I've never flown in a helicopter. Is it scary?
No. It's like being a passenger in a chauffeured car. We take a lot of first-timers flying, and they come back from their flight awestruck and wondering what they were worried about.
I don't like flying in small planes so there is no way I will get on board a helicopter.
Our seven-place helicopter is very smooth and stable in the air. And Richard your pilot is very experienced in reading weather patterns, which means he is good at avoiding bumpy areas, or al least be able to warn you of any unavoidable updrafts.
Is there an age limit?
There is no age limit for our scenic flights. In fact, families love experiencing a helicopter flight together. Toddlers under 4 years of age fly for just $75 on an adult's lap (maximum of 2 under fours per flight). At the other end of the scale, we frequently take less able passengers for a flight who enjoy the experience of seeing a part of Central Otago which they used to hike in their younger days, or just simply have never seen. To aid embarking and disembarking the helicopter, we have a ramp to ease access for less mobile passengers.
What if the weather is no good on the day?
We fully understand that a scenic flight is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If the weather is not suitable on the day of your flight, we will be liaising with you in the lead up to your scheduled flight date and find a suitable alternative that fits within your travel dates.
Are we under strict time pressure?
While we do run flights to a schedule, we pride ourselves in paying attention to each individual group, and making them feel special. We love meeting people and forging relationships. We love it when passengers leave as friends, with friendships carrying on beyond our first encounter. But we do expect passengers to adhere to their scheduled flight time and to be on time for their check in.
What are your three favourite flights?
1. The Cromwell Basin flight with Alpine Landing because you learn so much about the area's history, and get stunning views from the alpine landing site.
2. A guided Heli-Bike trip because you get to experience 100% Pure Central Otago outdoors.
3. The Ladybird Winery Heli-Dine package because where else do you get to visit NZ's highest winery, catch your own salmon for lunch, enjoy tasting 5 wines while you wait for your salmon to be prepared, and then enjoy a 2 course lunch. And did we mention the stunning landscape you fly over to get there and back?
What is different about your Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly package?
Our Cromwell location means that you get to see more of NZ's stunning landscape from the air en route to Milford Sound. We have purposefully teamed up with Southern Discoveries' Discover More Cruise as it is Milford Sound's longest cruise on offer. Southern Discoveries' catamaran is a very stable craft, making the journey an enjoyable outing. In addition, the Discover More cruise has the highest staff to passenger ratio of any Milford Sound cruise, as well as having two dedicated Nature Guides on board. And to finish off the experience, a visit to the Milford Sound Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory is included. An optional extra is a guided kayaking trip through the Harrison Cove.
Is the heli-mountain-biking really extreme downhill riding?
No. We have a variety of routes to cater different levels of biking experience. If you can confidently ride a bike, this is for you.
What is a Selfride Heli-Bike trip?
This is a supported heli-bike trip but without a guide. We consult with you about the different route options to choose a suitable one for your group's experience level, we give you the route map and track descriptions, we provide a packed lunch, and we pick you up by vehicle at the end of your trip.
How do I get to Cromwell?
The easiest and most flexible option is to drive yourself. Hire cars are available at reasonable rates and you get to explore more of our beautiful region - check out www.cromwell.org.nz for inspiration.
Another option is to make use of public transport buses, such as Ritchies, Intercity and Naked Bus.
Do you pick up from Cromwell?
Yes, we offer complimentary pick ups from Cromwell by prior arrangement.
Do you pick up from Queenstown?
By prior arrangement, we can pick up from Queenstown, but there is a charge associated with this: a one way transfer is $150, a return transfer is $250. This covers our time, mileage, fuel, passenger endorsement licenses and vehicle registration for passenger transport. By comparison, a taxi hire is anywhere between $170 and $200 per one way.
Want to know more about our terms and conditions?
Check out our Trade Policies page.
My question hasn't been answered.
That's easy - just email us and we'll gladly answer it for you. You can reach us on info@heliview.co.nz.
