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Tucked beneath towering rainforest and facing the full force of the Tasman Sea, Jackson Bay is one of New Zealand’s most remote and untouched coastal settlements. Few travellers ever make it this far, and even fewer get to experience it in true comfort and style.
With Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, the journey becomes as extraordinary as the destination. Flying from Queenstown across glaciers, alpine passes, and rugged coastline, guests arrive in a world where deepwater species thrive, wildlife is abundant, and the wilderness feels truly wild. This is an escape for those seeking something rare—raw nature, real adventure, and remarkable exclusivity.
Your adventure begins the moment your helicopter lifts from Queenstown, tracing a path toward the West Coast’s dramatic edge before touching down in Jackson Bay. From here, your charter vessel awaits—ŌKAHU, a purpose-built offshore machine designed for performance, comfort, and serious fishing capability. With a full suite of premium gear, expert local knowledge, and access to deep-drop grounds reaching 300–400 metres, guests can target iconic species such as Bluenose, Hapuka, Ling, and Gemfish. Marine life is part of the experience too—dolphins, seabirds, and even seasonal Orca often make an appearance.
Whether you’re here to fish, dive, explore the coastline, or simply take in the vastness of the ocean, every moment is guided with professionalism and care. This is West Coast adventuring at its finest—remote, exhilarating, and entirely unforgettable.
For those ready to discover one of Aotearoa’s most extraordinary coastal frontiers, Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters offers a seamless, elevated journey from sky to sea. With customisable itineraries, full- and half-day options, and private charters available, your experience can be tailored to suit your pace and passion. Step into a place few ever see—and explore it with the expertise of two exceptional operators working together.
If Jackson Bay is calling, we’ll take you there in comfort and style. With flexible charter options and the ability to tailor your time on the water, we make it easy to experience this remarkable corner of the West Coast your way. Get in touch and let us craft your perfect day out!
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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.
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
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!
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
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!
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
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
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
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!
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
