Southern Lakes
Southern Lakes Heli Skiing New ZealandDo you fancy yourself as a bit of a powder skier or boarder? Or you've heard about the lure of riding virgin snow and want to give it a go? Go heli skiing in the Southern Lakes backcountry where there's plenty of elbow room for any powder pig (or powderhound!). It sure beats attempting to find fresh pow at the ski resorts.
With over 23 years of experience and the largest heli ski tenure in the Southern Lakes area, Southern Lakes Heli Ski is one of New Zealand’s premier heli skiing operations. Southern Lakes Heliski provides great scenery and amazing skiing and snowboarding; this is an experience of a lifetime.
Heli Ski and Heli Board Packages
Southern Lakes Heliski offers various packages that start from just 2 runs for intermediates that have little or no powder skiing experience (NZ$729). A 4 run classic package is ideal for advanced riders for $839, and a 6 run package is suited to advanced riders (NZ$989). At the expert end of the spectrum they offer 8 run maximum vertical packages (NZ$1099). Extra runs cost $99.
In addition to the guided skiing and riding, all packages include transport from your Wanaka or Queenstown accommodation to the staging area. They also include a buffet style lunch that can be enjoyed whilst taking in the magnificent vistas of the region.
If you want a chopper all to yourself and a few of your very best buddies, Southern Lakes Heliski also offer personalised charter tours.
Where is Southern Lakes Heli Ski Located?
As the name suggests, Southern Lakes Heliski operate in the majestic mountains of the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand. Their offices are located in
Queenstown &
Wanaka.
The staging area (the place you take off from in the helicopter) can vary from one day to the next depending on weather and snow conditions, and the transport to the staging area may be via a 4WD vehicle or a boat ride across the gorgeous Lake Wakatipu.
Heli Skiing Terrain
Southern Lakes has over 5,500 square kilometres of terrain. With several mountains to choose from, Southern Lakes Heliski has something for everyone. Their terrain offers cruising through untouched powder to challenging slopes on glaciers. Southern Lakes Heliski also has exclusive rights to the Central Harris Mountains on Branches Station and the famed Towers Ridge beyond the Treble Cone Ski Area, which is arguably the best freeskiing terrain in New Zealand.
As with all
New Zealand heli skiing, the terrain is above the tree-line so there is no fear about learning to ski powder and navigate around trees at the same time! Runs vary in length, but generally the vertical drop is within the range of 400 to 600 metres.
Southern Lakes operate B2 and B3 Squirrel Helicopters with groups of 5 guests per guide.
When Does Southern Lakes Heli Ski Operate?
The Southern Lakes Heli Ski season starts on July 1st and continues through to the end of September, or to October depending on demand.
As with all NZ operators heli skiing is very dependent on the weather, so you’ll need to have some flexibility in your itinerary. Thankfully you’ll have a huge range of other Wanaka or
Queenstown activities to choose from, and at least you know that you’ll be out heli skiing in gorgeous sunny conditions.
More Information
See our Southern Lakes Heli Ski review for more information.
If you have any questions or would like to enquire about a specific date
click here.