Product Overview

Based in Queenstown, Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters provides daily scenic helicopter flights and luxury private charters around Queenstown and the Whakatipu Basin, Mt Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park which are all located in the lower South Island of New Zealand. We fly passengers into magical landscapes that are often inaccessible by any other means. The manoeuvrability of the helicopter allows for landings on remote tussocky alpine areas, snow-covered mountain plateaus and awe-inspiring glaciers. The new Greenstone Experience is an exclusive offering for day or overnight visits located in the heart of the Greenstone Valley. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters is one of New Zealand’s aerial film specialists. We’ve
provided aerial film services and aerial logistics to Hollywood blockbusters including Mission Impossible: Fallout, Mulan, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Narnia, King Kong, Wolverine, Disney’s Pete’s Dragon and many more! Our highly experienced pilots specialise in scenic flying around our rugged, mountainous environments. They are sought after for their technical skills associated with aerial filming for the many movies, TV’s and commercials we’ve been involved with over the years. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters has the most modern fleet of Airbus helicopters in New Zealand. We operate a pristine fleet of 6-seater helicopters including Airbus H125 and a luxury Airbus H130 T2. Let Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters show your clients the best of New Zealand’s amazing scenery!

Product Description

Remarkables (#101)

This flight gives passengers fantastic aerial views of the Queenstown and the Whakatipu Basin. Lands on The
Remarkables Spur which is ideal for panoramic photos of the Basin area. It is one of only two mountain ranges in the world that runs directly north to south. 

Highlights:
• Amazing views of Queenstown
• Landing on The Remarkables
• Perfect for first time flyers

Time Away: 20mins 

Skippers Express (#103)

Explore this area which was famous for its rich gold deposits in years gone by. Fly past Coronet Peak and land high above the Skippers Canyon. Return to Queenstown across the Ben Lomond Saddle before Lake Whakatipu and the township of Queenstown reveal themselves.

Highlights:
• Historic valley
• Iconic Coronet Peak
• Amazing views of Queenstown

Time Away: 30mins 

Alpine Scenic (#104)

Rising high above the Whakatipu Basin this flight takes you into the tussock covered mountains surrounding Queenstown. We land in a remote alpine location, which at times may feature snow.

Highlights:
• Amazing mountain views
• Alpine landing
• Views of Skippers Canyon

Time Away: 35mins

Grand Alpine (#106)

Fly above Queenstown towards Skippers Saddle, historic Skippers township and across the Moonlight Saddle as you head towards Glenorchy. View the meandering Rees and Dart Rivers and the majestic Mt Earnslaw.
Land on the Humboldt range – exclusive to Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters – for amazing vistas of Lake
Whakatipu and the surrounding mountains. Return via Lake Luna and Ben Lomand and then onto Queenstown.

Highlights:
• Views of Dart & Rees Rivers
• Landing on Humboldt Mountains
– exclusive to GSLH
• Lake Whakatipu

Time Away: 40mins 

Glacier Explorer (#105)

Enjoy an exhilarating flight past mesmerizing blue-green icefalls before landing on one of the many glaciers in the Forbes Mountain range, subject to conditions. Capture once-in-a-lifetime photos on the glacier before returning to Queenstown via hidden alpine lakes and deep ravines.

Highlights:
• Spectacular glacier views
• Explore Mt Aspiring National Park
• Hidden lakes

Time Away: 50mins 

Middle Earth Queenstown (#108)

We’re surrounded by unique landscapes that were carefully selected for the filming of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit blockbuster movies. Some of our pilots were involved in the aerial filming so we draw on their rich knowledge for this flight.

Highlights:
• Drimrill Dale
• Ford of Bruinen
• Deer Park Heights

Time Away: 45mins 

Lord of The Rings + Glacier Explorer (#107)

This is the ultimate trip for followers of Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Features the location where the opening scene of The Two Towers was filmed followed by a glacier landing alongside Misty Mountains. Fly over Glenorchy and the Dart River towards Mt Earnslaw, which in the movies was known as Isengard.

Highlights:
• Shotover River – Fort of Bruinen
• Mt Earnslaw
• Highly knowledgeable pilots,
some of whom were involved
in the actual filming

Time Away: 70mins 

Earnslaw Burn + Glacier Landing (#109)

Whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fan or simply want to discover the unique landscapes of this area, the Earnslaw Burn with Glacier Landing flight has something for everyone. View the unique ‘hanging’ glacier and numerous waterfalls at the Earnslaw Burn. If that wasn’t enough of a highlight, your professional pilot flies on to land on the Clarke Glacier allowing you to explore the immediate area and take photos of a lifetime.

Highlights:
• Spectacular glacier views
• Earnslaw Burn
• Hidden lakes

*In late summer glacier landings may not be suitable but an alpine landing will be substituted.

Time Away: 50mins 

Milford Sound (#201)

Discover the isolated valleys of ancient forests and pristine rivers famous for fishing and mountains sculptured from ice flows dating back thousands of years. In Milford Sound enjoy a short nature walk offering superb photo opportunities of Mitre Peak before flying past spectacular mountains and blue-green icefalls enroute to a glacier or alpine landing.

Highlights:
• Milford Sound & Mitre Peak
• High country alpine/glacier landing
• Explore Fiordland National Park
– a UNESCO World Heritage Area

Time Away: 2hrs 

Milford Sound + Cruise (#202)

Explore the stunning Milford Sound from both the air and on the water during this trip. After a scenic flight from Queenstown, across the Southern Alps, land in Milford Sound. Join a leisurely cruise along the fiord before an exhilarating flight back to Queenstown passing over spectacular rivers, valleys and mountains.

Highlights:
• Milford Sound
• Cruise on the fiord
• Land in the alps

Time Away: 4hrs

Milford Extended (#203)

Discover the diversity of New Zealand’s landscapes as you fly over stunningly high alpine mountains before landing in Milford Sound for a short nature walk. Fly the length of the fiord then land on a rugged West Coast beach. Follow the windswept rainforest before enjoying a glacier or alpine landing and then return to Queenstown across the awe-inspiring Southern Alps.

Highlights:
• Milford Sound
• West Coast & Tasman Sea
• View blue-green ice falls and glaciers

Time Away: 2.5hrs

Milford Highlights (#204)

Fly over the pristine wilderness and stunning alps within the Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area. View spectacular valleys with meandering rivers. Fly over the mountains of the Southern Alps featuring blue-green ice falls and glaciers. Complementing this flight is an alpine or glacier landing before returning to Queenstown.

Highlights:
• Milford Sound
• Fiordland National Park
• Dense rainforest

Time Away: 1.25hrs 

 

What To Bring

On all of our experiences we recommend bringing

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sensible footwear & clothing
• A camera / Phone 

 

Company Info