No. It's like being a passenger in a chauffeured car. We take a lot of first-timers flying, and they come back from their flight awestruck and wondering what they were worried about.
I don't like flying in small planes so there is no way I will get on board a helicopter.
Our seven-place helicopter is very smooth and stable in the air. And Richard your pilot is very experienced in reading weather patterns, which means he is good at avoiding bumpy areas, or al least be able to warn you of any unavoidable updrafts.
Is there an age limit?
There is no age limit for our scenic flights. In fact, families love experiencing a helicopter flight together. Toddlers under 4 years of age fly for just $75 on an adult's lap (maximum of 2 under fours per flight). At the other end of the scale, we frequently take less able passengers for a flight who enjoy the experience of seeing a part of Central Otago which they used to hike in their younger days, or just simply have never seen. To aid embarking and disembarking the helicopter, we have a ramp to ease access for less mobile passengers.
What if the weather is no good on the day?
We fully understand that a scenic flight is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. If the weather is not suitable on the day of your flight, we will be liaising with you in the lead up to your scheduled flight date and find a suitable alternative that fits within your travel dates.
Are we under strict time pressure?
While we do run flights to a schedule, we pride ourselves in paying attention to each individual group, and making them feel special. We love meeting people and forging relationships. We love it when passengers leave as friends, with friendships carrying on beyond our first encounter. But we do expect passengers to adhere to their scheduled flight time and to be on time for their check in.
What are your three favourite flights?
1. The Cromwell Basin flight with Alpine Landing because you learn so much about the area's history, and get stunning views from the alpine landing site.
2. A guided Heli-Bike trip because you get to experience 100% Pure Central Otago outdoors.
3. The Ladybird Winery Heli-Dine package because where else do you get to visit NZ's highest winery, catch your own salmon for lunch, enjoy tasting 5 wines while you wait for your salmon to be prepared, and then enjoy a 2 course lunch. And did we mention the stunning landscape you fly over to get there and back?
What is different about your Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly package?
Our Cromwell location means that you get to see more of NZ's stunning landscape from the air en route to Milford Sound. We have purposefully teamed up with Southern Discoveries' Discover More Cruise as it is Milford Sound's longest cruise on offer. Southern Discoveries' catamaran is a very stable craft, making the journey an enjoyable outing. In addition, the Discover More cruise has the highest staff to passenger ratio of any Milford Sound cruise, as well as having two dedicated Nature Guides on board. And to finish off the experience, a visit to the Milford Sound Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory is included. An optional extra is a guided kayaking trip through the Harrison Cove.
Is the heli-mountain-biking really extreme downhill riding?
No. We have a variety of routes to cater different levels of biking experience. If you can confidently ride a bike, this is for you.
What is a Selfride Heli-Bike trip?
This is a supported heli-bike trip but without a guide. We consult with you about the different route options to choose a suitable one for your group's experience level, we give you the route map and track descriptions, we provide a packed lunch, and we pick you up by vehicle at the end of your trip.
How do I get to Cromwell?
The easiest and most flexible option is to drive yourself. Hire cars are available at reasonable rates and you get to explore more of our beautiful region - check out www.cromwell.org.nz for inspiration.
Another option is to make use of public transport buses, such as Ritchies, Intercity and Naked Bus.
Do you pick up from Cromwell?
Yes, we offer complimentary pick ups from Cromwell by prior arrangement.
Do you pick up from Queenstown?
By prior arrangement, we can pick up from Queenstown, but there is a charge associated with this: a one way transfer is $150, a return transfer is $250. This covers our time, mileage, fuel, passenger endorsement licenses and vehicle registration for passenger transport. By comparison, a taxi hire is anywhere between $170 and $200 per one way.
Want to know more about our terms and conditions?
Check out our Trade Policies page.
My question hasn't been answered.
That's easy - just email us and we'll gladly answer it for you. You can reach us on info@heliview.co.nz.