Helicopter Experiences

With sweeping beaches, lush rainforest and gin-clear rivers, this area has some of the most rugged scenery and interesting history Fiordland has to offer. View native birdlife and follow in the footsteps of intrepid early European settlers on a remote guided hike, stopping for a freshly prepared gourmet picnic lunch enroute.

Then discover the famous Milford Sound and all its spectacular sights by helicopter, including Mitre Peak & Sutherland Falls. Land on one of the breath-taking glaciers for a once in a lifetime photo opportunity. Your return flight will take you along the Murchison Mountains, a special conservation area and home to the endangered Takahe, a flightless bird once thought instinct.

Price: $10,200 NZD (incl GST) minimum of two people maximum of 4 people.

Experience Fiordland from every angle with an action-packed day of trout fishing, jet boating, hiking and a scenic helicopter flight.

With this package, you’ll fish and jet boat the mighty Waiau River, fly over the Fiordland National Park and hike a section of the famous Kepler Track –incredible locations all right on the doorstep of Te Anau. Enjoy the grand landscapes Fiordland is famous for by water, air and land, all in one unforgettable day.

Jet Boating + Fishing - Begin with being collected from Fiordland Lodge and a morning on the mighty Waiau River. Try your hand at fishing for Rainbow or Brown trout and soak up the thrill of jet boating alongside the Fiordland National Park. Then a pick up riverside for your Scenic Helicopter Flight. Soar high above breath-taking lakes and mountains on a scenic helicopter flight, enjoying a special landing in a remote alpine location. After being dropped at the Luxmore Hut, perched high on Mount Luxmore, a delicious picnic lunch is included. Then time to Hike the Famous Kepler Track. Lace up your walking shoes for an afternoon of hiking - this three-hour guided nature walk follows a portion of the famous Kepler Track. Limestone bluffs, incredible views and lush forest sections make this walk truly unforgettable. Once you have made your way down to Brod Bay you journey back to Te Anau via water taxi before returning to Fiordland Lodge.

Your Epic Fiordland fay out includes transport to and from Fiordland Lodge, fishing licenses, delicious home baking for morning tea and a picnic lunch.

Pricing $995 per person, extra people $570 per person. Minimum number 2 people, maximum number 6 people.

Guided Walk Description

After your helicopter ride you arrive at the Luxmore Hut, the first hut on the Kepler Track Great Walk. With your knowledgeable, local, nature guide, learn about the fauna and flora in the surrounding alpine tussock fields, and enjoy the panoramic views of the Te Anau basin, scenic lakes and surrounding Fiordland Mountains. After time exploring the alpine area, the opportunity is to walk to the summit of Mount Luxmore, and enjoying a true wilderness tea break. The trip from the Luxmore hut to the summit of Mount Luxmore is approximately 2-hours return up-hill from the Luxmore hut.

Then...descending through magnificent mountain and silver beech forest the effects of different altitude and weather conditions experienced in Fiordland are clear to see, as the trees and undergrowth quickly change, creating a varied backdrop for your hike. Half way is marked as we pass under magnificent towering limestone bluffs allowing the guide to share the geology of Fiordland with dramatic visual examples. The approach to Lake Te Anau is evident by the track meandering through native New Zealand ferns and other sub-tropical species. Your guide will share local conservation efforts on the Kepler Track and demonstrate a stoat trap, a tool used in controlling these introduced predators which can decimate our native bird population.

The hike is finished at the sandy beach of Brod Bay, the pick-up point for the boat cruise back to Te Anau township. The boat ride offers an enjoyable way to complete this amazing and very beautiful guided walk on the Kepler Track, offering good viewing of your path, from alpine area to the clear water of Lake Te Anau. You will be met from your boat ride and returned to Fiordland Lodge.

General Information

If you do not climb to the summit this is an easy downhill walk (8km) requiring a medium level of fitness. There are plenty of stops for photographs, bird-watching and interpretation along the way to break the descent. There is plenty of opportunity to learn about the natural and human heritage of mighty Fiordland. Your experienced guide will carry all safety and communication equipment to ensure your wellbeing on the guided walk.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking boots/shoes, waterproof jacket, warm clothing including hat and gloves, sun screen and sun hat, camera, lunch (if not pre ordered), water bottle, day pack, personal medication if required, and insect repellent. Walking poles are optional.

Trip Information

Allow up to 5 hours, group size maximum 12 people, fully guided walk and average fitness required.

Guided Rate...$575 per person or unguided...$295 per person + $30 per person for water taxi

Enjoy a unique experience on 2 of New Zealand’s GREAT Walks combined with an iconic Milford Scenic Helicopter Flight....

Departing Fiordland Lodge at 6.30am with your private guide and vehicle you start by travelling the world’s most scenic highway towards Milford Sound for your 1st GREAT walk “The Milford Track”. Departing from Milford Sound you begin with a short boat ride to Sandfly Point and here the Milford Track meanders alongside the cascading Arthur River through lush rainforest to Giant Gate. This spectacular waterfall (pictured below) is best viewed from the large swing bridge spanning the river. Soak up the grandeur of the world-famous Milford Track from the ancient canopy trees towering above to the emerald-green ferns below and the birdsong that echoes through the trees.

