New Zealand Scenic Helicopter Flights

Helicopter flights over Christchurch
Christchurch earns its Garden City name from above just as much as on the ground. A helicopter climbing out of Christchurch Airport crosses lush Canterbury farmland within minutes, then the volcanic rim of Banks Peninsula, the working harbour at Lyttelton and the surf beaches of Sumner and Redcliffs, all before circling back over the city centre. On a clear day, the snow-capped Southern Alps sit on the western horizon for the whole flight. Three helicopter flights operate out of Christchurch: a twenty-minute scenic flight over the city and peninsula, a thirty-minute trial flight where you take the controls, and a three-hour flight and lunch combination in the North Canterbury wine region.

Christchurch Scenic Helicopter Flights
The Christchurch Scenic Helicopter Flight is a twenty-minute loop with GCH Aviation, departing from Grays Road near the airport. The pilot narrates as you go, over the Port of Lyttelton, the green rise of Banks Peninsula, and back along the coast through Sumner and Redcliffs. It is a low-fitness, no experience needed flight, and one of the few Christchurch activities that works equally well for a nine-year-old or a grandparent.

You Fly Helicopter Trial Flight
Christchurch is also one of the few places in New Zealand offering a genuine dual control trial flight. On the You Fly Helicopter Trial Flight, a qualified instructor sits beside you in a Robinson 22 for a full thirty minutes, talking you through take-off, hovering and landing while you hold the controls. It is a proper introduction to flying, not a token turn of the stick, and it suits anyone who has ever wondered what a helicopter licence actually involves.

Helicopter flight, wine tasting and lunch in North Canterbury
For a longer day out, the Helicopter Flight, Wine Tasting and Lunch in North Canterbury pairs an hour in the air with lunch on the ground. Garden City Helicopters, flying out of Christchurch since 1983, lands you at either Black Estate or Greystone winery in the Waipara Valley, both certified organic, for a wine tasting and lunch matched to what is in the glass. Allow three hours in total. Book it for a birthday, an anniversary, or a Saturday that deserves more than brunch.

Choosing the right flight
If you have an hour in Christchurch and want the classic view, take the twenty-minute scenic flight. If you would rather fly the helicopter than just ride in it, the trial flight is the one. If the day is about the wine country as much as the view, the North Canterbury lunch flight covers both. All three depart from the same base on Grays Road and run with an experienced local operator, so the choice comes down to time and appetite, not which company to trust. See the full range on the Christchurch flights page.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Christchurch helicopter flights run for?
The scenic flight runs for twenty minutes, the You Fly trial flight for thirty minutes with dual controls, and the North Canterbury wine flight involves about an hour in the air plus tasting and lunch, for three hours in total.
Where do the helicopters depart from?
All three flights depart from 73 Grays Road in Christchurch, close to Christchurch Airport.
Can I actually fly the helicopter myself?
Yes. The You Fly Helicopter Trial Flight puts you at the dual controls of a Robinson 22 with a qualified instructor alongside, covering takeoff, hovering and landing.
Which winery does the North Canterbury flight visit?
You choose between Black Estate and Greystone, both certified organic vineyards in the Waipara Valley, for wine tasting and lunch after the flight.
Are the scenic flights suitable for children?
Yes. The Christchurch Scenic Helicopter Flight is a low fitness activity suitable for all ages, with no experience required.
What happens if the weather turns?
Free cancellation applies up to twenty-four hours before departure, and flights bought as gift vouchers can be rescheduled, so a change in Canterbury weather does not have to mean a wasted booking.