Commitment to Sustainability & Community

Taking Care of our Precious Environment

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters are dedicated to improving our sustainability practices and the environment in which we operate. Sustainability is ingrained in our operation, from small daily tasks to long term planning and is monitored in accordance with the 12 principles of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.

Our modern fleet of helicopters have limited carbon and sound footprints. We also adhere to the Tiaki Promise, work with the Department of Conservation, Fire and Emergency NZ and support a multitude of different local community groups and events.

Whakatipu Reforestation Initiative

We are excited to offer an opportunity for you to join us on our sustainability journey by choosing to support a Queenstown based reforestation initiative. We have partnered with Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, who protect and restore native biodiversity in the wider Queenstown area.

Donations can be made through selecting the reforestation/biodiversity option when booking through our website or alternatively our friendly reception team will be able to assist you on the day.

Please contact us if you would like more information, or follow the link to learn more about the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust.

Helping our Community

At Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, being part of the Queenstown Lakes and wider Wakatipu community is something we value deeply. We’re proud to support local charities and initiatives in ways that feel meaningful and personal. From working alongside Heart Kids NZ to help create unforgettable helicopter experiences for patients facing challenging circumstances, to contributing to fundraising efforts that support vital breast cancer research.

For us, it’s simply about showing up where we can and supporting the people and organisations who make our region such a special place to live and work.

Get Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime

Highly recommend

Fantastic time with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters today for our 50 minute glacier experience. Highly professional and good communication all throughout the day. Special thanks to Jeremy our pilot who was knowledgeable and helpful. Five stars.

Nigel Swavley | Google Review

Amazing Experience with Beautiful Views

One of the best experiences I have ever had! The helicopter ride was amazing and our pilot was great. The views were stunning and the cruise was also beautiful.

Brittany S | TripAdvisor

An Absolute Must-Do

From start to finish everything was smooth, friendly and professional. Would highly recommend, still can’t wipe the smile off our faces hours later! It’s our third time in Queenstown and our absolute top experience here, well worth the price.

Amy M | TripAdvisor

Absolutely incredible

Stunning views of Milford sound and an unforgettable glacier landing a true bucket list experience!

Rod Ward | Google Review

10/10 experience.

10000% worth it. Most spectacular views, our tour guide was awesome

Terina Herbert | Google Review

The tour was so much fun and definitely worth it!

We were able to land on three separate locations based on the tour we chose and it was fantastic, unlike anything we have done before. Our pilot, Jeremy, was awesome and was so knowledgeable and personable. The staff was great to work with and highly experienced. Highly recommend booking!

Leatha Tuttle | Google Review

This was an unforgettable experience

The highlight of my trip to New Zealand. The pilot was professional, friendly, and provided excellent explanations throughout the tour. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, with incredible views of mountains, glaciers, and Milford Sound. Landing on the glacier and experiencing the snow up close was truly magical. Everything was perfectly organized, and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Queenstown. Thank you for an amazing adventure!

Estiven Bedoya | Google Review

A Sure Hit for All Ages!

Well run operation. The fly/cruise/fly tour by helicopter to Milford Sound is a must do. The scenery on the flight is spectacular and the cruise on Milford Sound is so scenic with steep canyon walls and lots of waterfalls. The staff were always smiling, genuinely love their jobs, and make every effort to assure each and every guest has a fun and memorable experience. Kurt was our pilot and he was informative along the way and did a great job keeping the ride comfortable.

I’ll be back the next time I visit Queenstown!

Mark B | TripAdvisor

Amazing once in a lifetime experience. A MUST do, especially with this company

Our pilot was extremely gentle but showed us all what was on offer there and back. He pointed out interesting and spectacular features of the trip. Offering information as we went. And throwing in a few sneaky adrenaline rush’s. So much fun and amazing views. Got to see wild goats on the way back. Flew close but not too close to the mountains. Was very mindful of a nervous passenger. Could not recommend this company highly enough, from pick up on the bus to flying to getting us to the cruise on time and flying us back. So safe, leaving a once in a lifetime experience in our minds. Awesome company and experience

Kylie T | TripAdvisor

Incredible experience!

Our flight with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters was absolutely out of this world! The views were just stunning — truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our pilot, Alfie, was fantastic — friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole flight so much fun. Highly recommend this incredible experience!

Carlee Jones | Google Review

Bucket list trip!!!

Absolutely amazing! The views were breathtaking and having the opportunity to land on a snow covered mountain was a dream come true. Our pilot was friendly and very thorough in his explanations and knowledge of what we were seeing. He helped take pictures and definitely ensured our safety. Take off and landings were very smooth. I highly recommend this trip!

Debra L | TripAdvisor

Professional & Friendly – Incredible Journey!

It was very easy to book with them. Everyone we met was friendly and professional. Our pilot, Luke, was outstanding. The experience itself was the highlight of our trip. It was our first trip to NZ and without question we already wanted to come back and do another flight. We will definitely book with these guys again. Highly recommend.

Matthew O | TripAdvisor