Heli Skiing Private Charter, Queenstown - New Zealand

Fitness and Experience

Heli-Skiing is often wrongly perceived as extreme skiing and boarding only suitable for expert skiers and riders. We have terrain to suit a wide range of abilities from gentle rolling powder bowls to challenging steep chutes. If you can ski/ride blue runs on your local ski area you can Heli-ski. The scale below will help you to identify what level of skier/boarder you are, and will help us to deliver an optimal day for you by allowing us to match your ability with the right terrain, conditions and heli-package. We call this ‘Powder Personalised’ and it’s our way of minimising risk and maximising satisfaction on your Heli-Day.

• Intermediate Skier/Rider – Heli 1 You ski/ride the blue runs, only sometimes go off piste, have little or no powder experience and ski up to 10 days per season.
• Intermediate to Advanced Skier/Rider – Heli 2 You ski/ride the blue runs and some easier black runs, sometimes go off piste in good conditions, have some powder experience and ski 10-20 days per season.
• Advanced Skier/Rider – Heli 3 You mainly ski/ride black runs, go off piste most of the time, have many days of powder experience and ski/ride over 20 days per season.
• Expert Skier/Rider – Heli 4 You always ski/ride black and double black runs, you almost only ever ski/ride off piste, you are an accomplished powder and all snow condition skier/rider. You ski/ride 40 days plus per season.

What to Bring/Wear

• Weatherproof jacket and pants
• Warm gloves
• Sunglasses or goggles
• Sunscreen
• Casual shoes should be worn to the staging areas (carry your boots)
• You will not need to ski/ride with a backpack
• If you do not own your own powder skis/board you will need to rent them from the local rental outlet, please advise us on your booking form if you need us to arrange this for you

What is Supplied

• Transfers between accommodation and helipad
• Use of safety equipment
• Number of runs as per your booking choice
• Gourmet lunch
• Pick-up and drop off of rental equipment (hire of equipment excluded)

More Information

WHEN: Heli-Skiing is possible between early July and Mid September (subject to weather). To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to book early during the peak season of July/August. LOCATION: Heli-Skiing takes place in New Zealand’s South Island in the stunning Southern Alps surrounding the international resort towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. Heli- Skiing in this vast area is world class, with everything from gentle rolling powder bowls & basins, to snowy ridges, to steep & deep chutes – all available for your skiing/riding pleasure! The terrain spans numerous mountain ranges all offering something unique, and all affected differently by prevailing snow and weather conditions. It is these variations that allow us to customise your Heli-Day to suit your skill & experience level, minimise your risk and maximise your powder adventure! Several of the best skiing/boarding locations are deep in the backcountry so that’s where we go to ensure you get you to the freshest & deepest snow. Transport to and from your accommodation to the heli-pad is provided each day. From the heli-pad it is as much about the journey as the destination as you fly by helicopter through the stunning Alpine terrain to your activity zone. WEATHER: New Zealand mountain weather can be unpredictable. Early every morning the Guiding Director & Snow Safety Officer will evaluate snow and weather information and decide if conditions will allow us to operate. If adverse weather prevents operation clients will be refunded as per our refund policy. If some heli-skiing has been possible during the day, but less than the runs booked, you will be refunded at NZ$70.00 per run not skied or downgraded to the next lowest package.