Glentanner High Country Heli Hike

About This Experience

This heli-hike takes place on Glentanner Station, a family-owned high country station in the Aoraki/Mount Cook region, on private land you can only reach with a guide. It is a high country walk, not a glacier trip: the helicopter lands on station land and the route follows a farm track. Allow about 4 hours, including check-in at Glentanner Holiday Park and the helicopter safety briefing, for a tour of about 3.5 hours.

An 8-minute scenic helicopter flight over the Southern Alps foothills takes you to a landing point high on Glentanner Station. From there a knowledgeable guide leads you along about 7 km of well-maintained 4x4 track, telling the story of the rough early days of high country farming and of the far older glaciers that carved the Mackenzie Country. Hiking poles are supplied, and tea, coffee and snacks come with the tour.

The tour also gives you access to the station's fully restored Historic Field Station and its exhibition. Guests describe the route as fairly flat for about a third of the way and downhill for the rest, with plenty of stops, and the listing says most healthy people with street-level fitness should enjoy it. It still asks for at least a moderate level of fitness, and it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Sunscreen and insect repellent are supplied, but proper hiking footwear and clothing for the day's weather are up to you. Infants can come along and sit on an adult's lap for the flight. There is no pickup: everyone checks in at the Glentanner Holiday Park reception desk 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start.

Highlights

• Exclusive access to private land on family-owned Glentanner Station
• Walk about 7 km along a well-maintained 4x4 track through tussock high country
• High country farming history, from the early station days back to the glaciers that shaped the Mackenzie Country
• Views over the Southern Alps and down to Lake Pūkaki on clear days
• A corner of the Aoraki/Mount Cook region away from the familiar tourist route

What's Included

• ✓ 8-minute scenic helicopter flight to a landing point high on the station
• ✓ Knowledgeable and friendly local guide
• ✓ Access to the restored Historic Field Station and exhibition
• ✓ Hiking poles
• ✓ Tea, coffee and snacks
• ✓ Sunscreen and insect repellent

Not Included

• Proper hiking footwear
• Clothing suited to the day's weather
• Pickup (everyone meets at Glentanner Holiday Park)

What to Bring

• Proper hiking footwear
• Layers suited to the day's weather
• A rain jacket if showers are possible
• Camera or phone

Good to Know & Caveats

• This tour does not go onto a glacier. The helicopter lands on Glentanner Station land and the walk follows a 4x4 track.
• Check in at the Glentanner Holiday Park reception desk 30 minutes before departure. The whole outing takes about 4 hours.
• At least moderate fitness is expected, though the listing says most healthy people with street-level fitness should enjoy the walk.
• Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the flight.
• Glentanner is a separate place from Mount Cook Airport, about 15 minutes' drive apart on SH80, so head to Glentanner for this one.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

Meeting Point

Glentanner Holiday Park reception desk, where you check in 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. There is no pickup; everyone meets at the start point.