This New Zealand Great Walk is suitable for all abilities and there is much to see, walking is at an easy going pace and your personal nature guide will point out the native plants and birds inhabiting this lush environment, and share the track’s stories, bringing the history of the area to life. Walking Distance 11 km, mainly flat track with 30 metre gain in height.

Arriving back at Milford Sound for approximately 1pm your helicopter is booked to lift you for a scenic flight of Milford Sound taking in Sutherland Falls, Mitre Peak, and towering ice capped mountains. Approximate flight time 1.5 hours.

This flight is a real highlight of the day and on your return helicopter journey we will take you back towards Te Anau along the Murchison Mountains, a special conservation area paramount in the management of the endangered flightless Takahe.

The start of your 2nd GREAT walk begins with a helicopter drop off at the Luxmore hut (1085 meters above sea level) the first stop on the Kepler Track and the starting point for your 8km walk.

From the hut you can enjoy the panoramic views out over the Te Anau basin, scenic lakes and Fiordland Mountains before descending through a magnificent silver and mountain beech forest where you will experience the changes in vegetation as you descend through the altitude to your pick up point at Brod bay.

From the sandy shores of Brod bay we transfer you back across Lake Te Anau to the town ship of Te Anau through boat an enjoyable way to complete this very beautiful walk.

Price: $3075 based on 1 or 2 people (extra $1090 per person after 2 people) maximum 6 people.

Includes all transfers, scenic helicopter flight, nature guide, picnic lunches, boat transfers and concessions.

Enjoy this premier heli-flight experience. This grand-daddy of scenic flights takes you on a spectacular journey across the renowned Fiordland National Park. From sea level to mountain tops, this flight incorporates Fiordland's top three destinations, Dusky Sound-New Zealand's largest fiord, Doubtful Sound and the iconic Milford Sound. This fabulous flight departs and returns from the lodge lawn.

The Ultimate Fiordland flight

Flying by helicopter enables you to see so much more, including remote hidden valleys and spectacular coastlines. Three landings are made on this trip, and you may like to take lunch or refreshments with you to enjoy at one of the landing locations. Simply put, it's the Ultimate Fiordland Experience!

Trip Duration: 3 hours - 3 landings

Key Points: Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound

Price: NZ $2045.00 - Price is per person

Sights of Southern Fiordland

Southern Fiordland is a magical part of the world where the sea, rivers and lakes combine with endless coastline, mountains and forests to showcase New Zealand’s wilderness at its best.

The "Sights of Southern Fiordland" flight provides a unique opportunity for clients of Fiordland Lodge to experience this wilderness from above as well as on the ground.

You will be picked up from the Fiordland Lodge by helicopter at 10am. From here you will fly westward to the Tasman Ocean and then south along the coastline and outlines of Doubtful, Dusky and Chalky Sounds.

Preservation Inlet is the southernmost of Fiordland’s fiords and Puysegur Point is the site of one of New Zealand's most famous and remote lighthouses. The helicopter will land here so that you can explore this area on foot with a local and knowledgeable guide.

After this walk you will be flown to the only privately owned Lodge in Fiordland for a lunch featuring fresh locally sourced food and refreshments.

After lunch your aerial exploration of southern fiordland will continue. Alpine and waterfall landings will add another dimension to your day and we can quarantee you will be amazed by the variety and scale of the landscape.

Your flight will finish at 4pm when you are dropped off back at the Fiordland Lodge.

Price: $4,900 NZD (inc GST) per person. (Minimum of two people)

This one-day kayaking excursion is a magical way to experience the stillness of Doubtful Sound and to appreciate the scale of the surrounding mountains. With helicopter flights to and from Deep Cove you are transported straight into the heart of this remote area of Fiordland. Explore the sheltered coves and shorelines of Doubtful Sound by kayak with your tour guide and at the end of your adventure you will be transferred back to Deep Cove by boat, ready to experience Fiordland by air as you return to Te Anau. A gourmet picnic lunch is included and all kayaking gear.

Itinerary: ***9.45am departure from Fiordland Lodge, arriving at Deep Cove at 10am followed by a 1.5-hour morning kayak. Gourmet Picnic Lunch provided onboard the safety vessel and then a 2.5-hour afternoon kayak with a 30-minute cruise back to Deep Cove. Depart Deep Cove at 3pm for your scenic flight back to Fiordland Lodge arriving at approximately 3.30pm (Please note other timetables may be available)*** #Fly / kayak / Fly (alternative departure times also available)

NB: As the kayak cockpit is a fixed size, to ensure customers will “fit” into our kayaks we must impose a weight limit of 115kg. Children 14 years minimum age – children must have kayaked some distance before. Each child must be traveling with a strong adult (as they will be in a double kayak with parent) and be at least 1.4 meters tall and at least 45 kg in weight. With the private charter and customers flying in we are pretty flexible with times but often the mornings are the best time in terms of wind strength. Departing from Deep Cove between 9.00am and 1.00pm are preferable. The kayak is in one direction and the boat trip back is around 30 minutes.

What to bring: Bring a warm, waterproof jacket, comfortable soft shoes, warm socks, swimwear for under wetsuit (provided), towel, insect repellent. Camera at own risk. Water bottle and a set of dry clothes.

Price: $9,408 based on 1-6 people. Includes all transfers, nature guide for the day, picnic lunches.