heli tours from queenstown

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Queenstown Essential

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A Queenstown Helicopter Tour:

Highlights:

• Explore two landing locations 
• Spectacular views over Queenstown and The Remarkables
• Fly over historic gold mining area – Skippers Canyon

Cecil Peak, Moonlight Creek, Shotover River, Skippers Canyon… we’re serving up all the crowd favourites with this spectacular round trip.

It’s not called the Queenstown Essential for nothing! This round trip takes you over the most iconic, must-see sites in the Queenstown area.

Heading down the Frankton Arm, we touch down on Cecil Peak for sweeping views of the lake, town, and surrounding mountains.

Back in the helicopter, we continue past Ben Lomond and into Moonlight Creek towards the famous Skippers Canyon. This area is steeped in the rich history of early gold miners – best viewed from above.

We follow the winding Shotover River canyon back home for one last landing before swinging past Coronet Peak before landing back at base.

Iconic sites – tick!

If you are looking for a shorter experience, check out our Remarkables Scenic experience or view all experiences .

45 minute experience

2 Alpine landings

Alpine Seasonal Snow

Queenstown from above

Adult (12+): $560 per person

Child (3-11): $395 per person

Infant: (0-2): $280 per person

Prices are valid from 1 October 2023 - 30 September 2025. On our shared departures, you may be in a helicopter with up to 9 people.

Charters are a great option for bigger groups, or if you would like a more intimate experience.

Find out more about our fleet .

Squirrel (up to 6 passengers): $2,800 per helicopter

Airbus H130 or twin-engine Squirrel (up to 6 passengers): $3,360 per helicopter

BK (up to 9 passengers): $4,480 per helicopter

Prices are valid from 1 October 2023 - 30 September 2025.

We offer complimentary return transport from downtown Queenstown, near the Athol Street bus stop. Please make sure to book this in addition to your flight experience. If you are self-driving, we are based in Frankton and we have plenty of parking available.

• Wear comfortable covered shoes
• Bring along or wear warm clothing, including a jacket
• Remember to bring your camera, sunscreen and sunglasses

Bookings • We recommend booking in advance via our online booking calendar. • For the purpose of aircraft weight and balance and in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority rules and regulations, we require all passenger weights at the time of booking. Once we have received and reviewed this information we will be able to confirm the booking. • Our booking system will ask for your credit card details, which are securely stored to confirm your booking, however we will not charge your card until the day of your booking. • Please note a surcharge will be incurred for credit and contactless payments. Your flight • You will need to contact us one hour prior to your departure time for a weather check. • Minimum passenger numbers are required for all scenic flights. We reserve the right to upgrade passengers or merge flights for operational reasons or flight management purposes if required. • Flights depart on demand and are subject to availability. • Flights depart from our Heliworks Queenstown base in Frankton. • Advertised times away, flight and landing times are approximate and can be subject to weather conditions. On occasion, flight paths and landing locations may change at the pilot’s discretion. Pricing • Our prices change annually from 1 October. Please select your preferred date of travel on our booking system or view the pricing section to view pricing schedules. • Prices are in NZ currency and include Goods and Services Tax. • We reserve the right to change prices at any time without further notice. However, if we have confirmed an advance booking the quoted price will not be altered. Payments • We accept EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard and cash. Please note a surcharge will be incurred for credit and contactless payments. Cancellations • Any cancellations made within 24 hours of departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee. If passengers ‘no-show’ for a flight, 100% of the fare will apply. If we cannot operate due to weather and as a result, passengers are unable to fly, no cancellation fees will apply.

More of our Favourite Flights

• Remarkables Scenic

  20 minute experience   1 Alpine landing   From: $290 per person

Queenstown looks much different from up here. Enjoy the drama of Lake Whakatipu and the surrounding mountains from a landing point on top of The Remarkables.

• Snow Landing

  30 minute experience   Snow landing   From: $410 per person

Enjoy a very cool experience with our epic snow landing over Queenstown. Pack your coat and your camera for a truly elevated experience.

  45 minute experience   2 Alpine landings   From: $560 per person

• Glacier Express

  1 hour experience   1 Glacier landing   From: $720 per person

We’re heading West! Skipping over Skippers Canyon to catch a sneaky peek of Fiordland before touching down on – you guessed it – a glacier.

Heli Wine Express

  1.5 hour experience   2 Scenic landings   From: $2,500 per charter

Scenery, choppers, and wine – this tour has it all. Take in the rustic beauty of the famous Central Otago wine region from the air, and then taste your way through a boutique vineyard.

