Glacier Explorer Flight Queenstown: Land on the ice

A hanging glacier feeds waterfalls that tumble straight down the valley.

A 50-minute scenic flight from Queenstown that takes you over Skippers Canyon, the Rees Valley and Mt Aspiring National Park, ending with a landing on a glacier where you step out onto the snow. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and you'll hear the pilot's commentary through headsets. The flight operates in small aircraft, so you'll need to provide your weight at booking for balance and comfort.

Step-by-step itinerary

Glacier flight and landing adventure

• Take off from Queenstown
• Fly over Skippers Canyon and Rees Valley
• Explore Mt Aspiring National Park
• Marvel at glaciers and alpine lakes
• Fly to Earnslaw Burn glacier
• Land on snowy glacier
• Take photos on glacier
• Return flight to Queenstown

The Experience

The plane leaves Queenstown and climbs toward the Southern Alps, banking over the braided rivers of the Rees Valley and the rugged cliffs of Skippers Canyon. From the air you see the scale of the landscape — the way the peaks stack behind each other, the ice falls that cut down the mountainsides, the alpine lakes that sit in the high basins. The pilot narrates what you're flying over through headsets so you hear every detail without shouting over the engine.

The flight pushes deeper into Mt Aspiring National Park toward Earnslaw Burn, where a hanging glacier sits high on the valley wall and feeds waterfalls that drop thousands of feet into the ravine below. This is the moment the flight was built for — the plane descends and lands on the glacier itself. You step out onto the snow with towering peaks all around you, the ice solid beneath your feet and the silence absolute. This is where the photos happen, the ones you'll show people for years because they won't believe you landed there.

The whole flight runs 50 minutes from takeoff to landing back at the airfield. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport to the airport — the driver collects you and brings you back. Because the aircraft is small and weight affects how it flies, you'll need to give your actual weight when you book; children under three sit on an adult's lap and are charged at the child rate.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Queenstown.
• headsets so you hear the pilot's commentary clearly.
• landing and facility fees.
• GST.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

Is this one for you?Book the Early Bird if you want the glacier landing before the afternoon clouds roll in and the light softens; the regular departure works just as well if you prefer a later start and don't mind the chance of less dramatic visibility later in the day. The flight suits anyone who can sit comfortably in a small aircraft — the views and the glacier landing don't require hiking fitness or mountaineering experience.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the regular Glacier Explorer flight and the Early Bird option?

The Early Bird departs earlier in the morning; both flights follow the same route over Skippers Canyon and Mt Aspiring National Park and land on the same glacier.

Do I get photos from the glacier landing?

The flight includes the landing itself and time to take your own photos on the ice. Souvenir photos taken by the operator are available to purchase separately at checkout.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my flight?

The operator reschedules you for another day if conditions aren't safe for flying; the flight requires clear visibility to navigate the alpine terrain safely.

Is the flight suitable if I'm not comfortable with small planes?

The aircraft is small, which is what lets it land on the glacier and get close to the peaks and waterfalls. If you're nervous about flying, the pilot's commentary and the views often settle people's nerves, but you should be comfortable in a six-seat aircraft.

How cold is it on the glacier, and what should I wear?

The glacier sits high in the mountains, so it's significantly colder than Queenstown — bring a warm jacket, windproof layer and sturdy shoes. The landing lasts long enough to step out and take photos, not to stay for hours, so you won't need mountaineering gear.

Can children go on this flight?

Children can fly and land on the glacier. Infants under three sit on an adult's lap and are charged at the child rate; all children must be accompanied by an adult.