane — every passenger gets a window seat, but there is no landing. Apart from the ski-plane combination at Mount Cook, it is the only flight on this site that is not a pure helicopter flight.
