Glacier Heli-hike

Overview

Our Glacier Heli-hike takes place on the remote Isobel and Tyndall Glaciers in the Te Wahipounamu / South West New Zealand World-Heritage site and Mount Aspiring National Park in the K? Tiritiri o te Moana / Southern Alps. Our trips are run in small private groups adding to the feeling of isolation. This allows all trips to be individually tailored to mountain conditions, fitness, and personal ambition. Savor the views of high alpine peaks of Tititea / Mount Aspiring through to Pikirakatahi / Mount Earnslaw as you explore the glacier with its crevasses and icefalls and remote landscapes with your certified guide.

On the morning of the trip, your guide can pick you up from your accommodation in Wanaka or you can meet them at the Aspiring Helicopters hangar at Cattle Flat on the Wanaka / Mount Aspiring Road.

After introductions and gear checks, the helicopter takes off and travels 15-20 minutes along the Matukituki Valley, across the Harris Mountains, and deep into the heart of the Southern Alps / Ka Tiritiri o te Moana.

The group is dropped off high on the glacier under the slopes of Mount Tyndall.
Your guide will introduce the technical equipment and skills required to safely move around the glacier including using ropes, crampons or snowshoes.

You will spend the day exploring the glacier. With views in all directions, you will get to experience the features of the glacier up close including crevasses, terminal lakes, and ice falls.

At the end of the day, the helicopter returns for the scenic flight back to Wanaka.

Equipment

The helicopter flight will transport you up above 2000m in the mountains where temperatures can be much colder than the valley floors.

A full range of conditions can be expected and participants need to be suitably prepared. You will need:

Snow boots
Gloves (warm and waterproof)
Long sleeved thermal tops (polyprop or merino)
Warm layers (fleece or synthetic-fill)
Waterproof jacket
Long outdoor trousers or thermal leggings
Sunhat and sunscreen
Warm hat and neck gaiter (eg Buff®)
Sunglasses (with good face coverage)
Backpack and water bottle

If there is anything you don’t have, let us know and it can be supplied.

We provide any required technical equipment such as helmets, harnesses, ice axes, gaiters, crampons or snowshoes.

The Glacier Heli-hike is run in association with Aspiring Helicopters.

Prerequisites

All trips are individually tailored to mountain conditions, fitness, and personal ambition. There are a variety of options and routes available.?Shorter-duration trips can be arranged to suit the group.

No mountaineering experience is required. All required technical equipment is provided.

Dates & Pricing

Availability

Available for private bookings from November to April.

Booking Conditions

Trips are very weather dependent. We recommend having at least a day either side of your booked date free to give you the best opportunity to get good conditions. Trips take place in a dynamic and remote mountain environment and the itinerary will be flexible to account for conditions.

Testimonials

‘A relaxing getaway with an old mate combined with a cool lodge and back country skiing. Awesome slopes. Staying at Whare Kea Chalet was an amazing place with awesome facilities and luxury beds with a view of the Milky Way! Backcountry ski touring with a guide in remote locations takes all the stress out of making decisions.’

— — Murray, Whare Kea Chalet Ski Tour

‘[WMG] crafted an absolutely incredible day for us! The heli flights, the hiking, the lunch, everything exceeded our expectations. It was a joy to spend the day with him. We highly recommend Wanaka Mountain Guides for any adventure.’

— — Debbie, Alpine Heli-hike

‘A great day out on the glacier. We learnt a lot of alpine skills from Jules. The scenic and blue sky were awesome. Thank you for organising a fruitful and safe glacier hiking’

— — Ricky, Glacier Heli-hike