Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the glaciers in the Southern Alps with our half-day tour that includes a flight and helicopter ride. Organised in partnership with the Helicopter Line.
This tour leaves on demand so we can arrive at a suitable time, depending on your requirements and weather conditions.
On this trip, we will fly you up the main spine of the Southern Alps from Queenstown to Glentanner or Franz Josef airport in one of our fixed wing aircraft, giving you views of the beautiful Wanaka township and Lake Wanaka. Along the way, many small and large glaciers can be seen with their rivers feeding into turquoise blue glacial lakes.
As we head to Glentanner, views to the east include Mt Cook and the MacKenzie Country, soaring over canals that link up to Lake Benmore, a man-made lake that feeds the Waitaki River hydropower scheme.
If you are taking the Franz Josef Glacier landing option, we will descend on the western side of Aoraki / Mount Cook to Franz Josef Airport, with great views of the Tasman Sea and lush vegetation that adorn the West Coast. Your tour pilot will give an interesting and informative commentary and answer any questions while you enjoy your spectacular “flight-seeing” experience.
After landing, you will be escorted to our helicopter partners who will provide you with a safety briefing and details of your flight and landing options. Then you will embark on a 30-minute round trip of Mt Cook, and the helicopter will land on the snowfields at the head of one of the glaciers, where you can disembark. You will have plenty of time to take in the magnificent view of the surrounding area, play in the snow and take some incredible photos. Finally, you will be flown back to the helicopter base where we will be waiting to take you back on a scenic flight to Queenstown. The trip is flexible so if you need a little time to rest post your helicopter ride, do let our pilot know.
On the way back, we will try to take a different path so you can see as much of the landscape and as many of the sights as possible. The weather conditions do play a part in our decision on flight routes and destinations, however we promise that no matter which route we take you on, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the spectacular scenery.
Our scenic flights and Queentown helicopter tours can be customised, so several other flight durations and options are available. Please contact our friendly desk staff to discuss, and we can tailor a flight and helicopter combination to meet your needs and budget.
This package includes:
Extend the flight to take in an overflight of Mount Aspiring, the Snowball glaciers and the Olivine ice plateau for an additional $299 per person.
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Yes, all our prices are in New Zealand dollars and include all applicable taxes and fees.
We recommend booking your flight on the first day of your stay in Queenstown to allow for potential weather rescheduling.
Bookings can be made directly online or by phone or email:
No, unfortunately we do not accept American Express (AMEX) credit cards.
Yes! We operate 364 days a year, depending on the weather, with the exception of Christmas Day.
True South Flights partners with Helicopter Line to offer a variety of incredible South Island scenic helicopter flights, with landing options on and near the glaciers around Mt Cook
Our Mt Cook scenic flight allows passengers to enjoy all the scenery that Aoraki / Mount Cook has to offer within half a day. Perfect for travellers who may not have a lot of time to explore the region.
This Tasman Glacier Heli Hike is one of True South Flights’s more popular tours, allowing you to enjoy the eastern side of the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park in a single day’s time.
The world renowned Franz Josef Glacier is famous for it’s everchanging ice features and the speed in which it moves. Enjoy this ultimate Heli Hiking experience departing from Queenstown with True South Flights, the only operator that offers this as a day trip.
