Planning the perfect adventure
Discover breathtaking landscapes and thrilling experiences tailored just for you. Join us for an unforgettable journey that connects you with nature and adventure.
Planning considerations
Regions
We have exclusive access to over 3000 square kilometres of exceptional bowls, snowy ridges and powder basins for your skiing and riding pleasure.
Queenstown
The Southern Hemisphere's finest four-season alpine and lake resort. World-renowned Queenstown is both breathtakingly beautiful and intensively exciting. Established and sophisticated, the range of activities and adventures here is unsurpassed.
Wānaka
Wānaka is an exquisite piece of real New Zealand. The mountains surrounding this laid-back lake town offer thrilling backcountry terrain and dramatic scenery. Après ski is alive and well in the many bars and cafes of the town centre.
Aoraki / Mount Cook
New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki / Mount Cook, is the majestic heart of the Southern Alps. The Alps also feature 22 other peaks higher than 3000 metres. Harris Mountains Heli-ski has access to some of New Zealand's best heli-ski terrain in this extraordinary region.
Where you will want to book your experience will depend on snow conditions, how much time you have and how flexible you are. If you are unsure, talk to our friendly team and they will help you work out what is best for your travel itinerary.
A typical heli-ski day
Early in the morning, we check the weather and then contact you to confirm the heli-ski trip is on, and to set a meeting or pickup time. You will make your way to our staging area via your own transport or from our pick up locations, where you’re introduced to your pilot, guide and fellow heli-skiers.
A safety briefing is given covering avalanche transceivers, helicopter and mountain safety. Then you fly off to the day’s first heli-ski run. All heli-ski groups meet together for a picnic lunch and some downtime to relax and talk about the morning’s action.
After that, it’s back to the ultimate ski experience - more heli-ski runs to finish off your perfect day in the mountains. At the end of the day, we take you back to the staging area where you can make your way back to your accommodation for a well-deserved rest or a quick change before your après ski evening.
Travel times
Queenstown to Wānaka
1 hour via road / 15 minutes via air
Queenstown to Aoraki / Mount Cook
3.5 hours via road / 1 hour via air
Wānaka to Aoraki / Mount Cook
2.5 hours via road / 45 minutes via air
What you will need
Before you make your way to the heli-base, be sure to have the right gear.
Here is a rule of thumb:
The fatter the ski the better. We recommend to have a least 110 mm underfoot to weightlessly float over deep snow. Don’t forget to put enough layers on, it might be warm in the valley but the temperatures are certainly much colder up high. Before you board the helicopter, we provide you with avalanche safety equipment and our guides show you how to use it.
Each day of heli-ski comes with a picnic lunch break during which we serve up sandwiches, hot soup, tea, juices and water. Don't forget to pack some extra snacks to keep you going, especially if you are planning a big day on the mountain. You want to make sure you have energy to keep buzzing through the day.
Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand
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Essential planning resources
Everything you need for a smooth adventure.
Travel guide
Navigate your journey... decide where you want to base yourself for your heli-ski adventure.
Learn more
Adventure checklist
How to have the perfect day of heli-ski... a comprehensive list.
Learn more
Visit our online backcountry school
Learn all the risks and how to be safe in the backcountry. The information contained in this section is intended to inform you of the risks, dangers, and hazards you may encounter while skiing or snowboarding, and to help you stay safe while enjoying these activities.
Learn more
Subscribe to our Powder Alarm newsletter for updates on news, deals and opportunities to experience the best snow in New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Have a burning question? Find answers to your queries about our adventures and how to book your experience. Still don’t find what you are looking for jump onto our online Chatbot or contact our friendly team.
How well do I have to ski to experience heli-ski?
Ideally, you are a strong intermediate skier/boarder or better, with a sense of adventure. 'Strong intermediate' means you can easily ski all the blue runs at your home ski field, and can generally ski the black runs, even if you find them challenging.
Harris Mountains Heli-Ski has exclusive access to a wide range of terrain, from easy rolling slopes for powder first-timers to challenging chutes and steep valleys for the more experienced. Talk with us about your skiing/boarding preferences and we’ll find the perfect terrain for your heli-ski day.
