Queenstown: Southern Glacier 50-Minute Helicopter Flight
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Queenstown, New Zealand
- 50 minutes (approx.)
- Flight time: 50 minutes
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take to the skies on a 50-minute Queenstown helicopter flight that includes a snow landing on Jura Glacier. Soar above Lake Wakatipu’s northern shores and discover unparalleled views of New Zealand ’s Southern Alps from an aerial perspective. After your pilot lands atop the glacier, snap photos of surrounding alpine peaks, such as Mt Aspiring, before the return helicopter ride over glacier-fed lakes and the Rees and Dart River valleys.
- Breathtaking 50-minute helicopter flight from Queenstown
- Views of Mt Aspiring and the mighty Rees and Dart River valleys
- Be surrounded by mountain peaks as your flight includes a snow landing
- Plenty of photo opportunities
- Commentary from pilot
- Pickup and drop off from centrally located Queenstown hotels
What's Included
- Hotel pick up and drop off from centrally located Queenstown hotels
- Scenic helicopter flight with snow landing (5-10 minutes)
- Informative commentary during the flight
- Professionally trained pilots have specific experience flying in New Zealand's alpine environment
- New Zealand's Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
This helicopter flight is the ideal choice for aerial sightseeing from Queenstown; with its ability to hover and land, the copter brings you up close to towering peaks, crevasse-filled glaciers, and sparkling waterways.
After pickup from your centrally located Queenstown hotel to the base, get settled aboard the helicopter and prepare for a spectacular round-trip flight with a snow landing on Jura Glacier. Your highly trained pilot has specific experience flying in New Zealand's alpine environment, and shares lively commentary on South Island landmarks throughout your 50-minute tour.
Taking off from the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu, you’ll see the rugged peaks of the Remarkables mountain range come into view. Flying high above Queenstown, you’re soon treated to the full glory of the Southern Alps en route to the glacial summit.
Step out onto Jura Glacier to soak up the panoramic views and admire the remote alpine landscape, crowned by the towering 9,950-foot (3,033-meter) Mt Aspiring (known in Te Reo Maori as Tititea, translated as ‘Glistening Peak’).
Then climb back into the helicopter for the return flight, gliding smoothly over the picturesque valleys of the Rees and Dart rivers back to Queenstown, where you’re transferred to your hotel.
After pickup from your centrally located Queenstown hotel to the base, get settled aboard the helicopter and prepare for a spectacular round-trip flight with a snow landing on Jura Glacier. Your highly trained pilot has specific experience flying in New Zealand's alpine environment, and shares lively commentary on South Island landmarks throughout your 50-minute tour.
Taking off from the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu, you’ll see the rugged peaks of the Remarkables mountain range come into view. Flying high above Queenstown, you’re soon treated to the full glory of the Southern Alps en route to the glacial summit.
Step out onto Jura Glacier to soak up the panoramic views and admire the remote alpine landscape, crowned by the towering 9,950-foot (3,033-meter) Mt Aspiring (known in Te Reo Maori as Tititea, translated as ‘Glistening Peak’).
Then climb back into the helicopter for the return flight, gliding smoothly over the picturesque valleys of the Rees and Dart rivers back to Queenstown, where you’re transferred to your hotel.
Southern Alps (Pass By)
Mount Aspiring National Park (Pass By)
Mount Aspiring National Park (Pass By)
Lake Wakatipu (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Total weight per passenger: 331 lbs
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- It is recommended that warm clothing and suitable footwear be worn on this tour due to cold temperatures. Moderate fitness is required.
- The fleet consists predominately of European AS355 Twin Engine Squirrels (seats 06 passengers plus pilot). They are ideal aircraft for scenic flights, with an open plan cabin making for excellent views for all passengers. The Helicopter Line has the highest levels of Civil Aviation Authority certification for scenic helicopter operations, this involves regular monitoring and audit of all aspects of the operations.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Anand_D
Thrilling, exhilarating & a once in a lifetime experience. Pilot Jonathan wasvery professional & ensured we had excellent view & gave us a rundown on all the valleys & peaks even as he landed us on top of the glacier.
Reviews
4.8
based on 132 reviews
RAYMOND_W, Apr 2026
the clouds were low so was offered 35 minute not 50 min and unabe to land on glacier
team were professional and friendly
David_H, Mar 2026
50 minute flight with glacier landing was amazing. There is no way you will be disappointed or there is something else wrong with you. This is a lifetime experience!
