There is more to be discovered in New Zealand than the roads can take you. This article will bring you to a last-minute helicopter tour experience, touring the South Island, Canterbury Region through Rakaia River and Mount Hutt, in its mountains and breathtaking scenery.
Here is what you need to know about riding a helicopter for the first time: the cost for a tour, your options, and the honest experience from the first time we stepped on a helicopter.
How Did We End Up Doing a Last-minute Helicopter Tour
Dear Readers,
We were travelling the South Island of New Zealand, this time as a Family. Stopping by around the Rakaia River for a coffee by the river, we noticed a sign posted on a fence in front of where we had parked our car.
This morning, we had just left Fable Terrace Downs Resorts, our accommodation the night before, and were stopping by for coffee. The Hotel is located near Mount Hutt.
In all of our minds, a helicopter tour, even for a 15-minute ride, was assumed to cost an absurd amount. That’s why we were immediately drawn to the idea of getting on a helicopter for 199 NZD per person to see one of the most beautiful countries in the world from above.
The Process Before the Helicopter Tour
After a brief discussion within the group while waiting for our coffee, which was great by the way, we decided to ask them about the tour. Without hesitation, the coffee shop owners offered to call them for us to enquire about their availability. While waiting on the call, they told us that on some days their helicopters would be parked at the space on the other side of the fence.
Before long, the inquiry process was done. In short, from what the shop owner told us, they were available at the moment, and we could do a helicopter ride right away at the same price as posted on the sign, and all we had to do was drive up to the hangar located only a few minutes away.
Is the process before the ride a long one?
In case you may be sceptical about having to go through a long process, there is not really any. If you are thinking of a cruise or boat tour, where sometimes you are required to show up an hour or so before it actually leaves due to the number of people on one tour, a helicopter tour is generally private; it means there is no waiting around. The process is simply fast and stress-free.
After a few minutes of driving, we pulled up at the office in front of a hangar, where we met up with the pilot.
Then, after a few minutes of preparation, as we booked a last-minute private helicopter tour on a whim and showed up in 20 minutes, he welcomed us to the hangar area and began explaining the details of the tours. With a large map, he guided us through an overview of where we would go with what kind of tour, and what we would do. After the explanation, we were allowed to choose the tour length.
The Helicopter Tour Options
The tour is simply categorized by the duration, starting from 15 minutes to an hour and a half, round-trip. A simple breakdown below:
- 15-minute tour: quick ride around the farmland around Mt. Hutt with a view of the Southern Alps’ foothills (more of a helicopter experience)
- 45-minute tour: A ride around Mount Hutt itself, also passing the Rakaia Gorge and the valleys, with a landing on one of the peaks.
- One hour and above: a ride to further places, landing at other peaks (probably with better views), landing beside a glacial lake, etc.
- Other services also include hunting and fishing trips, Heli-Picnic, weddings, and more.
For more detailed information, you can check out Heli Rural page here! If you want to know more about the experience, keep reading!!
For us, considering the price and that it was our first time, we chose the 45-minute tour, which we found to be the best deal for us, considering the experience we are looking for, which is mainly riding on a private helicopter tour for the first time.
The procedure before the Helicopter Tour
It is simple and only took a few minutes.
Filling forms, accepting risks, our details, stating any health problems, etc.
Going through the safety instructions: Don’t touch anything, keep the seat belts on until told otherwise, how to exit the aircraft, do not walk around the back, duck down, do not jump, stay low until clear of the blades, and always follow the directions given upon landing. This basically sums it up. Any other details we missed will be explained to you anyway.
Your role beyond that is simple: sit down and enjoy the tour, take a lot of photos, that is all.
Important note: we are not advising you on anything and are not experts. We are only taking you through what to expect. The details you must follow will be given to you by the staff on the tour.
The Helicopter Ride Experience: What it really feels like?
If we were to compare a helicopter vs. a plane ride, it is rather smooth, no bumpy landing like a plane, no lengthy take-off on a runway either. Interestingly, there is also no ear popping on our ride, and it is because the helicopter gradually climbs the altitude and there was no need to fly that high up.
What there is, though, is a loud voice from the blade spinning, but you will be wearing headphones, so it is fine. Another thing is the feeling that you are on some kind of ride in an amusement park, especially if you are in the front seat.
No, what I am comparing this to is not when you go on a roller coaster, it is more of those virtual things where the chair you sit on moves, except that the view is now real, and you are in a moving helicopter cruising around a mountain, climbing and descending.
As the maneuverability of a helicopter relies a lot on that tilting motion, you too will also feel a more unusual experience. One where the ground, which is supposed to be under you, appears directly in front of you; the same thing also happens for the left and right sides. One moment, you are looking at the sky and the horizon, another moment, you are now looking at the ground or the side of a mountain without ever moving your head.
Although it is not a big adrenaline rush like going skydiving, it is a bit nerve-racking for my mother-in-law in her fifties. But, she did enjoy it very much as well.
The ride alone was quite a fun experience.
Note: You can feel motion sickness. Personally, I am the type to get it just from sitting in the backseat of a car. I would say that the 45-minute helicopter ride was a good spot for me.
The Scenery From Above: Helicopter Tour (Scenic)
It is simply impressive. Seeing it with your own eyes is very different from a video taken from a drone, seeing through a screen, or a small plane window.
The view will also be one from a spot where you would never be able to reach without a helicopter, so it is pretty much one of a kind. Well, unless maybe you are one of those extreme hikers. Still, not having to walk up there is special in its own way.
Although seeing it through your own eyes will be best, we will let the image speak for itself. Our helicopter tour also included a landing on one of the remote peaks, and the view from there was incredible.
- For what to wear on a helicopter tour: our tour was a scenic tour, so basically anything will do, but it is very windy when we landed on top of the mountain, so make sure to dress appropriately for the weather.
If lucky, you can also see some wildlife on the way.
Our Verdict for the Helicopter Tour and Pricing
We ended up paying around 399 NZD per person, or around 1600 NZD in total for a 45-minute ride. The price for a 15-minute ride will be roughly half this price, or a total of around 199 per person (prices during our trip in late December of 2025).
The helicopter we were on will carry up to 5 passengers (including one pilot), so it is perfect for a group of 4.
A price like this is certainly not just a little amount of money for most; however, we would still say that it is worth it.
We treat this helicopter tour in the South Island of New Zealand as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we do encourage you to try as well. It is perfect for special occasions, like a honeymoon or a big anniversary.
For those who can afford it without many hurdles, we would say go for it! It is a good activity to do while traveling, and one of the best ways to see the country from a new perspective.
With love for travelling,
Travel Tegami