Add dates

Canterbury, New ZealandAir & helicopter tours

Our most recommended Canterbury, New Zealand Air & helicopter tours

Franz Josef Town: Glacier Helicopter Tour with Snow Landing

1. Franz Josef Town: Glacier Helicopter Tour with Snow Landing

Take in some of New Zealand’s most impressive mountains during a helicopter ride. Land among them for even more spectacular views and fantastic photo opportunities. Meet at the local partner’s office to check in and attend a safety briefing. Then, following a van transfer to the hangar, you will meet your pilot and board the helicopter for takeoff. Put your headset on to enjoy your pilot's guided commentary. Fly over the terminal moraine of the ancient Franz Josef Glacier and up the valley over the ice river. Take in the ice pinnacles and crevasses before flying onwards amongst the impressive Southern Alps. Land on an elevated snow landing site to enjoy stunning views of some of New Zealand’s highest mountains. Have 10-minutes to take incredible photos before returning to the hangar.

Mount Cook: Ski Plane and Helicopter Alpine Combo Flight

2. Mount Cook: Ski Plane and Helicopter Alpine Combo Flight

Fly in a ski plane and a helicopter on the same day for an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Enjoy a scenic adventure that includes a glacier snow landing. From take-off to landing, enjoy spectacular views. Fly up the Tasman Valley over the breathtaking blue glacier lake. See the Hochstetter Icefall and the cloud-piercing Aoraki/Mount Cook before landing on the upper snowfields of the Tasman Glacier.  Take time to enjoy this unique alpine environment. These mountains are covered in snow and ice all year round, and the aircraft fully shuts down on landing.  Then, swap aircraft and return to Mount Cook Airport. During the tour, you'll also see Tasman Terminal Lake, Grand Plateau, Plateau Hut, as well as the full length of the Tasman Glacier.

Kaikoura: Extended Whale Watching Flight

3. Kaikoura: Extended Whale Watching Flight

Enjoy a panoramic whale-watching flight, with stunning scenic views along the spectacular Kaikoura coastline. Only from the air can you appreciate the huge size of the mighty sperm whale, a frequent visitor to the waters off Kaikoura. After a safety briefing and overview of your scenic flight, hop onboard for your whale-watching adventure in the skies. Every passenger gets a guaranteed window seat to enjoy maximum viewing of the ocean and its inhabitants below. On your 40-minute whale-watching flight, you may see sperm whales, dusky dolphins, humpback whales, blue whales, orcas, and other marine life. After finding whales enjoy a scenic flight of Kaikoura and the dramatic surrounding scenery, including snow-clad mountain ranges and turquoise ocean reefs. Whales are wild animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, with over 30 years of experience and extensive local knowledge, the activity provider aims to give the best chance of sightings. Honest information on the likelihood of spotting a whale will be provided before the flight.

Mount Cook: 3 Hour Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier

4. Mount Cook: 3 Hour Heli Hike to the Tasman Glacier

Enjoy a once in a lifetime heli hiking experience on the Tasman Glacier in the Aoraki (Mount Cook) National Park. Begin your adventure with a flight from Mount Cook airport over the gorgeous Tasman Glacier Lake and ice formations. Venture on to the surprisingly undulating ice terrain, in the shadow of the highest peaks of the Southern Alps, Aoraki, and Mount Tasman. Be equipped with glacier boots and crampons and spend 2 hours in another world in the mountains. On the return flight home, you will fly close to the massive 1,000-meter high Hochstetter Icefall on the eastern face of Aoraki. Take in the picturesque landscapes that are covered in beautiful white snow and ice year round. 

Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

5. Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike

Enjoy a tour that will acquaint you with New Zealand’s biggest glacier and provide you with spectacular helicopter views of the country’s largest mountain, Aoraki or Mount Cook. To start your tour you will fly to your drop-off point on a remote part of the glacier. During your tour, explore amazing ice formations, following your guide as they cut steps in the glacier. Complete your trip with another spectacular scenic flight back to the base of the mountain. Every journey is unique because the glacier is everchanging. Your experienced guides are always finding something new and interesting to show you. Spend up to 2 hours on the ice, weather permitting.

Fox Glacier: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

6. Fox Glacier: Scenic Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing

Journey into the Southern Alps for this once in a lifetime helicopter flight over the Fox Glacier. Begin your adventure at the helicopter base in Fox Glacier Township, where you will be greeted by your expert team. As you take off in your helicopter, be amazed by the panoramic views over the town and surrounding landscapes before heading towards the Fox Glacier. As you draw closer to the picturesque mountains, fly over dramatic ice falls and deep crevasses before you descend for a snow landing. Here you will have an opportunity to take in your surroundings, breathe in the clean alpine air and take photos in this winter wonderland. When you are finished, join your pilot in the return flight back to the Fox Glacier Township.

