What are the Best Helicopter Flights in Queenstown?
Nothing captures the dramatic alpine scenery of Queenstown quite like a helicopter flight. Flying by helicopter from Queenstown not only means that you can soar over the landscapes of a UNESCO World Heritage Area, but land in remote locations that no one else could enjoy. Queenstown helicopter tours can be anything from 20 minutes to three hours of breathtaking scenery where every single photo in you take is bound to be a prize-winner. All helicopter tours include a landing, whether it’s on a glacier, to ski on pristine slopes, or to enjoy a gourmet picnic by a remote lake. Take a look at the list of the best helicopter tour companies in Queenstown below and start planning your adventure like no other.
While you’re here, you might also be interested in 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown and 5 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown.
1. The Helicopter Line Queenstown
Fly over Queenstown’s iconic mountains with a snow landing almost always included in the experience. The Helicopter Line Queenstown is Queenstown’s original helicopter tour company, taking you to the scenic highlights of Queenstown or even further afield to Mt Cook, Twizel, Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. They offer four set tours, with the most popular being The Remarkables with a landing in the mountains or the Southern Glacier Experience with a landing on the Jura Glacier. Find out more about The Helicopter Line Queenstown, read reviews and book a flight on Viator, Tripadvisor or KKday.
© The Helicopter Line Queenstown2. Over The Top – The Helicopter Company
Over The Top Helicopters mixes scenic flights over Queenstown, Milford Sound and Fiordland with adventure experiences. Combine your flight to alpine glaciers or remote lakes with a gourmet picnic, hiking, boating, extreme golfing, wine tastings and fly fishing. Check out their Private Champagne Picnic or Altitude Golf Experience for examples of their unique helicopter tours in Queenstown. Find out more about Over The Top – The Helicopter Company on Klook, Viator and Tripadvisor. See more special occasion activities in the 19 Most Romantic Things to Do in Queenstown for Couples.
© Over The Top - The Helicopter Company3. Glacier Southern Lake Helicopters
Soar over Queenstown, Mt Aspiring, Fiordland National Park and Middle-earth scenery on a scenic helicopter tour with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters. The helicopter company owns an up-to-date fleet of Airbus helicopters, offering spectacular tours to Milford Sound including a glacier landing, a tour of The Remarkables with a mountain landing, or treat yourself to something extra special with a Private Charter Fiordland Ultimate Helicopter Tour. See the complete offering of Glacier Southern Lake Helicopters on Viator and Tripadvisor.
© Glacier Southern Helicopters4. Alpine Luxury Tours
Alpine Luxury Tours offers a wide range of luxury activities in Queenstown, from wine tours to heli-hikes. Among their offering, are scenic helicopter flights through Queenstown’s remote backcountry, to Milford Sound, and most famously, for a heli-hike to Middle-earth Waterfalls, otherwise known as Earnslaw Burn. Whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fan or not, it’s hard to not be impressed by this hanging glacier creating tumbling waterfalls. Discover more experiences from Alpine Luxury Tours on Viator and Tripadvisor. Additionally, find out more about the Middle-earth locations in the area with our guide, Lord of the Rings Locations in Queenstown, as well as more luxury tours in the 10 Best Luxury Experiences in Queenstown.
© Alpine Adventures5. Alpine Heliski
Swap the busy Queenstown ski fields in the winter season for remote and uncrowded runs in a heli-skiing experience with Alpine Heliski. Land on a remote mountain with powdery snow for a couple of long runs following your expert guide through stunning scenery. Midway through the tour, you’ll enjoy a hot gourmet lunch with tremendous alpine views. Choose to pay for extra runs or head back down to Queenstown Airport with hotel transfers included. Discover more from Alpine Heliski on Viator and Tripadvisor. Plus, learn more about skiing in Queenstown in our The Ultimate Guide to the Queenstown Ski Season.
© Alpine HeliskiMore About Queenstown
That’s it for our list of the best Queenstown helicopter tours but by no means the end of our Queenstown advice. Check out more tips in the following guides:
- 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown
- Top 5 Golf Courses in Queenstown
- 10 Wonderful Wineries in Queenstown
- 13 Best Foodie Experiences in Queenstown
- 20 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Queenstown
Finally, get all-inclusive planning advice in The Complete Travel Guide to Queenstown.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
