Frequently Asked Questions
Our Heli-Ski season starts 1st July and continues until the 20th September. July and August are the coldest months providing excellent powder conditions and clear weather. August to early September is often the best time with deep snow bases and regular snow falls. During late September expect spring like snow conditions. To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to book early during the peak season of July/August.
You don’t have to own your own powder skis, talk to us and we can happily arrange hire of powder skis and boards. Wide skis or powder skis are essential items for heliskiing. All our guides are expert skiers and we all use powder skis and boards. Powder skis allow you to ski a wide range of snow conditions, faster, easier and with more stability.
In order to simplify your heli-day, at Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd we can pickup and return your hire equipment from your chosen rental store free of charge. If due to weather conditions we can’t Heli-Ski/Board, most rental stores will not charge you for the rental and in most cases will gladly roll-over your equipment reservation to the next day should you wish. For rental store recommendations please contact us or talk with our frontline staff.
“If you can ski or ride blue runs on your local ski area then you can Heli-ski.” At Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd we customise your heli-day to suit your skill & experience level . Go to our ability page, rate yourself and then select the Heli-Ski package that best suits you.
Run length varies depending on the terrain however the average is approximately 600-700 vertical metres. Some powder bowls and glacier runs are much longer. Talk to us about the type of terrain you’d like to ski.
Dress as you would for a cold day at the ski area. You will need to bring wind proof jacket and pants, warm gloves, sunglasses or goggles and sunscreen. You will not need to ski/ride with a backpack. Please wear your casual shoes to the staging areas.
We provide all guests with avalanche safety beacons and instruction in their use. Our Guides will carry all other relevant safety equipment. Our safety page outlines our safety procedures, programs and standards in more detail. Download logistic and safety brochure.
Yes, Alpine Heli-Ski provide transfers from your Queenstown accommodation to our helipads. You are also welcome to self-drive this will save you time at the end of the day.
NZ mountain weather can be changeable. Early every morning our Guiding Director and Snow Safety Officer will evaluate snow and weather information and decide if conditions allow us to operate. If adverse weather prevents flying, your money will be fully refunded. If some heli-skiing has been possible during the day but less than the runs booked, you will be refunded at NZ$80 per run not skied ‘or’ downgraded to the next lowest package, whichever is the least cost to Alpine Heli-Ski Ltd. Refunds are not given due to injury, lack of ability or fitness.
Between 7:45-8:00am we call you at your accommodation to confirm the days operation and provide you with a pickup time approximately 8.30am. Guests are then transported to the staging area.
At the airport or staging area we provide a full safety briefing covering avalanche and helicopter safety. We now fly into the mountains and commence your day’s heliskiing/boarding. After several runs we select a scenic mountain top location for our sumptuous gourmet lunch.
After lunch you continue to ski/ride the remainder of your runs or upgrade with extra runs and continue skiing/riding all afternoon. At the end of the day you are transported back to your accommodation and we return any rental equipment you have hired.
Queenstown offers a wide range of accommodation options from exclusive lodges, hotels, motels and B&B’s. The Destination Queenstown website is your first stop for an extensive selection of Queenstown accommodation.