Helicopter Flights Taranaki & Ruapehu : Heliview

Taranaki Daily News, Thursday 28th October 2010

Written by MATT RILKOFF

Though it is generally agreed that the best things in life are free, Taranaki's number one "thing-to-do" starts at $200.

After an exhaustive search, and 10,000 votes later, a helicopter flight over Taranaki's iconic mountain has been awarded the mantle of the province's number-one "must-do" experience – even though the 20-minute trip costs $200 per person.

Click here to check out the full list of Taranaki's Top 50 must-do experiences.

The tour – which was elevated to the top spot from its sixth position in a 2007 poll – triumphed over strong competition from free experiences – Dawson Falls, TSB Bank Festival of the Lights, New Plymouth's Coastal walkway and Pukekura Park.

The news comes as no surprise to Jolanda Foale, of New Plymouth's Heliview Flights. Though she is usually driving the car while husband Richard flies the helicopter, she's flown over Mt Taranaki so many times that she has lost count.

"You are so much closer to the experience in a helicopter," she said.

"The mountain trip is definitely the most popular – especially with Taranaki people, who have a special relationship with it, but also disabled and elderly people who have no other way of getting up there."

A flight afforded people a different perspective of the mountain and gave them a complete view of the Egmont National Park ring plain and the Taranaki bight, Ms Foale said.

Matt Newton, of Precision Helicopters, said scenic flights around the mountain were limited by the weather.

About 100 days each year were suitable for flying in the area.

"I think it's quite unique throughout the world," he said. "There is nothing that comes close, except maybe Mt Fuji. But to be by the coast and then fly to an alpine environment in such a short time is rated very highly."

Mr Newton said a flight over the mountain gave passengers a glimpse of what New Zealand bush had been like 200 years ago, before goats, possums and other introduced species tore into the bush.

Taranaki's outdoor opportunities dominate the top 50 "must-do" experiences and take out nine of the coveted top-10 positions.

"In a region that features both a picture-perfect mountain and a coastline filled with surfing and scenic opportunities, it's not surprising that experiencing the landscape was rated so highly by voters," said Venture Taranaki tourism boss Paul Stancliffe.

Venture Taranaki is developing an illustrated regional map showcasing the top 50 things-to-do, which will be available online and in print from late November.