Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

What Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters does

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters (legally Helicopters Queenstown 2020 Ltd) is a privately held New Zealand helicopter tour and charter operator founded in 1980, headquartered in Frankton adjacent to Queenstown Airport. The company operates a fleet of six Airbus helicopters (H125 B3e Squirrels, H130 T2, and H145 twin engine) described as the newest Airbus fleet in New Zealand, with leather interiors and panoramic windows. It holds CAA Part 135 certification, Qualmark Gold certification, and Department of Conservation concessions to land in Fiordland National Park and Mt Aspiring National Park, providing access to UNESCO World Heritage landscapes.

The company generates revenue through multiple service lines: per-seat scenic flights (range $335-$1,325+ adult), premium private charters ($5,295-$22,670+ per flight), combination packages with Queenstown operators (Shotover Jet, KJet, Dart River), Heli Hideaways at remote wilderness lodges (Ben Nevis Station, Waitai Lodge, Greenstone Hut, Jackson Bay), aerial filming services for film and television productions (over 100 credits including Lord of the Rings and Mission: Impossible), and commercial helicopter operations (heavy lifting, agricultural support, firefighting, search and rescue, DOC contracting). Customers are served directly through the company website, phone reservations, complimentary hotel shuttle pickup from 17+ Queenstown locations, and B2B direct sales. The company employs 11-50 staff including highly experienced specialist pilots (e.g., Alfie Speight with 17,000+ aerial filming hours).

The business is a hybrid tourism and commercial aviation operator with diversified revenue streams across consumer (DTC scenic tours), luxury (premier charters and hideaways), and B2B (film production, government contracts, industrial services). Its ownership is concentrated among pilot-directors Luke McEwan, Luke West, and Pat West. Operating geographies are concentrated in Otago, Southland, and Central Otago, with global film industry clients. The business is weather-dependent and tourism-cyclical, with strong seasonal demand through Queenstown's peak visitor period.

Name

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters

Legal name

Helicopters Queenstown 2020 Ltd

Website

https://www.glaciersouthernlakes.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters is a privately held New Zealand helicopter tour and charter operator founded in 1980, serving tourists, luxury travellers, film productions, and government/industrial clients with scenic flights, private charters, and commercial helicopter services from Queenstown.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scenic Helicopter Tourism & Charter Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

akta.pro primary industry

Scenic & Sightseeing Helicopter Tours (THABAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours (TLAFACAD), On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB)

Keywords

• Scenic helicopter tours
• Private helicopter charters
• Aerial filming services
• Commercial helicopter operations
• Adventure tourism flights

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Scenic Helicopter Flights (Per-Seat): Standard scenic flights sold on a per-seat basis, ranging from short alpine flights (e.g., Remarkables Sunset at $335 adult) to multi-hour Milford Sound experiences (e.g., Milford Sound + Cruise at $1,325 adult). Child pricing at 70% of adult fare. Prices quoted in NZD inclusive of 15% GST.
2. Private Charter Services: Private and bespoke helicopter charters priced per flight (not per seat), ranging from standard charters to premium experiences. Premier charters include upscale offerings such as Southern Alps Circle ($22,670+), Fiordland Ultimate ($12,950+), and Ben Nevis Station experiences ($13,575–$21,195 depending on aircraft). Includes gourmet alpine picnics and multiple landings.
3. Combination Packages (Heli Combos): Bundled experiences combining helicopter flights with partner activities such as Shotover Jet (The Remarkables Flight with Shotover Jet at $499–$574) and KJet (KJet Remarkables Flyer at $469). Also includes snowmobile combo ($1,140 adult) and Path of Pounamu combining helicopter with Dart River jet boat ($1,670).
4. Path of Pounamu (Heli + Jet Boat): Full-day wilderness experience combining helicopter flight with Dart River jet boat adventure. Summer pricing from $1,610 adult, $1,130 child; Winter pricing from $1,814 adult, $1,314 child.
5. Heli Hideaways (Specialty Experiences): Premium specialty experiences including Ben Nevis Station (luxury high country), Greenstone Hut (fly fishing/hiking), Jackson Bay Charters (fishing), and Waitai Lodge Fiordland Escape (remote wilderness lodge). These are multi-activity or multi-day offerings with all-inclusive pricing.
6. Aerial Filming Services: Professional aerial cinematography and filming services for the film and television industry. Includes air-to-air and ground-to-air filming, aerial coordination, location scouting, permit support, and full production support. Specialist pilots including Alfie Speight (17,000+ hours), Pat West (7,000+ hours), and Jeremy O'Malley. Works with gyro stabilised camera platforms including Shotover, Libra, Super G, Spacecam, Wescam, and Cineflex.
7. Commercial Helicopter Operations: Industrial and commercial helicopter services including heavy lifting, agricultural support (frost protection, orchard operations, mustering), firefighting (collapsible 1200L monsoon buckets, simplex belly tanks), search and rescue, communications infrastructure support, geophysical survey flying, Department of Conservation contracting (avalanche control, wildlife management), and aerial photography missions.
8. Ben Nevis Station Experiences: Signature 'Ben Nevis Big Day Out' experience combining return scenic flight, clay bird shooting, gourmet platter, and hot laps with NZ Rally Champion Hayden Paddon. Priced from $13,575 (H125 Squirrel, max 6 pax) to $21,195 (H145, max 9 pax), valid until 30 September 2026.
9. Commissioned Photography Experience: Exclusive heli-photography expedition with internationally acclaimed photographer Stephan Romer. Includes private helicopter flight, printed finished original artwork, return transfers, customised flight times. Price on application. Artwork delivery within 4–6 weeks including printing, finishing, airfreight, taxes and duty.
10. Temporary Fuel Surcharge: Temporary per-person fuel surcharge introduced 1 April 2026 due to rising jet fuel prices, applicable to new bookings traveling 1 April 2026–30 September 2026. Surcharge varies by product and is quoted at time of booking. Private, Bespoke, and Commercial Charters quoted per flight.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters operates scenic helicopter flights, premium private charters, heli-access wilderness experiences, combo packages with other Queenstown operators, and commercial helicopter services (including aerial filming for the film and television industry). Flights depart from a base adjacent to Queenstown Airport and showcase New Zealand's Southern Alps, Fiordland, Milford Sound, glacier landings, and Lord of the Rings filming locations. The company serves both individual tourists and commercial/enterprise clients (film productions, government, agriculture).

