Where are your complimentary pick up locations? For all our helicopter flights, we offer a range of pickup locations throughout Queenstown. You can find an interactive map showcasing our pick up locations here. Azur Lodge Crowne Plaza Heritage Hotel Holiday Inn Remarks Park / Ramada Suites / Wyndham Gardens Kamana Lakehouse Mercure Queenstown Millennium Hotel Novotel Queenstown Lakeside Pounamu Bus Stop Queenstown I-Site Rosewood Matakauri Lodge Sudima Queenstown, Five Mile The Hilton Hotel The Rees The Sherwood Bus Stop If you have any further questions about these pick up locations, or would like to enquire about being picked up from somewhere not on the above list, please contact our team at [email protected]
Do you operate on Christmas Day? Yes, we do operate on Christmas Day – 25th December! However, we only offer our Milford Sound Private Charter flights (excluding the #202 Milford Sound + Cruise flight). Please note there is limited availability on Christmas Day, so book early to avoid disappointment. In addition, a public holiday surcharge applies.
I completed your online flight enquiry a few days ago, but I haven't heard back from you yet? Is my booking confirmed? We endeavour to reply to all bookings within 24 hours of receiving them, but sometimes mysterious things have been known to occur so if you haven’t heard from us – please let us know! Either give us a call on +64 3 442 3016 or 0800 801 616 (within NZ) or email us directly at [email protected]
I can't get your flight enquiry form to work — is it broken? Hopefully not, but sometimes things occur and change with various web browsers (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari & Google Chrome) which we can’t always control. Our advice is to ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of your preferred web browser or try a different web browser. If you continue to experience problems please do let us know by emailing us.
What is the best time of day to schedule our flight? That all depends on the weather on the day. When booking you can select your preferred departure time and we will do our best to cater to that. However please be aware that the exact departure time may not get confirmed until the day of departure, once we’ve had a chance to assess the weather conditions. We will then schedule your flight in order to give you the best possible flying conditions.
What happens if our flight is cancelled or postponed due to weather? If your flight is cancelled due to weather and you are not able to reschedule we offer a full refund. Weather plays a big part in what we do and unfortunately none of us have figured out how to control it yet! Poor weather prevents us from flying to Milford Sound more than 100 days a year however safety is our number one priority. Obviously for guests this can be frustrating but the other thing to remember is that if the weather is bad or even marginal it’s not going to be a very pleasant experience for you in a helicopter. We don’t fly if we know that the turbulence will be bad or if we know there’s too much cloud around to actually see anything during your ‘scenic’ flight. To combat all this we always recommend that you book your flight at the start of your stay in Queenstown, so if weather is unfavourable the first day we can reschedule you to the next day. Most of the time this strategy is very successful and we are able to give guests an amazing experience. When you enter your credit card details on our booking form to confirm your booking this information is securely stored however we will not take actual payment until you arrive at our hangar on the day of your flight.
I would like to purchase a flight as a gift - do you provide gift vouchers? Yes – we can do gift vouchers. If you wish to purchase a flight as a gift, please contact our front office team at [email protected] Online gift vouchers are coming soon!
Do you allow infants on helicopter flights? For infants we provide extra lap belts so that they are restrained as well as child sized headphones which aren’t connected to the internal PA system. There is no minimum age to fly and we find that toddlers and babies are very comfortable flying – very often they just fall asleep! Even though an infant will sit on your lap, our aircraft manufacturer (Airbus) stipulate there are no more than six passengers on any flight, irrespective of the age of the passenger or whether or not they take up a seat.
I am travelling on my own, but see that you have a minimum number policy, can I still make a booking? Of course, we can add single travelers to a wait list for their preferred flight until minimum numbers have been confirmed or we may combine flights in order to reach minimum numbers. It is usually no problem for us confirming flights.
What level of mobility/agility do I require to undertake a scenic flight? Clients with a wide range of mobility issues are able to complete our scenic flights. Please inform our staff of any issues at the time of booking so that we can discuss your needs and organise the appropriate assistance in advance. Note, it is a high step into the helicopter, but our friendly staff are happy to assist.
Can you help me propose to my partner? Congratulations! Whether you want to pop the question during a private charter, alpine picnic or shared scenic helicopter flight we know that this can be a nerve-racking time and we’re here to help things go as smoothly as possible for you. Let us know your plans in advance so we can help you pull off the ultimate romantic gesture and we can even provide you with the celebratory bubbly! Did you know you can return to Queenstown for a heli-wedding as well?
