Canterbury High Country scenic flight Southern Alps landing

Pause above braided rivers and spot wild deer from a mountain perch

A scenic flight over Canterbury High Country on New Zealand's South Island, piloted by a guide who narrates the route over braided rivers, patchwork plains and Mount Sunday. The flight includes a mountain landing where you can step out, take in the landscape and watch for wild deer and chamois. Two hours total. Weather-dependent, with a full refund or rescheduled date if conditions don't allow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic flight over Canterbury High Country

• Fly over Canterbury plains
• View iconic braided rivers
• Land on mountain for break
• Breathe fresh mountain air
• Spot wild deer and chamois

The experience

You arrive at the airfield and board a small aircraft with your pilot, who flies the route personally and talks you through what you're seeing as you go. The flight heads into the Canterbury High Country, following the braided rivers that carve through the plains below, then climbing toward the Southern Alps. The pilot points out the patchwork of farmland and explains the landscape as it unfolds beneath you. This is not a silent scenic pass, but a guided journey where someone who knows the region is telling you what matters about it.

The plane lands at a mountain airstrip, and you step out onto the high country itself. This is where the flight stops being a view and becomes a moment: you're standing in the alpine air, surrounded by the peaks and valleys you've just flown over. On clear days, you may spot wild deer or chamois moving through the region. When snow is on the ground and weather permits, the landing happens higher, on snow itself. The pilot can customize the route if you want more time on the ground or to add activities. Ask at booking what's possible for your date.

The flight lasts around two hours from start to finish. It requires good weather to operate. If conditions aren't safe, you'll be offered another date or a full refund. The aircraft is wheelchair accessible, and infants travel on an adult's lap. Confirmation arrives at the time you book.

What’s included

• Private transportation to and from the airfield.
• pilot-guided scenic flight over the Canterbury High Country, braided rivers and Southern Alps.
• mountain landing with time to step out and take in the landscape.
• live guide commentary in English throughout the flight.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 13 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Way To Go Heliservices

Is this one for you?This is a private flight with your pilot as guide, so you're not sharing the aircraft or the experience with other passengers. It suits anyone with a free afternoon who wants to see the high country from the air and stand in it on the ground, without the drive time or the hiking fitness a ground-based mountain visit would require.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 13 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's Mount Sunday and why does the flight go there?

Mount Sunday is a peak in the Canterbury High Country that serves as a landmark during the flight. The pilot uses it as a navigation point while showing you the surrounding Southern Alps, braided rivers and plains, though the actual landing happens at a mountain airstrip rather than on the peak itself.

Can I really see wild animals on this flight?

Yes, wild deer and chamois live in the Canterbury High Country region, and you may spot them from the air or during the mountain landing, depending on the season and time of day. There's no guarantee, but sightings are possible.

What happens if the weather is bad on my booking date?

The flight requires good weather to operate safely. If conditions are poor, you'll be offered either a different date to reschedule or a full refund, your choice.

How long does the whole experience take?

The flight runs around two hours from pickup to return, including the time spent on the ground at the mountain landing.

Can I customize the route or spend more time in the mountains?

Yes, the pilot can customize the flight if you want more time on the ground or to add activities. Discuss what you'd like at the time of booking so the pilot can plan accordingly.