Paradise Picnic

  1.5 hour experience   1 Scenic landing   From: $2,650 per charter

Discover paradise on the ultimate picnic. Let us share with you one of our favourite local nooks, nestled among the stunning Queenstown mountains.

SCENIC FLIGHTS

• Earnslaw Burn Express
• Earnslaw Burn Explorer
• Fiordland’s Finest
• Milford Sound Explorer
• Heli-Hiking

DESTINATIONS

• Earnslaw Burn
• Milford Sound
• Fiordland & Doubtful Sound
• Filming and Photography
• Long lining
• Helicopter Fire Fighting
• Search and Rescue
• Aerial Sluicing
• Farming and Conservation
• Wedding Day Services

GROUPS & EVENTS

• Private Charters
• Our Helicopters
• Terms & Conditions

CONTACT Email: [email protected] Freephone: 0800 464 354 Phone: +64 3 441 4011

LOCATION 64 Grant Road, Frankton Queenstown, New Zealand

© 2024 Action Helicopters Ltd Website by Webstudio

Christmas Day, 25th December 2024 - We are currently fully booked. 

Glacier Explorer

Flight 105 - Explore dramatic glaciers up close.

Venture into Mt Aspiring National Park to explore dramatic glaciers up close.

Our most popular scenic helicopter tour flies over the Queenstown Basin, Paradise Valley and Mt Aspiring National Park. Enjoy an exhilarating helicopter flight over spectacular mountain scenery, impressive ice falls and multiple glaciers before landing on exclusive alpine terrain and stepping out to breathe in the back country wilderness. When conditions permit* you'll land on the glacier itself for once in a lifetime photo opportunities before heading back to Queenstown over hidden alpine lakes and historic Skippers Canyon. 

*Please note: between January and June, due to the summer conditions such as snow cover changes exposing crevasses, we may not be able to land on a Glacier as our landing locations are limited. In such instances, you will always flyover the Glaciers, but we can’t guarantee a Glacier landing. Your pilot will choose the next best alternative such as landing close to the Glacier or opting for an Alpine landing, either of which will have spectacular views.

Trip Pricing

• Current Season
• Next Season

Dates: October 1 2023 – September 30 2024

Dates: October 1 2024 – September 30 2025

This flight is available on an exclusive basis for private groups. Please email our team by using the 'enquire now' button below for more information.

*We can accommodate up 6 passengers per helicopter depending on weights

Glacier Explorer Flight Path

Note: Flight path is indicative only.

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5 Best Queenstown Helicopter Tours 🚁 [2024]

Nz pocket guide is 10 years old. thank you for trusting us with your trip for over a decade, what are the best helicopter flights in queenstown.

Nothing captures the dramatic alpine scenery of Queenstown quite like a helicopter flight. Flying by helicopter from Queenstown not only means that you can soar over the landscapes of a UNESCO World Heritage Area , but land in remote locations that no one else could enjoy. Queenstown helicopter tours can be anything from 20 minutes to three hours of breathtaking scenery where every single photo in you take is bound to be a prize-winner. All helicopter tours include a landing, whether it’s on a glacier, to ski on pristine slopes, or to enjoy a gourmet picnic by a remote lake. Take a look at the list of the best helicopter tour companies in Queenstown below and start planning your adventure like no other.

While you’re here, you might also be interested in 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown and 5 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown .

1. The Helicopter Line Queenstown

Fly over Queenstown’s iconic mountains with a snow landing almost always included in the experience. The Helicopter Line Queenstown is Queenstown’s original helicopter tour company, taking you to the scenic highlights of Queenstown or even further afield to Mt Cook , Twizel , Franz Josef and Fox Glacier . They offer four set tours, with the most popular being The Remarkables with a landing in the mountains or the Southern Glacier Experience with a landing on the Jura Glacier. Find out more about The Helicopter Line Queenstown, read reviews and book a flight on Viator ,  Tripadvisor or KKday .

2. Over The Top – The Helicopter Company

Over The Top Helicopters mixes scenic flights over Queenstown, Milford Sound and Fiordland with adventure experiences. Combine your flight to alpine glaciers or remote lakes with a gourmet picnic, hiking, boating, extreme golfing, wine tastings and fly fishing. Check out their Private Champagne Picnic or Altitude Golf Experience for examples of their unique helicopter tours in Queenstown. Find out more about Over The Top – The Helicopter Company on Klook , Viator and Tripadvisor . See more special occasion activities in the  19 Most Romantic Things to Do in Queenstown for Couples .

