Lake Tekapo Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing

Explore the Mackenzie Country on a shared helicopter flight from Lake Tekapo Airport, with an alpine landing included on every route. The 45- and 60-minute options extend to Aoraki/Mount Cook and glacier country, while the longest flight crosses the Southern Alps for views of the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

Itinerary

1. Begin your flight along your option’s route.

   On Mackenzie Explorer (30 minutes), view Lake Tekapo’s turquoise water and its feeder rivers, fly around Lake Tekapo Village, and see Mount John Observatory.

   On Mount Cook Alpine Grandeur (45 minutes), view Mount John Observatory, Lake Tekapo and its feeder rivers, then look across toward Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.

   On Mount Cook Franz and Fox Magic (60 minutes), fly around Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman into Tai Poutini National Park for close-up views of the Franz and Fox glaciers. View icebergs below and the Tasman River flowing into Lake Pukaki, then look down into the milky waters of Tasman Terminal Lake at the foot of the Tasman Glacier.

2. Explore the high country and alpine landscapes.

   On Mackenzie Explorer, view Mount Hay, Glenmore and Godley Peaks high-country sheep stations, including family homesteads and the higher hills where merino sheep roam. Make an alpine landing at 5,500 feet; snow is seasonal, usually May–September.

   On Mount Cook Alpine Grandeur, make an alpine snow landing on Liebig Dome at 7,700 feet; snow may be limited from late January to early April. Cross the lower Murchison Glacier to the Liebig Range, then look down into the milky waters of Tasman Terminal Lake.

   On Mount Cook Franz and Fox Magic, fly through the rugged mountains and passes of the Cass, Fork and Jollie valleys. Learn about merino sheep farming from your pilot and view remote musterers’ huts, followed by Glenmore and Godley Peaks sheep stations.

3. Continue along your option’s route.

   On Mount Cook Alpine Grandeur, wind through the Cass, Fork and Jollie valleys as your pilot explains merino sheep farming and points out remote musterers’ huts. View Glenmore and Godley Peaks sheep stations, then icebergs below and the Tasman River flowing into Lake Pukaki.

   On Mount Cook Franz and Fox Magic, view Lake Tekapo and its feeder rivers, followed by Mount John Observatory. Cross the mid-Tasman and Murchison glaciers, with ice stretching over 10 kilometers in both directions, then make an alpine snow landing on Liebig Dome at 7,700 feet. The landing location may change with weather conditions.

4. Finish with contrasting lakes and glacial traces. On all three options, view spring-fed Lake Alexandrina beside glacial-fed Lake Tekapo, followed by ancient glacial deposits, including massive erratic boulders left as the ice melted during the last ice age.

What's Included

• English-language commentary from your pilot
• Operator-provided insurance

Important details

• Weight limit: 130 kg per person
• This activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible
• Children aged 0–2 join free; child tickets cover ages 3–13
• Do not carry loose items on board the helicopter
• Snow cover varies. The 30-minute flight's landing has snow only in winter; snow may be limited on the longer flights. The 60-minute flight's landing location may change with weather conditions
• Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. Late arrivals and no-shows are not refunded