Heli-Skiing in New Zealand

With New Zealand in the midst of its snowy winter season there are a number of ski-tour operators offering heli-skiing packages to suit differing levels of expertise, ranging from day-trips through to a full week of gliding down the slopes less travelled.

Offering heli-skiing in Wanaka and Queenstown, Southern Lakes Heliski services more than 6,000 square kilometers of terrain across nine mountain ranges, with a maximum height of 2585 meters and more than 400 potential runs. Boasting more than twenty-five years in the heli-skiing industry, Southern Lakes Heliski takes skiers and snowboarders to some spectacular terrain with package options including two, four, six and eight runs daily, as well as an all-inclusive weekly heli-ski trip. They also have exclusive access to the Clarke Glacier in the Forbes mountain range. Needless to say the view from the helicopter is enough to take your breath away before you even hit the slopes. IFMGA qualified guides with years of heli-skiing experience uphold high safety standards while sharing their passion for skiing.

With the slogan “if you can ski, you can heliski”, Harris Mountains Heli-Ski operates in the Southern Alps and Harris Mountains, offering daily, multi-day and private charters with a team with decades of experience in skiing and all aspects of mountaineering, several of whom work at ski resorts in northern hemisphere countries during the New Zealand summer. Harris Mountains Heli-Ski guides are trained through the New Zealand Mountain Guide’s Association (NZMGA).

Methven Heliski offers heli-skiing adventures in the Arrowsmiths, Ragged and Palmer Ranges around two hours from Christchurch. Known for delivering New Zealand’s most consistent high-quality snow conditions, this glaciated mountain range runs parallel to the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. Runs cater for heli-skiers and heli-boarders of all levels of expertise, with over 1,00- square kilometers of mountain terrain to explore.

Promising an escape from the crowds and queues of Queenstown, Wilderness Heliskiing offers hundreds of square kilometers of remote and untamed mountain wilderness at Mount Cook National Park. From “steeps and deeps” to rolling glaciers, Mount Cook is superb high-alpine terrain with something for all levels of experience.

If you have ever wanted to give heli-skiing a try, now’s the time. The New Zealand snow skiing season is in full swing, snowfall is plentiful and high adventure is just a helicopter ride away.