Glacier landing by helicopter

Fly over the Southern Alps and land high on the névé, with the highest peaks all around.

Duration: 2–3 hours
When to go: Year round, weather permitting
Where: Aoraki & the Mackenzie
In your journey: Included

The experience

A private helicopter lifts from the valley floor and follows the Tasman Glacier towards Aoraki. On a clear day you land on the snow, with nothing but ice and rock around you.

Flights are always subject to weather; we build flexibility into the days around it.

Specialist's note

“Keep two mornings flexible in the Alps. Flights go when the weather allows, and we move the rest of the day around them.”

New Zealand specialist, Reserveit

Included in listed journeys

Who it suits

All ages able to step in and out of a helicopter; no fitness needed

Practical notes

Private charter for your party
Weight and seat limits apply
Rescheduled or refunded per operator terms if weather prevents flying

Weather dependent. We keep a flexible day nearby wherever the journey allows.

Enquire about this experience

Arranged privately, within a journey designed for you.

How it unfolds

The shape of the day

Timings are a guide. Your specialist confirms them with the operator once your dates are set.

01
Morning
Lift-off from the valley
A short briefing, then the helicopter climbs from the valley floor towards the main divide.
02
Above the ice
Across the snowfields
The flight crosses icefalls and crevasse fields before landing high on a glacier.
03
On the snow
Time on the glacier
Twenty minutes or more on the ice, often alone, with a pilot who knows every peak by name.
04
Return
Back for a late breakfast
Down to the valley by late morning, with the rest of the day left free.