What should I wear on my helicopter flight? We recommend dressing comfortably and appropriately for the season, keeping in mind that temperatures can vary depending on where you’re flying and landing. During winter: Wear warm clothing such as a jacket, along with long pants. Thermal layers are a great idea if you’re particularly sensitive to the cold. During summer: Light, comfortable clothing is suitable for most flights. However, mountain weather can change quickly, so we recommend bringing a light jacket or jumper. Footwear: Closed-toe shoes are recommended for all flights. While hiking boots aren’t required, they can provide extra comfort and grip when walking on snow or uneven terrain. Accessories: Sunglasses are recommended year-round, as sunlight can be particularly bright at higher altitudes and when reflected off snow. A warm hat (such as a beanie) and gloves are optional but can make landings more comfortable in the cooler months. For safety reasons hats must be removed before boarding the helicopter and secured during the flight. Don’t forget your camera and sunscreen. You’re welcome to bring a small bag for any personal items you need to carry with you.
Can I reserve the front seat of the helicopter? For safety reasons, we’re unable to guarantee or reserve the front seat in advance. Seating is allocated by the pilot on the day in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority weight and balance requirements. We do guarantee every passenger a window seat on at least one leg of the journey. As all scenic flights include a landing, there is often an opportunity to rotate seating during the experience.
What type of helicopters do you fly and how many passengers can they carry? We own a fleet of Airbus AS350 Squirrels. These carry a total of 6 passengers plus the pilot, 2 seats are located in the front and 4 along the back. The Squirrels are a great machine due to their versatility and are great for scenic flights because they are like sitting in a goldfish bowl so you can see everything around you. We also operate the most luxurious helicopters available in Queenstown Airbus H130 which can be specifically requested for private charters, please contact our reservations team for pricing & availability. Airbus H145 twin engine helicopter seating up to nine passengers in luxury for their scenic helicopter trip from Queenstown.
Can we fly just one-way to Milford Sound, i.e. be picked up from there after arriving by coach, is there a discount for this? We do cater to requests like this, however because we need to leave a seat free for you in the helicopter on the way into Milford, it’s not any cheaper than flying both ways.
Do all your flights depart from Queenstown Airport or are we able to get picked up by helicopter from an alternate location? There are a number of consented helipads which we can do heli pick-ups and drop-offs to such as Millbrook Resort, Blanket Bay and all the local ski fields. We can also land on private land with the permission of the landowner. Please contact us to discuss as there may be additional charges.
How long do you land for during your alpine/snow/glacier landings? All our standard scenic flights include at least one landing. Each landing usually lasts for about 10 minutes which is plenty of time to snap a few photos, play in the snow and get really cold (especially in the winter). The helicopter will not be shut off during the landing, except when landing at the Milford Sound airstrip where we land for about 30 minutes or up to 2 hours if passengers are also doing a cruise.
Can you still do snow and glacier landings in the summer? Snow is not guaranteed during the summer months. Some flights offer an Alpine or Snow landing depending on conditions, which can vary significantly throughout the year. If snow is an important reason for your booking, please let us know at the time of enquiry so we can provide current advice. In some cases, a private charter may be required to access suitable snow locations. Glacier conditions also change seasonally, with less snow cover and firmer, icier surfaces during summer. Our team is always happy to provide honest guidance to ensure your experience aligns with your expectations.
Why should I choose to fly to Milford Sound by helicopter, rather than fixed-wing aeroplane? We realise that heli-flights are a bit more expensive than fixed-wing flights (it simply costs more to run a helicopter than a small plane) but we firmly believe that the benefits of flying by helicopter make it worthwhile. We offer multiple landings including glacier landings as we are not restricted just to airstrips. We also believe that the viewing from a helicopter is better than from a plane as our windows are much larger and less restrictive. Heli-flights to Milford Sound are less weather affected than fixed-wing flights and helicopters are more stable in the air, so if conditions become windy they suffer from less turbulence than small planes. For these reasons we often find that nervous flyers are more comfortable in helicopters than fixed-wing aircraft. If you are a nervous flyer please let our pilots know as they are highly experienced in ensuring that your experience is as comfortable and as smooth as possible.
Do you fly to Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the West Coast? We can, however because of the distance to do so, it becomes quite an expensive private charter, which is out of range for most budgets.
I have a keen interest in photography, can I reserve a front seat so that I can get good shots from the helicopter? Is it possible to open the doors? We never like to guarantee the front seat because seating allocation is at the discretion of the pilot who has to consider weight and balance for helicopter safety. Because every scenic flight has a landing, there is the opportunity to change the seating arrangements part way through the flight. This makes it fairer for all passengers, giving everyone an opportunity of a front seat or window seat. If you are a professional photographer or film-maker with specific requirements you will need to book a charter fight if you want to fly with the door open.
Why do I need to provide my weight? For the purpose of aircraft weight and balance and in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority regulations, we require all individual passenger weights at the time of booking. Declared weights should be based on individuals being fully clothed (this includes footwear). Passengers will be weighed again upon check-in to ensure we have accurate weights of all passengers. If your declared weights are not accurate on the day of departure, additional fees may be incurred should we need to use a different or additional helicopter in order to accommodate you and your party.
Do you have a maximum passenger weight? No, however for the purpose of aircraft weight and balance and in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority standard weights we require all individual passenger weights at the time of booking. Passengers will be weighed again upon check-in to ensure we have accurate weights of all passengers.