3. Glacier Southern Lake Helicopters

Soar over Queenstown, Mt Aspiring, Fiordland National Park and Middle-earth scenery on a scenic helicopter tour with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters . The helicopter company owns an up-to-date fleet of Airbus helicopters, offering spectacular tours to Milford Sound including a glacier landing, a tour of The Remarkables with a mountain landing, or treat yourself to something extra special with a Private Charter Fiordland Ultimate Helicopter Tour . See the complete offering of Glacier Southern Lake Helicopters on Viator and Tripadvisor .

4. Alpine Luxury Tours

Alpine Luxury Tours offers a wide range of luxury activities in Queenstown, from wine tours to heli-hikes. Among their offering, are scenic helicopter flights through Queenstown’s remote backcountry, to Milford Sound, and most famously, for a heli-hike to Middle-earth Waterfalls , otherwise known as Earnslaw Burn. Whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fan or not, it’s hard to not be impressed by this hanging glacier creating tumbling waterfalls. Discover more experiences from Alpine Luxury Tours on Viator and Tripadvisor . Additionally, find out more about the Middle-earth locations in the area with our guide, Lord of the Rings Locations in Queenstown , as well as more luxury tours in the  10 Best Luxury Experiences in Queenstown .

5. Alpine Heliski

Swap the busy Queenstown ski fields in the winter season for remote and uncrowded runs in a heli-skiing experience with Alpine Heliski . Land on a remote mountain with powdery snow for a couple of long runs following your expert guide through stunning scenery. Midway through the tour, you’ll enjoy a hot gourmet lunch with tremendous alpine views. Choose to pay for extra runs or head back down to Queenstown Airport with hotel transfers included. Discover more from Alpine Heliski on Viator and Tripadvisor . Plus, learn more about skiing in Queenstown in our The Ultimate Guide to the Queenstown Ski Season .

More About Queenstown

That’s it for our list of the best Queenstown helicopter tours but by no means the end of our Queenstown advice. Check out more tips in the following guides:

• 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown
• Top 5 Golf Courses in Queenstown
• 10 Wonderful Wineries in Queenstown
• 13 Best Foodie Experiences in Queenstown
• 20 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Queenstown

Finally, get all-inclusive planning advice in  The Complete Travel Guide to Queenstown .

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

• Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
• Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
• Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
• Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
• AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
• NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
• Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
• TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
• Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
• Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards : At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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Helicopter tours from Queenstown – prices, timings, Milford Sound

Queenstown is known as ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ and attracts more than 3 million tourists every year.

The visitors come in for unique thrills in water, air, and land – activities such as Skydiving, Paragliding, Bungy Jumping, Ziplining, Canyon Swinging, helicopter rides, etc.

With places such as Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier, Tasman Glacier, Mount Cook, Middle-Earth Waterfalls, Mt. Tutoko, Richardson Mountains, Lake Wakatipu and more to see, helicopter trips are a hot choice.

This article covers everything you must know before booking a helicopter tour from Queenstown.

• Top helicopter flights from Queenstown

# Mt Cook Adventure Tour # Pilot’s Choice Helicopter Tour

# Helicopter tour + snow landing + Milford Sound cruise

Table of contents

Helicopter tour + snow landing + milford sound cruise, glacier heli-hike tour from queenstown, mt cook adventure tour, pilot’s choice helicopter tour, alpine scenic flight from queenstown with snow landing, clarke glacier explorer flight, southern glacier experience helicopter flight, lord of the rings and glacier helicopter tour, departure point, restrictions strictly followed, exclusions of the air tour, cancellation policy, best helicopter tours from queenstown .

Since there is so much to see and do, Queenstown helicopter rides come in many flavors.

We present below our favorite ten heli ours, which are popular with vacationers in this part of New Zealand.

All these tours come with live commentary by the Pilot.

This 4-hour trip starts when you board a six-seater Airbus Squirrel helicopter.

Set off for Milford Sound , the most popular fiord in New Zealand.

A fjord or fiord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier.

Once you land on the famous fiord, you embark on a scenic cruise to explore Milford’s sheer cliffs and phenomenal waterfalls. 

If you are lucky – and most visitors are – you will see dolphins, seals, and penguins.

Once the Cruise is over, you board the helicopter again for an aerial tour, followed by a snow landing on Mt. Tutoko.

