Earnslaw Burn Heli Hike From Glenorchy
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
August 2026
2. Select participants
What you can expect
Buckle up for a breathtaking helicopter flight from Glenorchy to Earnslaw Burn where you'll join a guided hiking tour getting you closer than ever before to hanging glaciers and cascading waterfalls. It really is one of New Zealand's best kept secrets and a helicopter flight is the best way to experience it all.
Departing from Glenorchy, you'll lift off and begin the journey flying over Glenorchy, Dart River and Mt Alfred before touching down in the Mt Earnslaw Basin. Lace up your hiking boots as you follow experienced guides along a meandering glacier-fed river to see an array of wildlife, speargrass and waterfalls as you approach the Earnslaw Basin. Discover local tales of this spectacular location as you sit down for a once-in-a-lifetime picnic and further exploration.
Enjoy an incredible moment of bliss in a tranquil location beside a cascading waterfall before the tour wraps up with a scenic return helicopter flight back to Glenorchy. The Earnslaw Burn Heli Hike tour is approximately four hours with up to 25 minutes of flight time. To join the adventure, book online here.
Location
What you need to know
- Scenic helicopter flight
- Guided hike
- Optional Extras
- Alpine Landing:
- Add on an alpine landing and enjoy panoramic views of the Dart River and Lake Whakatipu.
- Total experience duration 60 minutes
- Glacier Landing:
- Venture further and touch down in an awe-inspiring glacial landscape for an unforgettable experience.
- Total experience duration 70 minutes
- Take a heli flight over Glenorchy, the Dart River, and Mt Alfred
- Follow a meandering glacier-fed river, see an array of wildlife, tussock, speargrass and waterfalls
- Conclude your hike in the Earnslaw Burn where you can enjoy a quiet picnic
- This experience departs at 10:30am
- Please allow approximately 4 hours for this experience
- This experience takes place in Glenorchy, Queenstown, Otago
- All flights depart from Heli Glenorchy on 35 Mull Street, Glenorchy, New Zealand.
- Wear sensible comfortable covered shoes
- Bring along or wear warm clothing, including a jacket
- Remember to bring your camera, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent
- Minimum passenger numbers apply
- Tour operator reserves the right to up-grade passengers or merge flights for operational reasons or flight management purposes if required
- Occasionally flight paths or landing locations may alter at the pilot’s discretion
- Flights are also weather dependent
- For the purpose of aircraft weight and balance and in accordance with the Civil Aviation Authority rules and regulations, we require all passenger weights at the time of booking. Once we have received and reviewed this information we will be able to confirm the booking
- Please contact the provider an hour and a half prior to departure for a weather check.
- Minimum of two participants for flights to operate.
- Cancellations within 24 hours incur a 50% fee.
- No-shows are charged 100%.
- If we cannot operate due to weather and passengers are unable to fly as a result, no cancellation fees apply.
- Confirmation in the form of a tour voucher will be received at time of booking
- Upon completion of purchase, please print the voucher and present on day of the experience
- Vouchers can also be presented on your mobile device for this attraction
- Availability was accurate at the time of booking however, is subject to change due to circumstances out of our control
- For your information, complete Tour Operator Information including contact details is included on your tour voucher
- We strongly suggest reconfirming your booking with the tour operator within 24 hours of making your booking and prior to making other travel arrangements