Azman_A, Nov 2025
Fantastic experience - Friendly Counter Staff - Experienced Knowledgeable Friendly Pilot.
Highly recommended ...
Stefan_P, Nov 2025
Super fun experience, highly recommend it, also the staff was profesional and fun. It was also great to hear about the landscape.
Trudy_H, Sep 2025
Amazing experience - truly bucket list worthy. Worth every $$ we paid. Our pilot was fabulous and so knowledgeable. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Kia ora Trudy,
Thank you for your recommendation and 5-star review. We are happy to hear you had a great time, and we will be sure to pass your compliments on to the pilot for you.
Ngā mihi nui,
The Helicopter Line
Feng_Y, May 2025
Great experience, the only thing is that the little kid can only sit in the middle of the second row, which limits what he can see. Mind this if you take a kid. The Mic on the helicopter is hard to hear clearly—otherwise beautiful scenes and fantastic experience
Response from Host, May 2025
Kia ora Feng,
We appreciate you taking the time to share your review. We are thrilled you had a great flight and thank you for your feedback regarding the headsets.
We will look into this and see what improvements can be made to ensure a spectacular experience. Thank you for joining us in Queenstown.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
Zoe_K, Apr 2025
Fantastic experience. Originally, we were due to fly in the morning; however, due to the weather it was cancelled. The person who phoned suggested we re-arrange for the afternoon. We were so pleased we could be flexible, as it was a spectacular experience. Our kids (10 and 7) thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.
Jeff_D, Feb 2025
A tremendous experience and the process was very easy. Had to reschedule due to weather but they were very accommodating and the overall experience was first rate. Danny was our pilot and he was a great guide and created a very fulfilling experience
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Kia ora Jeff,
We thank you for sharing your experience. We are sorry to hear you had to reschedule for the weather and thank you for being flexible for another booking time. We'll be sure to pass your feedback to Danny. We thank you for including us on your Queenstown adventures.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
Devin_S, Feb 2025
It was awesome! Great and professional staff! I would recommend this to everyone so they could have a great experience to see New Zealand’s glaciers!
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Kia ora Devin,
Thank you for sharing your 5-star review and experience. We thank you for your recommendation and for flying with us to explore the glaciers.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
Carla_K, Jan 2025
Amazing! Once in a life time experience😀 Very professional & well worth the price tag. Something we will always remember!
neelufaur_k, Jan 2025
We had such a awesome time. The experience was so special. Diffenately highly recommend this experience . Once in a life time
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Kia ora,
Thank you for taking the time to share your 5-star review. We are so happy to hear how much you enjoyed your flight with us. The views above Queenstown to the Southern Alps are wonderful. We thank you for your recommendation.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
VAIBHAV_T, Jan 2025
Great experience and must do activity in the area. The experience was better than what i had imagined.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Kia ora,
Thank you for leaving us a 5-star review. The views above Queenstown are spectacular and we're happy to share them with our guests. We appreciate your recommendation.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
Matthew_H, Nov 2024
Flying over the glacier was great. To be able to be above all the mountains and see the valley’s was awesome
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Kia ora Matthew,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review. We're so glad you enjoyed flying over the glacier and taking in those stunning mountain views. It truly is a special experience. We thank you for choosing to fly with us.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line, Queenstown
Carolin_K, Nov 2024
The snow landing was amazing and the view up there was absolutely stunning and unbelieveable. Great flight.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Kia ora Carolin,
Thank you for leaving us a 5-star review. We're so glad you enjoyed the stunning snow landing and breathtaking views. It’s always a pleasure to provide such unforgettable experiences. We’re so glad you shared this journey with us.
All the best,
The Helicopter Line
Bridget_R, Nov 2024
Amazing staff and so easy to work with. PRISTINE glacier and nice helicopters. Pilot was very attentive but not overbearing.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Kia ora Bridget,
Thank you for your fantastic 5-star review. We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the glacier views and had a smooth experience with our team. Thank you for choosing to fly with us.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
Joshin_K, Oct 2024
I would like to give a special shoutout to Ben. I just have called a few times to see if the weather would permit the flying experience and he was absolutely a champion in responding with complete patience and kindness. The overall experience was truly breathtaking and wow what a finish it was for my Queenstown trip. Truly will never forget it and the overall staff including the brilliant pilot who assured that we had a wonderful and safe glacial landing experience.