Product overview

Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters operates as a scenic helicopter tour and charter company offering a comprehensive portfolio of experiences. The core offering comprises scenic helicopter flights across New Zealand's iconic landscapes including Queenstown, Milford Sound, Fiordland, the Southern Alps, and Lord of the Rings filming locations. Premier Private Charters provide luxury extended experiences (Fiordlander, Milford Experience, Doubtful Experience, Fiordland Ultimate Experience, Southern Alps Circle, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Central Otago Wine Explorer) with premium aircraft options (Airbus H130 with 20% additional cabin space or H145 seating up to 9 passengers) and gourmet alpine picnics. Heli Hideaways feature exclusive remote wilderness destinations accessible only by helicopter (Ben Nevis Station, Greenstone Hut, Jackson Bay Charters, Waitai Lodge). Specials & Combos bundle helicopter flights with partner activities including Shotover Jet, KJet, Dart River jet boating, and Queenstown Snowmobiles. Commercial services include Aerial Filming for the film industry with specialized pilots and camera systems, Aerial Photography with commissioned artist experiences, and Commercial Helicopter Charters for heavy lifting, agricultural, firefighting, search and rescue, and environmental contracting. Supporting services include Helicopter Transfers (ski fields, hunting & fishing, Routeburn Track), Wedding Helicopter Flights, and Conference & Incentive programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scenic Helicopter Flights Per-seat scenic helicopter flights showcasing New Zealand's dramatic landscapes including Milford Sound, Fiordland, Mt Aspiring National Park, The Remarkables, and the Southern Alps, with options for alpine, snow, or glacier landings. Flights range from short 25-minute alpine flights (e.g., Remarkables Sunset at NZD $335 adult) to multi-hour Milford Sound experiences (Milford Sound + Cruise at NZD $1,325 adult). Target market: international and domestic tourists visiting Queenstown.
• Premier Private Charters

