Queenstown: Remarkables Helicopter Flight & Alpine Landing
About This Experience
This is the cheapest way to get a Queenstown helicopter flight with a genuine alpine landing, and after 232 reviews it is still rated 4.8. Twenty minutes in the air takes you up the face of the Remarkables and onto the Remarkables Spur, a shelf at around five thousand feet looking straight back down over Queenstown, the Wakatipu Basin, Coronet Peak and Cecil Peak.
The route is a lesson in how the landscape was built. Your pilot flies low over valleys that glaciers gouged out and rivers have been rearranging ever since, and points out what is left of the gold workings European and Chinese miners cut into these hillsides in the late 1800s. The same pilots fly regularly for film production crews, and the commentary tends to drift into which valley stood in for where.
Then the machine settles onto the spur and the engine winds down. You get a few minutes standing on a mountaintop with the whole range, the lake and the basin laid out in front of you — the single photograph most people come to Queenstown hoping to take.
Highlights
- Alpine landing on the Remarkables Spur, around 5,000 feet above Queenstown
- Panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak and Cecil Peak
- Fly low over the valleys used as Lord of the Rings filming locations
- Pilots who fly for film crews and know the country from the air
- The lowest-priced helicopter flight with an alpine landing in Queenstown
What's Included
- ✓ Courtesy coach transfers from selected Queenstown pickup points
- ✓ 20-minute helicopter flight with an alpine landing
- ✓ Experienced pilot and full safety briefing
- ✓ Live in-flight commentary on the landmarks below
Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup outside the listed transfer points
- Gratuities
What to Bring
- Warm layers
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Closed-toe shoes
Good to Know & Caveats
- Book early in your Queenstown itinerary — that leaves room to rebook if your first slot is weathered out
- Flight paths and the landing site depend on conditions and are at the pilot's discretion
- Smoking, drones and selfie sticks are not permitted
- The Remarkables Spur is exposed and noticeably colder than town, even in summer
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Meeting Point
Courtesy coach transfer from selected Queenstown pickup points to the Glacier Southern Lakes base at 35 Lucas Place, Frankton — a white hangar with parking out front.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.8/5 by 232 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
Not expensive to have the opportunity to land on a snow covered mountain. Was a wonderful experience e
— Tim, August
We had a wonderful experience. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Our pilot was great, relaxed and skilful. Would absolutely recommend
— Debra, August
Spectacular view and experience, felt like I was in virtual reality game.
— Rebecca, August
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the cheapest helicopter flight in Queenstown?
This one, at $201 per person, is the lowest-priced Queenstown helicopter flight that still includes a genuine alpine landing. Shorter flights without a landing exist, but the landing is what most people remember.
Where is the Remarkables Spur?
It is a shelf on the Remarkables range at roughly 5,000 feet, directly across the basin from Queenstown. From the landing site you look back over the town, Lake Wakatipu, Cecil Peak and Coronet Peak in a single sweep.
Is 20 minutes long enough?
For a first flight, yes. Roughly five of those minutes are spent on the ground at the landing site, and the climb up the Remarkables face is short because the range starts right at the lake edge. If you want to reach the glaciers of Mount Aspiring National Park you need the 50-minute flight instead.
Do you really fly over Lord of the Rings locations?
The Wakatipu Basin and the valleys behind it were used extensively in the films, and these pilots fly production crews regularly. Which valleys you see depends on the route flown on the day.
Is hotel pickup included?
A courtesy coach runs from selected Queenstown pickup points to the base at Frankton. It is not a door-to-door hotel pickup from every address — check the pickup list when you book.