Thank you guys 🙏🏿
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Kia ora Joshin,
Thank you for your heartfelt 5-star review. We're thrilled to hear your experience was such a memorable finale to your Queenstown trip. It was a pleasure to have you fly with us. Thank you for sharing this special experience with us.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line, Queenstown
Paul_F, Oct 2024
Absolutely a must do! Incredible experience! I recommend to anyone and everyone. Out pilot Richard was just the best!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Kia ora Paul,
Thank you for leaving us a 5-star review. We'll be sure to pass your feedback to Richard. Thanks so much for the recommendation.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
Thales_M, Oct 2024
Absolute breathtaking, please do it if you have a chance! Certain things you can only enjoy from the air! Worth every dollar.
Service was 10/10, we were originally booked for a day with average weather, called them asking to change to the next day and they were happy to do so. Our pilot Jono was great too!
Also worth mentioning my wife is pregnant and loved it! In case you're wondering (as we were too), it's super smooth and although it can feel a bit tight, she had a great time.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Kia ora,
Thank you for taking the time to share your 5-star review and experience. We've loved reading about your flight with us. We'll be sure to pass along your feedback to our team and Jono. We hope to see your family again for a flight in the future.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
Joseph_A, Sep 2024
Landing in the snow was amazing- so cold it was- def bring gloves - such a whole different world in the alps! Like another country
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Kia ora Joseph,
Thank you for taking the time to share your review. We're pleased to hear you enjoyed your experience with us. We appreciate your recommendation and thank you for joining us.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
Dennis_L, Sep 2024
This was definitely a highlight for us. The reason we decided on a Queenstown flight was proximity to Queenstown without having to do a 3 hour drive to Mt Cook, city pick up and drop off and Richard, our pilot - he was very informative and friendly. The snow landing was amazing.
Only one draw back - we decided to get an extra group photo and unfortunately, it was not ready. That was fine with us and I suggested they post it (we live in Australia so postage would not be that much). The staff offered to drop it off at our hotel reception. However, that did not work out as apparently the driver did not want to drive down the steep driveway to reception but there was a carpark up top and he could have parked and walk to reception :(. The office then rang to say they would leave the photo at the city office for us to collect that evening. I again suggested they post it which I was then told that it will be extra charge.
Sorry guys, postage to Aus is not that much and we did spend a fair amount of money for the helicopter ride - there were three of us.
We eventually picked the photo up from the city outlet which was another drama in itself and I won't go into here.
Overall, the flight was magnificent and worth every cent. It was the details that that spoilt it for me.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Kia ora Dennis,
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We're thrilled to hear that the helicopter flight was a highlight for you. It’s great to hear how Richard made your journey enjoyable. The snow landing truly is a magical experience.
We apologise for the inconvenience regarding the group photo and understand how frustrating that must have been. Your feedback is valuable, and we’ll certainly look into improving our processes to ensure a smoother experience in the future.
Ngā mihi,
The Helicopter Line
Eleonor_L, Sep 2024
Speechless!!!
Such a remarkable experience!
Overall of this trip was beyond our expectations.
Highly recommended!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Kia Ora Eleonor,
We're so happy to hear how much you enjoyed your Southern Glacier Experience with our Queenstown team. The views are certainly spectacular. We appreciate your recommendation and thank you for joining us on an epic adventure.
Ngā mihi,
The Helicopter Line
Michell_F, Aug 2024
This was an awesome experience. We felt very safe with our pilot and landing on the snow covered glacier was the highlight of our trip. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking of things to do in Queenstown.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Kia Ora Michelle,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a 5-star review and sharing your experience. We're so glad you enjoyed your flight with us. The views above Queenstown are truly stunning. We appreciate your recommendation and thank you for joining us.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
myoungsup_s, Jul 2024
Friendly staff and great pilot. Flight was smooth and he let us see wonderful scenes that I will never forget and only accessible by the tour package.
Don't forget to check your check-in time.
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the flight and the incredible views. We'll be sure to pass along your kind notes to our staff, Thank you for including us on your Queenstown adventure.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
yan_l, Jul 2024
The helicopter ride was amazing. Our pilot was very informative. Landing on glacier is definitely worth doing.