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000+ combined reviews on Google & TripAdvisor with consistent 5-star ratings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shotover JetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-marketing partnership creating combined helicopter + jet boat combo experience ('The Remarkables Flight with Shotover Jet'). Both companies are Queenstown-based operators targeting adventure tourists. Jointly sold through both companies' websites and booking systems.
• KJetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-marketing partnership with the world's first commercial jet boating company (operating since 1958). Combined 'KJet Remarkables Flyer' experience sold through both operators. Both locally owned historic Queenstown companies.
• Dart River AdventurescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Path of Pounamu' experience combining helicopter flight with Dart River jet boat adventure. Customers transferred by coach from Glenorchy after the jet boat portion.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlacier Southern Lakes Helicopters holds concessions from the Department of Conservation to land in Fiordland National Park and Mt Aspiring National Park. Company also supports DOC operations including avalanche control, fieldwork, track and hut maintenance.
• Ngāi Tahu (for Greenstone Valley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLanding rights in the Greenstone Valley granted by Ngāi Tahu, enabling the Greenstone Hut helicopter experience. Cultural heritage connection to the Greenstone Valley as a historic Māori travel route for pounamu.
• Heli-Support New ZealandminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved Airbus Helicopter Service Centre that assembled the two new H125 helicopters delivered in 2023. Helicopters arrived in NZ packaged in shipping containers and were assembled by Heli-Support New Zealand in Wanaka.
• Romer Gallery / Stephan RomercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership with internationally acclaimed photographer Stephan Romer for 'The Commissioned Experience' — a private heli-photography expedition resulting in a bespoke commissioned artwork. Customers contact Romer Gallery directly to book.
• Jackson Bay CharterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Jackson Bay Charters for 'Jackson Bay Charters' experience. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters provides helicopter transport to Jackson Bay; Jackson Bay Charters operates the fishing charter vessel ŌKAHU for deep-sea fishing.
• Waitai LodgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Waitai Lodge in Fiordland's Hollyford Valley. Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters provides helicopter transport to this remote wilderness lodge accessible only by air. Lodge provides accommodation, meals, guided activities, and hospitality.
• Ben Nevis StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ben Nevis Station, a 20,000-acre private high country retreat in the Nevis Valley. Company holds exclusive helicopter landing rights. Station provides clay bird shooting, gourmet platters, and experiences with NZ Rally Champion Hayden Paddon.
• Whakatipu Reforestation TrustminorOthersCustomers can donate to Whakatipu Reforestation Trust through the booking process (selecting reforestation/biodiversity option) or via reception team on the day. Trust protects and restores native biodiversity in the Queenstown area.
• Heart Kids NZminorOthersCharitable partnership creating unforgettable helicopter experiences for patients facing challenging circumstances. Ongoing community support initiative.
• Breast Cancer Foundation NZminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting breast cancer research fundraising efforts.
• St JohnminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting New Zealand's emergency ambulance and healthcare services.
• New Zealand Red CrossminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting Red Cross humanitarian and emergency response work.
• Otago HospiceminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting Otago Hospice palliative care services.
• Cure KidsminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting child health research through Cure Kids New Zealand.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Helicopter Line: Largest helicopter tourism operator in New Zealand with bases in Queenstown, Franz Josef, Mount Cook, and Tekapo. Directly competes with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters on standard scenic flights (Milford Sound, glaciers, alpine landings) targeting the same Queenstown tourist customer base.
• Over The Top Helicopters: Queenstown-based helicopter operator offering scenic flights, glacier landings, and private charters with similar aircraft types. Direct competitor for both per-seat scenic flights and private charter experiences in the Queenstown market.
• Aspiring Helicopters: Wanaka-based scenic helicopter operator providing glacier landings, alpine experiences, and Mt Aspiring National Park access. Competes for the same regional tourist market and overlapping DOC concession geographies from a nearby base.
• Glacier Helicopters (Franz Josef): Franz Josef-based scenic helicopter operator specializing in glacier landings on the West Coast. Comparable offering for glacier scenic experiences and competes with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters' Southern Alps Circle product.
• Mount Cook Ski Planes & Helicopters: Scenic aviation operator at Aoraki Mount Cook offering ski plane and helicopter tours with glacier landings. Direct comparable for glacier scenic experiences in the broader NZ South Island market.
• Inflite Charters: New Zealand helicopter charter operator with bases across the North and South Island offering scenic flights and commercial services. Overlapping tourism and commercial helicopter capabilities in the same regulatory framework.

Broad incumbents

• Skyline Queenstown: Major Queenstown tourism operator with gondola, luge, stargazing, and dining experiences. While not a helicopter operator, it competes for Queenstown tourist time and spend and partners with helicopter operators on package experiences.
• Air Safaris: Established NZ scenic aviation operator offering fixed-wing scenic flights including glacier landings at Mount Cook and Franz Josef. Indirect competitor in the South Island scenic aviation market with overlapping customer base.

Regional players

• Real Journeys: Major Fiordland tourism operator (Milford Sound cruises, Doubtful Sound, Te Anau). Overlaps with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters through Milford Sound combo products and the Heli Hideaways Waitai Lodge partnership.
• Helicopters Tasmania: Australian helicopter tourism operator offering similar scenic, wilderness, and private charter experiences in Tasmania. Comparable business model, premium positioning, and DOC-equivalent park access requirements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/glaciersouthernlakesheli
• Xx.com/heliqt
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlacierSouthernLakesHelicopters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glacier-southern-lakes-helicopters

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters