Above the Clouds – A Helicopter Journey Through New Zealand’s Wild Beauty

Day 16 – Tuesday

Without giving too much away upfront – today was undoubtedly one of the absolute highlights of our New Zealand adventure.

After a final check-in with the flight operations team at the helicopter company, our departure was scheduled for late morning—just enough time for the last patches of ground fog to lift. This gave us the perfect opportunity to start the day slowly, enjoy a relaxed breakfast, and prepare for what lay ahead.

Because of our Sunday flight reversal, we’d lost a day in Queenstown. So today also meant checking out from the hotel, boarding our helicopter tour, and then driving toward Wanaka by evening—our rough plan for the day.

Lift-Off with “Over the Top”

After breakfast and loading our luggage back into the car, we made the short drive to the Over the Top Hangar at Queenstown Airport. We were warmly greeted by Tim (operations officer), who conducted our safety briefing, then introduced us to our pilot, René.

Black helicopter on a platform with industrial buildings and snow-capped mountains behind.

Climbing into the Airbus H125, we took off almost immediately—flying north over the runway and into one of the most spectacular landscapes.

Two people with headsets seated inside a helicopter cockpit viewing instrument panel.
Queenstown airport terminal with two airplanes, runway, snow-capped mountains, and a lake in the background.
Queenstown Airport apron with Virgin and other planes parked, surrounded by grassy areas and mountains.
Aerial view of a valley with a winding river, scattered buildings, brown hills, and snow-capped mountains.

Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Glacier Wonderland

As we passed above Coronet Peak—a premier ski area with a summit of 1,649 m, known for its night skiing and panoramic views toward Lake Wakatipu and surrounding ranges—we were greeted by sweeping alpine vistas that stretched across the Southern Alps, setting the tone for the breathtaking journey ahead. Across the valley stood The Remarkables, with jagged schist peaks reaching up to 2.319 m—an iconic backdrop visible from Queenstown itself.

Mountainous terrain with a winding turquoise river and snow-dusted rocky slopes.
Person wearing headphones and sunglasses inside a helicopter cockpit over snowy mountains.
Aerial view of snow-covered mountain range with rocky ridges under clear sky.
Snow-covered mountain peaks with rocky ridges under a clear sky.
Snow-covered mountain range surrounding a high-altitude lake under a clear sky.
Frozen lake with snow patches at the base of brown grassy hills under a clear sky.
Snow-covered mountain valley with a winding river flowing through steep slopes under a cloudy sky
3D topographic map of snowy mountainous region showing Mount Earnslaw, Centaur Peaks, Lochnagar lake, and trails.

We traced a route past Skippers Canyon, once a gold-rushing outpost, and Dynamo Hut, before landing at Lochnagar, a serene alpine lake perched at about 1.100 m. The snow-lined shores reflected the peaks in perfect silence.

Mountain lake with clear water reflecting snow-covered peaks under a partly cloudy sky.
Sun shining above snow-covered mountains reflecting on a calm lake under a mostly clear sky.
Clear lake with rocks near shore surrounded by snow-covered mountains under a bright sky
Rocky shoreline of a clear mountain lake with snow-covered peaks under a cloudy sky.
Snow-covered mountains surrounding a clear lake with rocks near the shore under a cloudy sky
Clear lake with visible rocks and snow-covered mountains under a pale blue sky.
Mountain lake with snow-covered peaks and a partially snow-covered rock in the foreground.
Clear lake with two large rocks and snow-covered mountains under a pale blue sky.
Clear lake with rocks in foreground, surrounded by snow-covered mountains under a partly cloudy sky
Clear lake with visible rocks, snow-covered mountains, and partly cloudy sky.
Helicopter parked near a clear lake with rocky shore and snow-dusted hills under clear sky.
Rocky shoreline with large stones beside a calm lake and snow-covered mountains in the background.
Snow-covered alpine vegetation with spiky green plants and dry grass below a cloudy sky.
Snow-covered vegetation on a hillside with snow-capped mountains in the background under a clear sky
Snow-covered shrubs in foreground with a lake reflecting snowy mountains under bright sun.
Snow-covered mountains reflected in a lake with green shrubs and snow in the foreground.
Black helicopter parked on snowy grass by a lake with snow-capped mountains under clear sky
Frost-covered ground with ice crystals near snowy shrubs and mountains under a bright sky.
Snow-covered plants in foreground with mountains and a calm lake under a clear sky.
Two individuals wearing headsets inside a small aircraft cockpit flying over a snowy hillside.
Viator taking selfie in snowy mountains near lake with black helicopter on snow behind him

After a while, René lifted us again and we fluw further 8 km and higher to 2.200 m—onto a high-altitude glacier. We watched him find a stable landing spot, as the helicopter skids sank into the snow on the first approach. Once parked, we stepped into stillness—a quiet that only the crunch of our boots disturbed—and, of course, enjoyed later an obligatory snowball fight.

3D satellite map of snow-covered mountains with labeled peaks and marked hiking route near Glacier Landing.
Snow-covered mountain landscape with four people, a blue flag, and the sun in the sky.
Viator in winter gear takes a selfie on a snowy mountain with a woman and helicopter in background.
Front view of a black helicopter on snow with rotor blades and mountainous background under clear sky
Three people in sunglasses and jackets inside a small aircraft cockpit with a headset overhead.
Helicopter cockpit view overlooking snow-covered mountains and a rotor blade against a clear sky.
Snow-covered mountain with rocky peaks under a partly cloudy sky.
Person in winter clothing with walking stick standing on snowy mountain with peaks behind.
Person in hooded jacket and wide pants standing on snowy ground with snowy mountains in background.
Snow-covered mountain peak with deep crevices and ice formations on the slope.
Snow-covered mountain peak with rocky faces under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
Snow-covered mountain peak on right with ridges and snowy foreground under clear sky.
Snow-covered mountain peak and snowfields under a cloudy sky with sun visible on the left.
Snow-covered mountain slope with rugged peaks under a bright sun and partly cloudy sky.
Snow-covered mountain peak on left with a smooth snowfield foreground under an overcast sky
Snow-covered mountain peak and slopes under a cloudy sky with smooth foreground snow.
Snow-covered mountain peak with sunlit snowy foreground under a mostly clear sky.
Black helicopter parked on snow-covered mountain with clear sky and distant peaks.
Snow-covered rugged mountain peaks under a light blue sky.
Snow-covered mountain slope with rocky peaks under a pale cloudy sky.
Snow-covered mountain slope and distant rugged snow-capped peaks under an overcast sky.
Snow-covered mountain range with icy peaks and a smooth snowy slope in the foreground.
Snow-covered icy terrain with visible deep cracks and crevices.
Snow-covered rugged mountain peak with exposed rocky sections under a clear sky.
Snow-covered rugged mountain peaks with sharp rocky ridges under a clear blue sky.
Snow-covered mountain peaks and a glacier in a valley under a cloudy sky.
Person in winter gear photographing snow-covered mountain peaks under a cloudy sky.
Black helicopter with open door on snowy terrain and snow-covered hills under clear sky.

From Alpine Peaks to Tasman Sea Beach

Coastal trail from Wolf River to Pickup after Walk along beach with forested mountains and ocean.
Helicopter cockpit interior with pilot wearing headset and navigation map display, mountainous landscape outside.
Snow-covered mountain with a sharp peak under a mostly clear blue sky.
Snow-covered jagged mountain peak with rocky surfaces and distant snowy mountain ranges.
Aerial view of snow-covered mountains with a forested valley and winding river under a blue sky
Aerial view of a river winding through forested mountains with snow-covered peaks in the distance
Lake surrounded by dense forest and snow-covered mountain peaks under a clear sky
Mountain range with rocky peaks, forested hills, and low clouds under a partly cloudy sky
Mountainous landscape with forested hills, rocky peaks, some snow, and drifting clouds under blue sky.
Coastal view with dense green forest, rocky shore, and ocean under cloudy sky.
Turquoise ocean waves breaking over rocks along a sandy beach below forested mountains
Rocky island and curving shoreline with forested hills under cloudy sky over turquoise water.

The terrain shifted abruptly when we headed west past Mount Edward and Climax Peak, transitioning from alpine ridges to dense, subtropical forest. About 65 km later, we landed on a remote beach at the Tasman Sea—a striking contrast of snow-capped mountains and coastal solitude. René gave us a kilometer-long walk along the shoreline before fetching the helicopter again—a kind of service we could get used to :-).

Coastal scene with stream flowing toward sea and jagged rock formations under cloudy sky
Rocky beach with dark sand, large sea rocks, waves, and a cloudy sky over the ocean.
Coastal view with jagged dark rocks in ocean waves under a cloudy sky.
Waves crashing on rocky cliffs along a rugged coastline under an overcast sky.
Waves crash against large rocks on a rugged coastline with steep rocky cliffs.
Black helicopter with branding parked on rocky ground beside forested hillside.
Person crouching on rocky beach holding camera facing ocean waves and shoreline.
Person crouching on black sand beach holding camera with ocean and rock formations behind.
Three people walking on a gravel beach near vegetation and hills under a cloudy sky.
Rocky island with greenery rising from ocean near a rocky shoreline under an overcast sky
Jagged rock formations on a dark sandy beach with ocean waves and cloudy sky above.
Rocky shoreline with dark sand, large jagged rocks, ocean, and green-covered island under cloudy sky.
Jagged rock formation on a black sand beach with ocean waves and cloudy sky.
Black sand beach with ocean waves, rocky outcrops, and forested hills under cloudy sky.
Footprints on sandy beach leading to rocky shoreline under overcast sky.
Pebbled beach with scattered driftwood and seaweed, green hillside in background under cloudy sky
Helicopter flying near rocky formation by ocean shore with cloudy sky and wet sandy beach.
Helicopter flying over beach with waves and forested hills under a cloudy sky.
Helicopter flying low near waves on a beach with four people standing and forested hills behind.
Porous weathered rocks on a sandy beach with vegetation-covered rocky cliffs and a cloudy sky.
Person crouching on a rocky beach facing the ocean with cloudy sky and large rock formations.
Hand holding six diverse seashells on a gravel background.
Three people walking on a wide sandy beach near forested hills under a cloudy sky.
Footprints on a sandy beach leading to a large rock formation near the ocean under a cloudy sky
Tablet in aircraft cockpit showing digital navigation map with flight data and nearby gauges.

