Heliworks Queenstown Helicopters

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Heliworks Queenstown Helicopters

Queenstown Essential

 

Ready to experience Queenstown like never before?


The Queenstown Essentials Helicopter Tour is your ultimate introduction to the region – a thrilling aerial loop capturing the best of this alpine playground, with two epic landings to top it all off.

Taking off from Queenstown Airport, experience aerial views of Lake Whakatipu before climbing straight into the heart of the mountains. This is where the magic begins. Landing locations are chosen on the day to suit the incredible, ever-changing alpine conditions that make flying in Queenstown so unique. Whether it’s the dramatic ridgelines of Cecil Peak, the towering faces of The Remarkables, or a remote alpine shelf with unreal views of Skippers Canyon – no two flights are ever the same.

Every landing gives you space to breathe in that crisp mountain air, soak up the silence, and grab those once-in-a-lifetime photos with the most jaw-dropping backdrops.

Back in the air, we fly around the flanks of Ben Lomond and into the raw, cinematic terrain of Queenstown’s high country. You’ll peer into Skippers Canyon from above – a place where gold miners once dared, and the mighty Shotover River still roars far below.

Before heading back, we’ll make a second alpine landing, offering another unbeatable perspective before a scenic pass by Coronet Peak and one final look at Queenstown’s iconic beauty from above.

This is not just a flight — it’s the essential Queenstown experience.

Why take a Queenstown Essential Helicopter Tour?

  • Two landings, one epic flight – more time on the ground and in the air
  • Locally owned and operated – we know these mountains like the back of our hand
  • Unique flight path – combining classic sights with some lesser-known gems
  • Perfect introduction to Queenstown – ideal for first-time visitors or those short on time
  • Private charters available – elevate your experience with a heli all to yourself

If you are looking for a shorter experience, check out our Remarkables Scenic experience or view all experiences.

 


45 minute experience


2 Alpine landings


Alpine Seasonal Snow


Queenstown from above


Lakes

The prices listed below are for our shared departures, so other guests will be on your flight. Our prices are also subject to change annually.

Adult (12+): $695 per person

Child (3-11): $490 per person

Infant: (0-2): $350 per person

Prices are valid from 1 April 2026 - 30 September 2027. On our shared departures, you may be in a helicopter with up to 9 people.

We have private charter rates available for our Squirrel helicopters, our twin-engine Squirrels and our 9-seater BK.

Charters are a great option for bigger groups, or if you would like a more intimate experience.

Find out more about our fleet.

Squirrel (up to 6 passengers): $3,475 per helicopter

Airbus H130 up to 6 passengers): $4,170 per helicopter

BK (up to 9 passengers): $5,560 per helicopter

Prices are valid from 1 April 2026 - 30 September 2027.

We offer complimentary return transport from downtown Queenstown at 37 Camp Street. Please make sure to book this in addition to your flight experience. If you are self-driving, we are based in Frankton and we have plenty of parking available.

  • Wear comfortable covered shoes
  • Bring along or wear warm clothing, including a jacket
  • Remember to bring your camera, sunscreen and sunglasses

Bookings
• We recommend booking in advance via our online booking calendar.
• For the purpose of aircraft weight and balance and in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority rules and regulations, we require all passenger weights at the time of booking. Once we have received and reviewed this information we will be able to confirm the booking.
• Our booking system will ask for your credit card details, which are securely stored to confirm your booking, however we will not charge your card until the day of your booking.
• Please note a surcharge will be incurred for credit and contactless payments.

Your flight
• You will need to contact us one hour prior to your departure time for a weather check.
• Minimum passenger numbers are required for all scenic flights. We reserve the right to upgrade passengers or merge flights for operational reasons or flight management purposes if required.
• Flights depart on demand and are subject to availability.
• Flights depart from our Heliworks Queenstown base in Frankton.
• Advertised times away, flight and landing times are approximate and can be subject to weather conditions. On occasion, flight paths and landing locations may change at the pilot’s discretion.

Pricing
• Our prices change annually from 1 October. Please select your preferred date of travel on our booking system or view the pricing section to view pricing schedules.
• Prices are in NZ currency and include Goods and Services Tax.
• We reserve the right to change prices at any time without further notice. However, if we have confirmed an advance booking the quoted price will not be altered.

Payments
• We accept EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard and cash. Please note a surcharge will be incurred for credit and contactless payments.

Cancellations
• Any cancellations made within 24 hours of departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee. If passengers ‘no-show’ for a flight, 100% of the fare will apply. If we cannot operate due to weather and as a result, passengers are unable to fly, no cancellation fees will apply.

 

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