Franz Josef Town: 3-Glacier Helicopter Ride with Landing

7. Franz Josef Town: 3-Glacier Helicopter Ride with Landing

Take in three of New Zealand’s most impressive glaciers during a helicopter ride. Land on the elevated snow landing site to take photos of the spectacular views. Meet at the local partner’s office to check in and attend a safety briefing. Then, following a transfer to a private hangar, you will meet your pilot and board the helicopter for takeoff. Put your headset on to listen to your pilot's guided commentary. Fly over the terminal moraine of the ancient Franz Josef Glacier and up the valley to see the big three from above. The Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are ice rivers that plug New Zealand's longest glacier: the Tasman Glacier. Take in their ice pinnacles and crevasses while flying amongst some of New Zealand’s biggest mountains. Admire Mount Cook in the impressive Southern Alps. Land on an elevated snow landing site to enjoy stunning views of Westland Tai Poutini National Park for 15 minutes. You will have plenty of time to take photos before returning to the hangar.

From Methven: Hot Air Balloon Flight Near Christchurch

8. From Methven: Hot Air Balloon Flight Near Christchurch

You will meet Adventure Balloons Pilot and crew man at the bus stop on the main street, in front of Methven Medical Centre first thing in the morning. (times do change during the different seasons between 6am and 8am) when booking, this will be confirmed. The crew will then take you to the launch site, which can be different each flight, depending on wind conditions. You will experience the excitement of inflating a Hot Air Balloon. Once you have launched the Canterbury Plains will unfold and you will have Panoramic views across the Southern Alps and all the way east to the Pacific Ocean. The flight takes about an hour. The Pilot will find a suitable paddock to land in the 4x4 chase will then meet you. After packing the balloon away there will be a treat of muffins, juice or Sparkling wine, before retuning you back to the Bus stop in Methven.

Mount Cook: Tasman Glacier & National Park Scenic Flight

9. Mount Cook: Tasman Glacier & National Park Scenic Flight

Discover the real highlights of the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park on this helicopter tour. Soar high above, get breathtaking views and fly the full length of the Tasman Glacier. Fly close to the mountain peaks, and view this incredible alpine region. You will also get amazing views of New Zealand’s highest peak - Aoraki /Mt Cook. Admire hanging glaciers, blue ice, and rocky mountain peaks, with photo opportunities in every direction. Hover over the Tasman Glacier to appreciate the size and scale of New Zealand’s longest “river of ice”, before snow landing on the magnificent Tasman Glacier. Your pilot may shut off the helicopter so you can experience the "sound of silence”.

Canterbury: Mount Aorak/Cook Sightseeing Helicopter Flight

10. Canterbury: Mount Aorak/Cook Sightseeing Helicopter Flight

Take in views of the Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park on this shared helicopter flight from Canterbury. Dive into sights like the Tasman Terminal Lake with the in flight commentary provided by your pilot. Stop to breathe in the crisp mountain air with a alpine landing. Meet your pilot at the Mount Cook Airport and listen to a short safety briefing. Expereince the thrill of taking off towards the Southern Alps. Admire views of the highest mountain in the country, Aoraki / Mt Cook.  Feel the excitement of landing in the mountains and capture pictures of sweeping views of snowy peaks. Fly over the icebergs of the Tasman Terminal Lake before returning to to Mount Cook Airport.

35 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 3

Frequently asked questions about Canterbury, New Zealand Air & helicopter tours

What are other things to do than Air & helicopter tours that are worth visiting in Canterbury, New Zealand?

The other unmissable things to do in Canterbury, New Zealand are:

Which Canterbury, New Zealand Air & helicopter tours are taking additional COVID-19 precautions?

Other Sightseeing Options in Canterbury, New Zealand

Want to discover all there is to do in Canterbury, New Zealand? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Canterbury, New Zealand

Excellent, To be fair to the guys after 25 mins we had found nothing but they kept looking and then saw 2 blue whales in quick succession but they circled a few times to give both sides off plane a good look then on way home they spotted a pod off about 500 dusky dolphins and also circled them several times too so trip was a lot longer than should off been x been on many trips around the world and always finish when says but these guys went the extra mile - job very well done I’d recommend to anyone- obviously we got lucky as I realise ain’t a thing can guarantee but they kept at it - well done Tony bird

It was really good. The flight itself is amazing views. The pilot was great. We just missed a whale by a minute then spent the next half an hour looking for more ( which I quite enjoyed) then he extended the flight so we could potentially see some and we seen a sperm whale breaching the water over and over again it was great. He didn’t need to extend the flight as nature doesn’t same thing, but he did, and very thankful it was a great experience.

Excellent experience. Team is very friendly, helpful and transparent regarding the flights and flight conditions. Did a 35min Scenic Flight and loved every second of it.

I was really nervous but Megan and Poppy made me feel so comfortable I was able to take the flight. I now will never regret doing it. Thanks Nathalie

Very well organised, very nice staff. An exciting experience flying over fantastic scenery.