After ten minutes, you take off again and return to Queenstown. 

Tour Operator:  Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

Tour timings: 8 am to 5 pm

Inclusions:

• Landing and facility fees
• Headsets to hear the pilot clearly
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Cost of the tour

Adult ticket (12+ years):  US$836 per person *Child ticket (up to to 11 years):  US$588 per person

*If your less than three years old kid will sit in your lap, they can join the tour for free. No need to buy tickets for them. 

Does the idea of a visit to the filming location of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey sound exciting? With this upgrade, you also get a picnic lunch for free.  Find out more

Start this 6-hour tour by boarding an airplane in Queenstown.

Since the fixed-wing plane can’t land on snow, you change to a helicopter for the last leg of your journey. 

The helicopter passes over the deep crevasses of the icefalls and waterfalls to land on either upper Franz Josef icefall or the Tasman glacier.

Buckle up your hiking boots and crampons to begin your two-hour snow hike. 

We don’t recommend this tour for pregnant travelers and people with severe medical conditions.

Tour Operator:  True South Flights

Tour timings: 9 am

• Hiking boots and crampons are provided
• Air-conditioned vehicle

Adult ticket (14+ years):  US$943 per person Child ticket (8 to 13 years):  US$817 per person

On this 12-hour trip, you rise above the streets of Queenstown, quite literally!

Head to the mighty Southern Alps in luxury and style. 

Spend the day at Mount Cook Village , which is at the foot of Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain. 

During this tour, you can include a helicopter experience whenever you want – to reach there or to get back or board a chopper to see the stunning views of Mt Cook, or if you dare, go on a heli hike. 

If you decide to spend time in the Mt Cook Village, you can check out the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center , and visit an alpine salmon farm.

Tour Operator:  Cheeky Kiwi Travel

Tour timings:  6.30 am

• Small Group and Fully Guided Tour
• Bottled water
• Transport to Hooker Valley Track

Tour & Ultimate Alpine Exp.: US$459 per person Mt Cook Tour & Helihiking: US$613 per person

This 20-minute trip is one of the cheapest helicopter experiences from Queenstown. 

On this helicopter flight, you fly over Lake Wakatipu for stunning aerial views.

Take in the fantastic views of the Remarkables mountain range.

You will also be able to get down to feel the snow under your feet. 

After spending ten minutes taking photos and exploring, you get back to your helicopter for the return trip. 

Tour Operator:  Totally Tourism – The Helicopter Line

Tour timings:  10.30 am, 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, and 3.30 pm

• Hotel pickup and drop off
• Scenic helicopter flight with landing (20 minutes)
• Pilot guide
• Live commentary on board

Adult ticket (15+ years):  US$213 per person Child ticket (4 to 14 years):  US$149 per person Infant ticket (up to 3 years):  US$106 per person

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters also offer the  same helicopter tour . 

This 30-minute trip happens on a 6-seater Airbus Squirrel helicopter.

See spectacular views of Skippers Canyon, the Wakatipu Basin, and Queenstown.

Land on a snow-capped peak to take in the fresh air and photographs. 

Tour timings:  8 am to 5 pm

Adult ticket (12+ years):  US$288 per person Child ticket (up to 11 years):  US$203 per person

Yet another helicopter operator called Over the Top Limited offers the same tour with 45-minute duration.  Check t hem out

This 50-minute helicopter tour starts with views of Queenstown.

Move on to bask in the beauty of the Paradise Valley and finally of the Mount Aspiring National Park .

Enjoy captivating scenery of blue-green ice formations and majestic mountain spires.

Reach Clarke Glacier for a touchdown.

After you’ve gotten your dose of the snow and taken enough photographs, hop back on the chopper to return to Queenstown. 

Tour timings:  9 am, 2 pm, 3 pm

Adult ticket (12+ years):  US$494 per person Child ticket (up to 11 years):  US$347 per person

This 50-minute trip starts when you take off on your chopper from the Northern shores of Lake Wakatipu.

The rugged peaks of the Remarkables mountain range come into view.

Look down for the most refreshing perspective of Queenstown.

Once you reach Jura Glacier, the helicopter lowers itself for a snow landing. 

Admire the panoramic views of Mt Aspiring’s remote alpine landscape.

On the way back, you see picturesque valleys of the Rees and Dart rivers.

The tour is ideal for families and couples.

