Description
If you’re an avid skier or snowboarder, experience the slopes in a completely new way. A heli skiing adventure will take you deep into the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, an isolated region that’s been left virtually untouched.
Standing in smack in the middle of swathes and swathes of pristine white powder, fasten your bindings, inhale the crisp mountain air and admire for a moment your spectacular surroundings before pushing off and gliding forward. As the powder flies and your adrenalin levels rise, you soon realise the incredible scale of this vast mountain range. Once you reach the bottom, you board a waiting helicopter which then takes you to yet another mountain peak. Your friendly guide will tell you all you need to know to find the best snow conditions. Break at lunch for a gourmet picnic with some of the most jaw-dropping views you’ve ever seen before picking up your skis or snowboard for yet another round of riding. Heli skiing offers you a literal and physical escape from the mundanity of everyday life.
Whether you’ve never ever tried heli skiing or are a veritable pro, Harris Mountains Heli-ski (HMH) is able to match your abilities with suitable terrain. You will gain exclusive access to powder spanning from Queenstown to Mt Cook. HMH is the only heli ski business in the Southern Lakes Region to have achieved QUALMARK rating, so quality and your enjoyment are absolutely assured.
Terrain
HMH operates heli skiing adventures in the breathtaking Southern Alps of New Zealand, accessible to visitors located in Queenstown, Wanaka and the Mount Cook National Park region.
The tracts of terrain open to HMH’s heli skiing adventurers is vast, with more than 400 runs starting on more than 200 peaks in seven different mountain ranges over a total area of more than 3,000 square kilometres. Runs measure from 2,000 to 3,500 vertical feet and offer treeless skiing in the most pristine sheltered basins and bowls, steep and challenging chutes as well as mountain flanks. HMH can arrange heli skiing expeditions to the Harris Mountains, the Buchanans Range as well as the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook.
Heli-ski / Heli-board Guides
HMH’s friendly and experienced guides are some of the best in the industry. The company has been in operation for more than 30 years and has painstakingly cultivated its highly professional and committed team. Only guides who can enable you to have the best possible heli ski experience have been selected. Each year, all guides refresh their skills by attending an intensive safety training course just before ski season begins. All of HMH’s guides not only have the necessary technical qualifications but are also great fun to be around, have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and are passionate about skiing. Japanese, French, Spanish and German speaking guides can cater to a wide range of global visitors.
How well do I have to ski to go Heli-skiing?
Heli skiing adventures are best suited to skiers or snowboarders of a strong intermediate standard, and with a healthy adventurous spirit. HMH has the exclusive use of great tracts of terrain in Queenstown, Mt Cook and Wanaka. Gentle slopes are available for first time powder skiers, while yawning bowls and difficult chutes flanked by near vertical valleys cater to experienced thrillseekers. You’ll be placed in groups of four and accompanied by a qualified and knowledgeable guide who will make sure you not only stay safe every step of the way but also have the best possible time.
Please take a look at our Ability Questionaire to find out your level.
Trip Includes
- Alpine buffet lunch
- Use of tranceivers
- All transfers from accommodation to heli staging areas and return
- Pick up and drop off of you rental equipment
- Video service available at your request
Duration
Departures
- Early morning start (depending on weather)
- Operates during winter months only (July - Sept)
- Pick up from your Queenstown or Wanaka accommodation
Other Information
- Mountain weather can be harsh and unpredictable. Early in the morning, our Head Guide will evaluate the snow and weather information and decide if conditions are suitable for heli-skiing to operate. We will ring you at your accommodation to confirm if weather conditions allow us to operate
- Buffet lunch provided
- Operates during winter (July - September)
- Bring your ski/board or hire equipment
- Bring warm clothing including windproof Jacket and pants, warm gloves, sunglasses or goggles, sunscreen and camera
- It is wise to book well in advance
- Extra runs are available subject to conditions and agreement from a minimum of three clients per group
- Check out the Ability Questionaire to establish your heli ski level
- You will be skiing/boarding with others of a similar ability
- PRIVATE HELISKI CHARTERS ARE AVAILABLE
Hi Janelle, as a guide the minimum age Harris Mountains Heli Skiing generally take is 13 year olds, that being said if you have a child who is a very competent skiier and could handle heli skiing then such kids younger than 13 are often accepted if they are with their parents.
Comment by: Everything Travel Group (Belinda) on 21st Aug 13 at 17:55