Queenstown Helicopter Tour: Land on The Remarkables

Fly to The Remarkables, land high, see three peaks at once

You're picked up from your Queenstown hotel and flown to a landing pad on the Remarkables at 5,000 feet, where you get unobstructed views of the Wakatipu basin, Coronet Peak, and Cecil Peak. The whole experience is twenty-five minutes in the air, with headsets to hear the guide and time to photograph the landscape. Hotel return is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Remarkables Helicopter Tour and Views

• Fly over Queenstown
• Land on Remarkables spur
• View Wakatipu basin and peaks
• Take photos at 5,000 feet

The experience

The helicopter is already warming up when you arrive at the airfield, rotors building toward that low throb that fills your chest. After the safety briefing and headset check (the guide's voice will come through clear once you're airborne), you climb in and the ground drops away fast. Queenstown shrinks to a grid of streets and rooftops, then the lake opens up beneath you, and the Remarkables start to show their real shape: not a ridge you see from the shore, but a sprawling range with depth and shadow and snow patches catching the light.

The flight takes twenty-five minutes total, and most of that is the approach and the landing itself. The pilot banks toward the Remarkables spur (a high, flat shoulder of the range), and you watch the terrain get closer, the rock face becoming texture, then individual stones. The landing is smooth, and suddenly the noise stops and you're standing at 5,000 feet with Coronet Peak and Cecil Peak visible across the basin, Queenstown and the Wakatipu laid out behind you like a map someone drew to show you exactly where you came from. The air is thin and cold. Your phone will work up here, and most people spend the time taking photos. The view is the whole point, and it does not disappoint.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport to the airfield or back. The headsets stay on the whole flight, so you hear the guide's commentary about the peaks and the basin without shouting. GST and landing fees are built into the price. The only thing you need to do before booking is give your accurate weight: the aircraft balances on passenger distribution, so the operator needs real numbers, not estimates.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Queenstown accommodation, headsets to hear the guide's commentary during the flight, landing and facility fees, and GST. The twenty-five-minute flight includes the approach, landing on the Remarkables spur at 5,000 feet, and the return to the airfield.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00, 16:00 and 17:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 13 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in Queenstown who want a high-altitude view of the basin and peaks without a full day commitment. The flight is short and the landing is the main event, so you're back at your hotel within a couple of hours of pickup.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

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.

Do I need experience or fitness to do this helicopter tour?

No. The tour suits all fitness levels. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and the experience is accessible to wheelchair users (though you'll need to confirm accessibility details when booking).

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, headsets, landing fees, and GST. You don't pay separately for any of those.

How long is the actual flight?

Twenty-five minutes total, from takeoff to landing back at the airfield.

Can I bring my camera?

Yes. The landing gives you time to photograph the view from 5,000 feet. Bring whatever camera you have.

What do I need to do before I book?

Provide your accurate weight. The aircraft balances based on passenger distribution, so the operator needs real numbers for safety and comfort.