Milford Sound – A Symphony of Fjords

Soon after, we entered Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, a breathtaking glacial fjord in Fiordland National Park, part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area. Carved by ancient glaciers, this narrow inlet stretches 16 km inland, flanked by cliffs over 1,200 m high—with iconic landmarks like Mitre Peak towering to 1,692 m—amid cascading waterfalls and dark, calm waters. René navigated circles rather than flying straight through, ensuring we absorbed every angle of the cliffs and falls.

3D satellite view of Milford Sound fjord with marked points and a red route line over water.
Coastal forested mountains with low clouds above and waves breaking along rocky shoreline.
Forest-covered mountains partially obscured by clouds surround a large body of water under a cloudy sky.
Aerial view of fjord with forested hillsides, low clouds, and boats on the water.
Helicopter cockpit view with pilot and passenger flying over a river surrounded by forested mountains.
Snow-capped mountains with low clouds above a deep blue fjord under a clear sky.
Deep blue fjord between steep forested mountains with snow-capped peaks and low clouds under clear sky
Aerial view of a fjord with steep forested mountains, snow-capped peaks, and boats on calm water.
Snow-covered mountain with rugged peaks and visible blue glacier ice under an overcast sky
Snow-covered mountain range with a dark lake and partly cloudy sky above.

A Scenic Mountain Lunch

René suggested an unforgettable stop: landing on a ridge overlooking Lake Wakatipu. Even Pooh—who battles a slight fear of heights—admits that this lunch in the sky was worth it. René prepared a wonderful meal for us right there on the mountain ridge, and for those who wished, there was even champagne or a cold beer to enjoy. René was a delightful host, balancing pilot expertise with warm hospitality.

3D satellite map of mountainous area with hiking trails near Kinloch and Mount Aspiring.
Mountain slope with dry vegetation above a cloud-filled valley and distant snow-capped peaks under clear sky
Rocky hillside with snow patches, dry grass, and bushes under a bright sky above cloud-covered valley.
Mountainous landscape with snow patches, clouds in valley, and sun in partly cloudy sky.
Two people stand on a rocky grassy mountain slope with snow-capped peaks and a cloudy valley at sunrise.
Black helicopter with tour company logo on rocky hilltop with mountains and clear sky background.
Person arranging items on rock table in mountainous area with snow-capped peaks and clouds below.
Two people sitting on a rock eating with snowy mountains and a low sun in the background.
Two people sitting on a rocky hillside next to a helicopter overlooking a cloudy valley and snow mountains.
Four people sitting on a rocky slope near a black helicopter above clouds and snow-capped mountains.
Two people in warm clothing sit on a rocky mountain overlooking clouds and snow-capped peaks.

Back to Queenstown and Roadtrip to Wanaka

After roughly 255 km of aerial sightseeing and over 4 hours, we touched down again at Queenstown Airport—awestruck and deeply appreciative of René’s storytelling and flying skill. This wasn’t just another sightseeing tour—it was a tailored journey into landscapes otherwise unreachable.

Now we needed to hit the road toward Wanaka. Compared to the North Island, the South Island feels wilder and more dramatic, and the drive reflected that thrill. We arrived in Wanaka just in time to find a cozy place to stay and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Wanaka – Lakeside Tranquility and Alpine Adventure Ahead

Wanaka is a charming alpine town at Lake Wānaka, with a population of just above 13,000. Known as a hub for both winter skiing and summer hiking, it offers access to Mount Aspiring National Park, iconic hikes like Roy’s Peak, and vineyards in the Otago region. With its relaxed pace, vibrant cafés, street art, and outdoor adventure culture, Wanaka felt like the perfect place to close out on our spectacular day.

Tired but elated, we fell into bed—grateful for our extraordinary experience and eager for what the next days would bring.

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viator |
July 8, 2025 |
14:31 |
0

Categories:

New Zealand

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HelicopterMilford SoundNew ZealandQueenstown
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