Tour Operator:  The Helicopter Line

Tour timings: 8 am to 4 pm

• Hotel pick up and drop off from centrally located Queenstown hotels
• Scenic helicopter flight with snow landing (5-10 minutes)
• Informative commentary during the flight
• Professionally trained pilots have specific experience flying in New Zealand’s alpine environment
• New Zealand’s Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Adult ticket (15+ years):  US$465 per person Child ticket (4 to 14 years):  US$326 per person Infant ticket (up to 3 years):  US$233 per person

Mr. Alfie Speight will be the Pilot and host of this 70-minute helicopter tour.

He was the primary film pilot for the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and also piloted his chopper during numerous stunt scenes of ‘ Mission Impossible – Fallout .’

All along the tour, you get to hear his stories about how the movies were filmed.

Mr. Speight lands the helicopter at two places – Clarke Glacier in Mt. Aspiring National Park and Skippers Canyon. 

Some of the fictional spots you can see during this tour include Isengard, Misty Mountains, Amon Hen, Lothlorien, and the Redhorn Pass. 

You also get to see the mountain range from the opening scene of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.’

• 70 minutes of flight time

Adult ticket (12+ years):  US$655 per person Child ticket (up to 11 years):  US$460 per person

Back to Top

Heli tours from Queenstown offer a hotel pickup facility.

Alternatively, you can also head directly to the meeting point.

Address: 35 Lucas Place, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand. Get Directions

The heliport is near public transportation.

The tours end back at the meeting point.

There are multiple take-offs daily, so book early to get your preferred time slot.

Weight limits apply for safe and comfortable Queenstown helicopter rides.

A minimum and a maximum passengers are required on these tours, failing which, they will be canceled.

Some tours are free for infants below three years, other charge highly discounted tickets.

Weather-appropriate dressing is advised due to cold temperatures.

Moderate fitness is required for these tours.

No pets are allowed onboard except service animals.

Some tours may not be wheelchair accessible.

The tours are not recommended for pregnant travelers or travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

A valid passport or ID card is required.

Flight times are approximate subject to weather conditions.

Seating arrangements may often be in the hands of the tour organizers for a safe and stable flight.

Personal expenses and gratuities are not included in your Queenstown heli tour tickets.

They also exclude meals, food, and drinks unless stated otherwise.

Souvenir photos are not clubbed in your ticket price. They will be available for purchase separately.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before your tour date. 

If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, a 100% percent cancellation fee is applicable.

No changes are allowed within 24 hours of the experience’s start time.

Helicopter tours require good weather. 

If the tour is canceled due to poor weather or non-fulfillment of the minimum number of passengers, you may be offered a different date or a full refund.

Tours in New Zealand

# Milford Sound helicopter tours # Helicopter tours to Mount Cook #  Helicopter tours to Franz Josef Glacier

Recommended Reading

# Experiencing your first helicopter flight # Clothes to wear during helicopter tours # How to overcome fear of flying #  Scuba diving – how long to wait before flying? #  Why helicopter tours are an excellent activity #  FAQs about Helicopter tours

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Fly above the clouds and experience the breathtaking landscapes of Queenstown and surrounds on a Queenstown helicopter tour.

There is nothing quite like a Queenstown helicopter flight experience. Fly to the top of a glacier and land of the snow, discover Middle Earth on a Lord of The Rings flight, embark on a heli-wine tasting adventure, tee-off the top of a mountain, go on a heli-hiking adventure or experience the untouched paradise of Fiordland and Milford Sound as you fly deep into the world-renowned national park.

There are are Queenstown helicopter tours available of all lengths and interests, no matter if you're a skiier, golfer, wine enthusiast or simply want to take in the magnificent landscapes from above.

Queenstown Heli Gin Tour

Take to the skies on a unique Helicopter Gin experience.

Error: Contact form not found.

• Exclusive gin served on a mountain top
• Heli Gin Tour Queenstown
• Heli-Gin Set up - James Bond style
• Exclusive Locations

Cardrona Distillery

• Cardrona Distillery Tour
• The barrel room at Cardrona Distillery
• The famous bra fence
• The Winery Arrowtown
• Gin Tasting Flight
• Winery platters
• Gin Tasting in Queenstown
• Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits
• Broken Heart Gin Tasting
• Tarte Flambee at the Gin Garden
• Broken Heart Gin
• Famous German Tarte Flambée (Delicious German pizza)

Gin on the rocks. Literally.

Take to the skies for an incredible scenic flight and mountaintop gin-tasting adventure, before traveling to three tasting rooms to try award-winning gins and other spirits, including vodkas, whiskeys, and liqueurs.

