How to get a great value helicopter flight in Queenstown New Zealand

Greg Petterson · 3 years ago

At a glance

Length
3 min
Channel
Greg Petterson
Video from
Mar 2023
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Budget-conscious travelers planning a Queenstown visit with flexible dates

Overview of This Queenstown Scenic Helicopter Flight

This video shows how to book a scenic helicopter tour in Queenstown, New Zealand at excellent value. The experience takes you over the stunning landscape surrounding Queenstown and includes a landing on the Remarkables Mountain Range, one of the region's most iconic peaks. The tour operator is Heliworks Queenstown, and the video focuses specifically on finding the best price through strategic booking rather than on-the-day bookings.

This experience suits travelers who want dramatic alpine scenery and aerial photography without spending a fortune, and who have flexibility in their travel dates. If you're visiting Queenstown and want a memorable but brief scenic flight with included transport from the city center, this tour delivers on both counts. The 20-minute duration makes it easy to fit into a day itinerary, yet the video suggests it feels longer and rewarding if weather cooperates.

What You'll See on the Remarkables Scenic Flight

  • A panoramic aerial view of the Queenstown region from the helicopter
  • A landing on the Remarkables Mountain Range with time to explore and photograph from the peak
  • Scenic mountain and lake landscapes typical of New Zealand's South Island
  • Free central Queenstown hotel pickup and return shuttle bus transport
  • Clear photo opportunities from the mountain landing on fine-weather days
Featured image for the guide to How to get a great value helicopter flight in Queenstown New Zealand by Greg Petterson

Planning Your Flight: Dates, Pricing, and Practical Details

  • Duration is 20 minutes of flight time, though the experience often feels longer
  • Booking is done through the BookMe website, where you can check availability and pricing for specific dates
  • Standard pricing and discounted promotional pricing vary by date; visiting the site multiple times at different times may reveal better rates
  • Morning flights are most commonly available at promotional prices
  • You'll need to enter your preferred date on the booking calendar to see current pricing for that day
  • Flight schedules depend on weather; fine conditions are essential for good views and photography
  • Free hotel pickup from central Queenstown and return shuttle service are included

Frequently Asked Questions About Booking a Queenstown Helicopter Flight

How do I find the best price for this helicopter tour?

The video recommends using the BookMe website and checking multiple times over several days. Prices vary by date, and promotional rates appear regularly—often on morning flights. If your preferred date doesn't show a special offer, try selecting different dates to find better pricing, then choose a date that works for your schedule.

What does the tour cost?

Pricing fluctuates, but the video notes that promotional pricing is frequently available and that standard rates are higher. The specific prices mentioned in the video are from February 2023, so current rates may differ. Check the BookMe website directly for the most up-to-date pricing for your travel dates.

How long is the actual flight?

The flight portion lasts 20 minutes. However, the video notes that it often feels longer than that duration, and the experience also includes a landing on the mountain where you can spend time taking photos and enjoying the views, so the total experience extends beyond the flight time itself.

Is transport included?

Yes. Free hotel pickup from central Queenstown and a return shuttle bus are included with the tour. This makes booking straightforward if you're staying in the city center, as you won't need to arrange separate transportation to the helipad.

When should I book for the best chance of good weather?

The video emphasizes that weather conditions determine the quality of views and photo opportunities. It doesn't specify a best season, but recommends checking time of day options as morning flights appear most frequently in the booking system. Having flexibility with dates—one reason to book early and revisit pricing—also helps you choose a day with clearer skies.

A still from the video How to get a great value helicopter flight in Queenstown New Zealand by Greg Petterson

Gear & products featured here

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Check Tour Availability

Key Terms

Remarkables Mountain Range
A prominent mountain range near Queenstown, New Zealand, that is a common scenic landmark for helicopter tours and the landing destination for this flight.
BookMe website
An online booking platform used to reserve tourist activities and experiences in New Zealand, including this helicopter flight.
Heliworks Queenstown
The helicopter tour operator providing the scenic flight experience shown in the video.
Scenic flight
A short aerial tour designed primarily to view and photograph landscapes from the air, typically with a landing or viewing stop included.

Sources: Remarkables Mountain Range · BookMe website · Heliworks Queenstown · Scenic flight — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia

Justin’s Take

This video is genuinely useful because it cuts straight to the practical secret of getting value on a scenic flight—knowing where to look and how to shop for dates rather than assuming a single price. Too many travelers book at the first available rate without realizing they could save significantly by checking BookMe across multiple sessions.

What works best is the straightforward booking strategy and the inclusion of real pricing examples (even if now outdated) so you have a sense of the typical range. The video respects your time by keeping the advice focused and actionable, making it easy to apply the tip immediately. If you're serious about a Queenstown helicopter experience at the best rate, this is worth watching before you book.

Great video · 2 out of 2

Justin
Justin

I started Helicopterstour.com because I genuinely believe there’s no better way to see the world than from the sky. I used to work on the Pride of America cruise ship in Hawaii, helping guests book shore excursions all over the islands. Two Vacation Hero Awards 2,000+ Guests/Week Pride of America · NCL Hawaii Shore Excursions 1000+ Tours Reviewed

Video by Greg Petterson on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, please subscribe to their channel and show your support for the great video.

Description

The way to get the best price for a wonderful scenic helicopter flight over Queenstown with a landing on the Remarkables Mountain Range is to go to the bookme.co.nz web site. (For the flight shown in this video). Open the bookme.co.nz web site, https://www.bookme.co.nz/ click on Queenstown + Milford Sound then scroll down until you come to Remarkable Scenic Flight - Heliworks Queenstown. You may need to re-visit the site multiple times and at different times to get the best price. Enter the day in the drop down calendar you would like to go for the flight and the site will give you pricing.

Standard pricing was $285 NZD in February 2023 which is around $177 USD. They generally have a special of $150 NZD which is around $93 USD (pricing as of February 2023). Obviously pricing will change over time but the bookme site does appear to have good deals most of the time.

You may need to re-visit the site on a different day if the day you want to fly does not have the special. Just play around on the site until the best price comes up. Generally it will be for a morning flight.

This flight is great value and includes free pick up from central Queenstown and return shuttle bus.

Duration is 20 minutes but it feels longer and if the weather is fine you can get some great photos from the top of the Remarkables Mountain range.

Heliworks Queenstown.

Camera used: Sony AX53, with attached ND filter. 25fps, shutter speed 50, Auto setting

Music: by Diverse Music

Latest Helicopter News

How videos are chosen here

Every video on Helicopterstour.com is hand-picked and reviewed by Justin — nothing is added automatically. Each one gets an original written guide and an honest rating: ⭐ 1 out of 2 means a good video worth your time, and ⭐⭐ 2 out of 2 means a great one we would recommend to anyone. The videos belong to their creators — every page links back to the original channel so you can subscribe and support them.

Contact us