Summertime = Helitime

When the snow melts, the rotors keep spinning—discover how our partner helicopter companies stay busy all summer with scenic flights, adventure tourism, and essential commercial work.

During the winter season, Harris Mountains Heli-Ski works with a range of helicopter companies in Wanaka, Queenstown and Glenorchy. While our operations finish at the end of September, these companies work all year round. Instead of flying heli-skiers around, their focus in summer lies on scenic flights but also other activities like logging, transportation of goods and much more. Let’s have a closer look at what they do.  

The Helicopter Line Queenstown

The Helicopter Line (THL) and Harris Mountains Heli-Ski belong to the same mother company, Totally Tourism, which is why there are strong bonds between the two companies. THL is New Zealand’s leading helicopter company and has more customers than any other operator in the country. Their pilots operate out of Queenstown, Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Mount Cook and Tekapo. During summer they offer scenic flights around Queenstown or to Milford Sound, glacier tours to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier as well as the Tasman Glacier and landings on the always snow-capped peaks in the Mount Cook area. Guests can also book combo tours and enjoy a fixed-wing flight, a wine tour or a boat cruise on Milford Sound together with their heli flight. Like every other heli operator, they also offer private charters for weddings or parties. 

Aspiring Helicopters

Based in Wanaka, New Zealand’s favourite wedding location, flying around elegantly dressed couples with their photographer is one of the main businesses for Aspiring Helicopters during summer. Apart from that, the operator whose base is located on a fully operating sheep, cattle and deer station at the start of the Matukituki Valley offers scenic flights into Mount Aspiring National Park and Fjordland. With a safety record of second to none, the company has built up a solid reputation amongst commercial customers. During the summer months, they offer services like fire fighting, mustering, pest control, heavy lifting for construction and much more. 

Heli Glenorchy

The family-owned and operated helicopter company operates out of idyllic Glenorchy at the end of Lake Wakatipu. Their usual flight path takes them over famous filming location from productions like Lord of the Ring, Wolverine and Mission Impossible 6. Some of their pilots have worked with the film teams, so don’t miss out on the chance of asking them about it. They probably have some funny stories to tell…Their scenic flights take guests to the glaciers and peaks of Fiordland National Park or even to the beaches of the West Coast which are just behind the mountain range. They also offer scenic experiences like the Milford Track Guided Heli-Hike which includes an 11 km long walk along the famous Milford Track or a package that combines a heli flight with a jet boat tour in Skippers Canyon. Their commercial services include logging & tree removal as well as filming, mainly scouting, lifting and crew movement.