Alpine Heliski NZ
Alpine Heli Ski NZ
For powderhounds who are addicted to skiing or boarding virgin snow, fresh tracks are as vital as breathing oxygen. Finding freshies at the NZ ski resorts is rare, and whilst it’s sometimes possible to find fresh powder at the
NZ club fields, it can be hard to have a nut-cracking good time considering the general lack of facilities. The ultimate alternative is a helicopter – it’s a million times better than a
nut-cracker rope-tow! And with a helicopter you can hit the backcountry where there are thousands of hectares of untouched snow – it’s music to a powderhounds ears!
Alpine Heli Ski NZ provides a range of heli skiing packages and charter trips in the spectacular Southern Alps near
Queenstown,
Wanaka and
Mt Cook. Their packages are suitable for seasoned pros or heli skiing virgins. However if you haven’t been heli skiing yet, be warned. Go
heli skiing once and you’ll begin a love affair that you may not be able to break off!
Queenstown Heli Skiing and Heli Boarding Packages
Like all other
New Zealand heli skiing operators, Alpine Heli Ski offers
single day trips. Standard packages come in 3, 4, 6 or 8 run increments. The 3 run day is a sampler package that is generally tailored to intermediate riders with little or no powder skiing experience. At the other end of the spectrum, the 8 run thigh burner package is an adrenaline maxed out day for experts. The packages include the guided skiing and boarding, safety equipment, a gourmet lunch, pick up and return of any rental equipment, and transfers between your
Queenstown accommodation and the heli pad.
Alpine Heli Ski also offers
Big Mountain packages in the Mt Cook/Lake Tekapo region. These big vertical packages either start from Tekapo or from Queenstown with a fixed wing flight to Tekapo. These packages only operate on demand or with a minimum group of 4.
There is a 6 run package or a 10-12 run package (based on 2 hours helicopter fly time). The 10-12 run package usually clocks over 30,000 feet of vertical in a day.
Alpine Heli Ski also offers
private charter trips that are charged according to fly time.
If you have a group of 4 or more and you are all pretty good skiers, this is a great way to get a huge amount of vertical at a reasonable cost and at the same time have a personalised service.
Free Ride Days
Alpine Heliski’s Free Ride Days are gaining in popularity. These unguided free ride heli days are run on specific days each season, and because the rides are charged per helicopter drop, it’s a very inexpensive way to get a taste of heli skiing. They utilize terrain near Queenstown such as Roundhill (not the Roundhill near Tekapo), stake out an area, and after that you can just go for it. Do as few or as many runs as your legs and budget will allow.
Where is Alpine Heli Ski Located?
The Alpine Heli Ski office is located in the Outside Sports shop in
Queenstown (36-38 Shotover Street). Powder skis or other equipment can be hired downstairs in the rental department of Outside Sports.
Alpine Heli Ski’s playground is within the stunning mountains near Queenstown, Wanaka and Mt Cook.
Heli Skiing and Heli Boarding Terrain
The terrain on offer is vast to say the least. It’s more than 1,800 times the size of Coronet Peak, so the guides have lots of slopes to choose from to find the best snow conditions. The terrain is appropriate for various ability levels, from blue-runners through to experts.
The alpine terrain includes powder bowls, ridges, chutes and glaciers. Run length varies somewhat with an average vertical drop of about 600-700 metres. In the Mt Cook region the runs are generally much longer, with some runs in excess of 1,200 metres so you’ll need to undertake an intensive pre-season training regime!?!
Another highlight of the heli skiing is the opportunity to be up amongst the spectacular terrain in the Southern Alps. Chances are you’ll become really snap happy, so take an extra memory card for your digital camera.
When Does Alpine Heli Ski Operate?
The Alpine Heli Ski season starts on July 1st and continues through to September 30th. Peak time is during August.
As with all New Zealand heli skiing, fly days are very contingent on the weather. The choppers may be grounded every second day on average, so keep your itinerary a little flexible. Thankfully there are a plethora of other world famous
Queenstown activities to keep you entertained.
More Reasons to Go Heli Skiing with Alpine Heli Ski
Alpine Heli Ski is a boutique operation so they can provide a somewhat personalised experience. And considering the business is owner operated, Tim and his team strive to ensure that you have the best possible experience. Chances are that your heli-ski day will be absolute bluss!
Heli skiing with Alpine Heli Ski is not just for the rich and famous. Mere mortals can also experience the joys of heli skiing considering the very affordable packages. And if you’re not a kiwi, convert the NZ dollar into your local currency (
convert here), and then it seems criminal not to go heli skiing.
For more information see our
Alpine Heli Ski review.
Wanna hit the pow now? If you’re ready to book or have any questions
click here.
Alpine Heli Ski have also started to spice things up in the Himalayas in India, with the
Gulmarg Heli Skiing operation.
Reservations PolicyCancellations – Cancellations made up to 24 hours prior to skiing will receive a full refund.
Refunds – If flying is not possible due to adverse weather conditions, clients will be fully refunded. If some Heli-Skiing/Boarding has been possible, but less than the number of runs booked, clients will be refunded at NZD$70 per run not skied, or ‘downgraded’ to the next lowest run package, whichever is the least cost to Alpine Heliski Ltd.
Please note: Refunds are not given due to injury, lack of ability or fitness.