Still not sure? Take our Ability Guide Quiz to find out which ability level you best fit into, and which trips we would recommend for you.
How old do I have to be to go heli-ski?
The minimum age to book one of our packages is 13 years, all guests under 18 years must be accompanied by an adult. The exception to this is our private charter options, please contact our team for more information.
How do I schedule my heli-ski day?
Book well in advance for your preferred heli-ski date. However, we also recommend that you contact us as soon as you arrive in the area, to allow flexibility in case of bad weather on your chosen date. For example, if you’re booked for a trip on Saturday, but you arrive in Wanaka on Wednesday, let us know if you’re also available to ski Friday and Sunday. The more options we have, the better we’re able to find you the best ski conditions! Remember, reservations must be confirmed no later than 6 pm on the day prior to your trip.
What’s included in the heli-ski package?
Included in all heli-ski packages:
- Fully-qualified, certified mountain specialist heli-ski guide, at a guide-to-guest ratio of 1:4-5
- Picnic lunch
- Avalanche transceiver and training on transceiver use
- Limited transportation from accommodation to heli-staging areas available
Do I need powder skis?
Wide-body powder skis or all-mountain skis are the preferred choice for your heli-ski trip. This style of ski allows you to handle a wide range of snow conditions, faster, easier and with more stability. All of our guides use these and they’re wonderful for those wanting to go longer and harder in more advanced terrain. You don’t have to own your own powder skis – talk to us and we can recommend a variety of hire equipment retailers.
How long are the runs?
Run length varies depending on the terrain and snow conditions, from 600 vertical metres to as much as 1300 vertical metres of skiing. On average, the run length ranges from 800-1000 vertical metres.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to bring your own ski/board or your hire equipment.
You will need to have warm clothing – a windproof jacket and pants, warm gloves, snow-quality sunglasses or goggles, a helmet and sunscreen. Safety equipment is provided by Harris Mountains Heli-Ski on the day unless guests want to use their own, in which case our guides check the equipment for suitability.
The day is spectacular, so don’t forget to bring a camera to capture your heli-ski adventure!
Lunch is provided, but keep in mind that you’ll be doing several hours of high-energy activity before the break. Consider packing some water and snacks to keep you going.
What about safety equipment?
We take every precaution to ensure that our clients are properly equipped and prepared for their day in the backcountry. Harris Mountains Heli-ski provides all guests with AV transceivers, and our clients are required to complete a safety briefing before the start of their heli-ski trip. In that briefing, we teach the use of avalanche transceivers, helicopter and mountain safety. More safety details.
Do you provide accommodation pick-ups?
We do encourage guests to self-drive to our staging areas. However we do have limited transportation available from your Wanaka or Queenstown accommodation to our airport helipad or staging area.
How does the weather affect heli-ski?
Mountain weather can be harsh and unpredictable. Early in the morning, our guiding team will evaluate the snow and weather information and decide if conditions are suitable for heli-ski to operate. We will then phone you to confirm if weather conditions allow us to operate. If weather conditions preclude flying, you can reschedule to the next available day. Check out our daily snow reports (available during winter only).
What are the cancellation and refund policies?
A full refund is guaranteed if your cancellation is received at least 24 hours before your trip. Failure to give 24 hours notice will result in full payment being taken. We require a 48 hours notice prior to departure for charter cancellations.
A full refund will be given if adverse weather conditions prevent flying. View the full terms and conditions.
It’s the day of my heli-ski trip. Here's how your typical day will unfold.
Planning
Comprehensive planning helps you prepare for your heli-ski adventure.
Meet our guides
Check out our guide profiles for peace of mind on who you will be on the mountain with you.
Visit our online backcountry school
Learn the risks and how to be safe in the backcountry. Intended to inform you of the risks, dangers and hazards you may encounter while skiing or snowboarding, and to help you stay safe while enjoying these activities.
Risk management
Understand our risk management process and conditions of participation.