Pick up and drop off were smooth and on time. All the staff were very friendly.
The only reason I’m giving this a 4 stars is because there were three of us including a 4 years old child. But the pilot let a “large”stranger sit in the backseat by the window before letting my daughter get on the helicopter. This made her unease from the very beginning of this trip. My daughter wanted a window seat as she is very little and anyone sit next to her would have no trouble look over her and enjoy the view. We did raise this issue with our pilot straight the way at the beginning of this trip, but was declined. Instead, she was put on the back middle seat next to a “large” stranger. She was basically “burried” by the adults around her and could not see much view at all. So all the noises and movements surrendering her without seeing what’s happening was making her very stressed. She was crying and being upset the whole trip. She wouldn’t even want to get off the flight when we landed on glacier.
This tour was actually for my mother’s 70s birthday celebration. But one of us had to stay on the helicopter with my daughter to comfort her, which really impacted on our experience of this trip. It was quite disappointing considering this cost us way over NZ$1,000.
There were three flights departing at the same time on the day. I’m sure the tour operator could have arranged the seating a bit better considering they were very experienced and must come across young children often. In fact, there were other young families riding on a different helicopter. When they called out the groups, one of the child was sitting with her father at the front next to their pilot.
Nevertheless, I would still recommend this tour especially if you are not travelling with young children.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Kia Ora,
Many thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. Our Standard Operating Procedures do prevent us from seating young children next to the doors due to safety concerns. All of our helicopters are loaded based on the weights of all of the passengers to be within our safety margins. We’re sorry to hear that your child did not enjoy the experience. We do try and make all of our trips as comfortable as possible for all passengers while still providing a safe environment at all times. We appreciate your feedback and recommendation. Thank you for joining us in Queenstown.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
Anne_R, Jun 2024
There are no words. It was spectacular. If you are even thinking about doing this- absolutely do it.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Kia Ora Anne,
The views above Queenstown are spectacular and we are so glad you enjoyed your flight as much as we do. We thank you for your recommendation and for your support. We hope to see you for an unforgettable flight in the future.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
Jannat_B, Jun 2024
The entire experience was amazing! Loved being on a helicopter!
The change in scenery was great to see from above - from farms, to the mountains, snow scapes and then suddenly the sea!
The hidden areas were the best. 😊 The lakes, the valleys, the glaciers that could only be seen and accessed from above were amazing to land on. Definitely felt like a rare and secret location. Can’t wait to do this again. 😊
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Kia Ora,
Thank you so very much for taking the time to share your experience and 5-star review. The diverse views flying from Queenstown are all so spectacular. We are lucky to be in such a beautiful region and love being able to share the views with our guests. Thank you for joining us on a Southern Glacier Experience. We look forward to flying with you again in the future.
Best wishes,
The Helicopter Line
jeffb, Mar 2024
The entire trip was amazing, staff was very professional and the trip was great. We would do it again.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kia Ora Jeff,
We love hearing that you enjoyed this trip so much you would do it again - We hope we do see you back here in Queenstown or at one of our other South Island locations for another amazing trip. Thank you for taking the time to share your review and experience.
Kind regards,
The Helicopter Line
Bianca_M, Jan 2024
Just do it!
We had the best time and Bill the pilot was very knowledgeable and easy going. The views are nothing like you’ll see.
You won’t regret it!
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Kia Ora,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us and Bill a 5-star review. We're so glad you enjoyed your flight and will be sure to pass along your feedback. The views above Queenstown are truly spectacular. Thank you for joining us.
Peter_F, Jan 2024
Was an excellent flight, Bill was an amazing pilot, he got us nice and close to the mountains to see how beautiful the scenery was, and was a wealth of knowledge on the area. The whole staff were amazing as well and I will definitely be taking another flight with these guys when I return later in the year.
William_L, Nov 2023
Great experience - We had Zip as a pilot, knowledgeable, funny and engaging.
Gorgeous scenery, beautiful day - got really close to the glacier ice in the air before landing.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Kia Ora William,
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We're so glad you enjoyed your flight with Zippy. The Southern Glacier Experience is one of our favourites. The views are spectacular. Thanks so much for including us on your Queenstown adventure.
From $529.19
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Queenstown: Southern Glacier 50-Minute Helicopter Flight
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