Your Altitude Gin Journey Begins

This 6-hour Helicopter Gin Tour departs Queenstown in the early afternoon. Start your day with a pick-up from your Queenstown accommodation and enjoy a special scenic 15-minute helicopter flight. Land on a mountaintop, where the helicopter will shut down for 25 minutes allowing you to enjoy a unique gin-tasting experience while taking in the breathtaking views of Queenstown. 

Your helicopter will touch down in the Cardrona Valley, and you will be greeted by your Altitude Tours guide and the remainder of your group. Enjoy a Gin & Tonic on arrival, and then the Cardrona Distillery staff will take you on a tour through the distillery to learn about the history of their label and educate you on how Gin is made. Finish in the private tasting room to not only taste the Gin they produce but also their other award-winning spirits and liqueurs.

The Winery Tasting Room

We continue the tour by road, taking the iconic and scenic drive down the Crowne Range to the historic gold mining village of Arrowtown. At The Winery sample three NZ gins accompanied by a tonic or soda while enjoying shared cheese platters packed with Whitestone cheeses, breads, olive oil & dukkah. If you would like to pause on the gins you can exchange your gin tasting for wines as The Winery has over 80 bottles of wines available to sample in their top-of-the-line tasting machines.

The Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits

Lastly, we head to Arthurs Point to The Gin Garden by Broken Heart Spirits. Here, you’ll experience a hosted tasting where you’ll learn about the brand’s history and savour the flavours of their multiple award-winning local gins. Indulge in more light food, including a German-style tarte flambee. We aim to return to Queenstown around 6:30pm

Experience the Unforgettable

This gin experience has been designed to offer a good mix of education, sightseeing, and fun. There is also flexibility to try other spirits such as vodka, whiskey, and wines throughout, if you want to balance your gin-take. Let us take you on New Zealand’s first gin tour and experience more with Altitude Tours.

Tour Overview.

Gin tour faq's, is the helicopter confirmed at time of booking.

The helicopter is subject to availability at the time of booking and requires a minimum of four people to operate on the day.

The helicopter flight is also weather dependent and flights on the day are subject to the discretion of the helicopter provider who reserves the right to cancel flights at short notice.

In the event that the helicopter does not fly on the day of your tour, you will be contacted directly to determine if you’d like to travel by road.

Can you drink other spirits, wine or beer on this tour?

You will have the option to choose other drinks such as whiskey, bourbon, vodka, wine, or beer. However the tour revolves around gin, so although there is some flexibility, you would really still need to like gin to go on this tour.

What brand and types of gin will we experience on the gin tour?

You will get to taste and drink local gins from The Cardrona Distillery, Broken Heart, Scapegrace, also other NZ brands. There is a range of flavours and variations such as citrus, pinot noir, mixers and ice to suit.

Can our group be split between the heli and road option?

Yes if anyone does not want to fly by helicopter they can travel with our guide by road and meet the rest of the group at the Cardona Distillery.

Is there any food on the gin tour?

Yes, there are shared cheese grazing boards and Tarte Flambeé a German speciality pizza. However this isn’t until stop 2 & 3, so please eat a good meal before departing on tour.

Do you cater to dietary requirements?

Absolutely! Just let your guide know of any dietary requirements at the beginning of the tour and this can be catered for.

What is the minimum age for this tour?

This tour is R18 – unfortunately the locations do not take under 18’s.

What do I need to wear and bring?

You can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable! Make sure to bring sun protection for those sunny days where you might want to enjoy outdoor tastings. For ideas on what NOT to wear check out our blog: What not to wear on a tour

Where do you pick up and drop off from?

We pick up from the main bus stop routes in Queenstown town centre and along Frankton Road and select Queenstown hotels. When booking, type in your accommodation and it will suggest the closest bus stop. If it doesn’t come up just check in with us and we’ll let you know where is closest for you!

What are the minimum and maximum numbers of people for this tour?

Minimum numbers for this tour is 4 people, and maximum is 14pax, so you’ll get a great small group experience!

Can I buy the gins we taste?

Yes! All gin purchased is placed in the boot of the vehicle and passed over to you on completion of the tour so you can enjoy it after or later on your holiday.

Is it true the Wolf of Wall Street was one of our first customers?

I want to book but my ideal date is not showing when i try to book online.

You may still be able to join us! If you are a group of four or more, then reach out to our team as we may still be able to host you on your desired date.

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Queenstown gin tour.