Wanaka Helicopters
Wanaka Helicopters
5
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Wanaka Helicopters has operated since the mid 1990s in the Southern Lakes region and into the World Heritage Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. Experience stunning scenery with our flights including Wanaka, Mount Aspiring, Glaciers, and Milford Sound. Trips range from 25 minutes - to all-day adventures that encompass more dramatic land, sea and alpine vistas than anywhere else in New Zealand. Wanaka Helicopters is a Safety Award Winning company. Our pilots are highly experienced scenic pilots and helicopter flight instructors. We fly 7 days a week (weather permitting) from Wanaka Airport. We are genuinely passionate about what we do and love to share our special part of the world with those who fly with us. On every flight you can expect a safe, highly professional and reliable service that will be memorable, educational and totally personal.
Wanaka, New Zealand

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
411 reviews
Excellent
398
Very good
12
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Paivi
3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
It was breathtaking! We thoroughly enjoyed that! Big thanks to Greg, our pilot, who was wonderful!! Choose a clear day and you could not want anything more awesome!
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew D
1 contribution
Mar 2023
I booked a proposal package with Wanaka Helicopters and cannot recommend their service highly enough. Having been initially booked on a 12.30pm flight for two in an R-44, bad weather meant it was put back to 3pm but conditions improved significantly and after regular updates via email and phone, we were moved forward again to 1pm. I was passing off our flight as a birthday present and staff went along with the cover story perfectly, wishing my partner a happy birthday when we arrived. Nicky from the front of house team was a big help in my advance planning while pilot Dean gave us a flight to remember and took several excellent photos of us on top of Coromandel Peak which we'll treasure forever. He struck the right balance between keeping us safe, staying on top of our timings and also allowing us space to enjoy our special moment together with the right degree of privacy. Thank you so much to Wanaka Helicopters, you ensured everything went as smoothly as possible and it was worth every last dollar!
Written 26 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Voyage04041844857
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Admiring the snowy mountains from the ground is one thing but to actually see them from the air is an unmatchable experience. Then to land on a glacier...Wow! Our pilot Simon has 30 years experience under his belt and it shows with his knowledge of the mountains and commentary. We landed at Isobel Glazier, Madagasca Beach and then Milford Sound....the younger pilots there showed so much respect for Simon and one of them said of Simon "he taught me everything i know" (yes say no more) the guy is a legend....[spoiler alert] and he even taught Tom Cruise a few tips in flying when he filmed his movie there "Mission Impossible - Fallout". I watched the movie that same night and at the opening wedding scene I realised that Simon took a photo of my wife and I at the very same spot under the tree branches with the mountain and waterfall on the background.
All in all....Wanaka Helicopters is 10/10 thanks to receptionist Nikki, pilot Simon and the team.
Written 31 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Connor D
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Couples
Flight was incredible!! Everything from reception to our pilot was so genuine. The views of Mt Aspiring are mind blowing! And a especially beautiful place to propose 😉 Will be flying with them again!
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So glad you loved your proposal flight and congratulations again! Thank you for the lovely review and we will hopefully see you again sometime soon on another flight.
Written 30 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

tamski439
Polruan, UK3 contributions
Mar 2023
First time in a helicopter and have to say I was nervous and excited in equal measure, but it was such a great experience, I needn’t have worried! The flight was so smooth 👌 Weather was not ideal for our hoped for circuit of Aspiring but our pilot Mike more than made up for it with Plan B and we were treated to 2 landings, breathtaking views of glaciers, valleys, lakes and high mountain country. Just fabulous. Thank you Mike and team for making my bucket list wish such a memorable trip…. I am still grinning from ear to ear 24 hours later!
Written 8 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oh wow we are so glad you loved your flight so much! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice review. The Wanaka Helicopters team :)
Written 30 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Stephen S
4 contributions
Feb 2023
We did the Wanaka experience. Simon, our pilot, was knowledgeable and friendly on top of being a very smooth pilot. We had a beautiful clear day for our flight and were rewarded with excellent views of this beautiful area
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brissie_Gail
Brisbane, Australia8 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
Amazing experience with a great pilot and a fantastic team who were so accommodating of our tight timetable. Highly recommend.
Written 10 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ben S
2 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
Awesome team who were really flexible. Had a great chat with Mike and Greg who took us around some of the best views of Wanaka, couldn’t recommend more! They really knew what they were doing and talked us through some of the technical aspects of flying in Wanaka in addition to some of the history and geography.
Written 6 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Neville R
Wollongong, Australia85 contributions
Dec 2022
It was our third attempt to book Coromandel Peak Picnic Lunch. On the day before our booking our flight was diverted to Christchurch. Dionne was able to rebook us for the next day. We have flown with them before for a wedding and the correspondence and experience has always been first class. Dionne made an amazing picnic lunch for us to have on Coromandel Peak which we couldnt finish. Greg our pilot was accommodating and nothing was any trouble. We were lucky that on the day we flew the weather was perfect. Thank you for your trouble and effort. After waiting 3 years due to covid and 3 failed attempts you made our experience a more than memorable one. Thank You.
Written 1 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shalini A
2 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Nicky went above and beyond to ensure our flight went ahead, even came in extra early in the morning for us. Really shows the hard working nature of this company. Excellent flight with Mike! 10/10 would recommend.
Written 13 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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WANAKA HELICOPTERS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go