Over The Top - The Helicopter Company

What Over The Top - The Helicopter Company does

Over The Top Helicopters is a privately held, premium helicopter tour and experiential adventure operator headquartered at Queenstown Airport on New Zealand's South Island. Founded in 1986 by helicopter pilot Louisa Patterson ("Choppy"), the company has operated continuously for over 40 years, with the founding team's flying history in the region extending back to 1976. It serves international and domestic tourists, special-occasion planners (weddings, honeymoons, milestone birthdays), adventure seekers (heli-skiers, anglers, snow-bikers), wine and food enthusiasts, golfers, corporate and incentive groups, and nature/wildlife visitors seeking access to remote alpine, fiord, and coastal terrain across Fiordland, Otago, Southland, and the West Coast.\n\nThe company operates a fleet of Airbus Helicopters H125 (AS350 Squirrel) and H130/EC130 aircraft, chosen for performance and safety margins in mountainous conditions. Its product portfolio comprises 22+ distinct helicopter experiences spanning scenic flights to Milford, Doubtful, and Dusky Sounds; alpine and glacier landings; heli-fishing and heli-skiing; wine and golf tours; ski-field transfers; wildlife expeditions to Stewart Island and the Otago Peninsula; and fully bespoke itineraries. Underlying safety infrastructure includes a Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand-certified Safety Management System following ICAO standards, V2 Track satellite tracking and text communication for real-time fleet monitoring, and "Eye in the Sky" cockpit data recorders for post-flight analysis. Physical assets comprise the Blue Hangar operating base at Queenstown Airport and The Clubhouse, a downtown concierge facility at 11 Athol Street featuring Trackman golf simulators and a complimentary shuttle to the airport.\n\nRevenue is generated on a per-experience transaction basis across two pricing tiers: shared-with-others ("SWO") seats priced from NZD 450 to NZD 1,995 per person, and full private charters ranging from NZD 1,950 for short scenic flights to NZD 35,950 for the full-day West Coast Glacier Explorer in a Eurocopter. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via flynz.co.nz (powered by a FareHarbor booking embed), phone and email enquiries, and the Clubhouse concierge, supplemented by travel-advisor and concierge referral channels. Ancillary revenue includes gift vouchers and premium packages (Wine by Invitation, Milford Sound Ultimate, Heli Picnic on a Peak, Over The Top Golf at 4,500 ft) that combine helicopter access with exclusive experiences such as gourmet dining at private high-country stations. The company is privately held, family-run, with 11-50 employees, and has no disclosed funding rounds, ownership changes, or institutional investment.

Name

Over The Top - The Helicopter Company

Legal name

Over The Top Helicopters

Website

https://flynz.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Over The Top Helicopters is a privately held Queenstown premium helicopter tour operator founded in 1986. It runs scenic flights, adventure tours, and bespoke experiences across New Zealand's South Island using Airbus H125 and H130 aircraft for tourists, corporates, and special occasions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Helicopter Tour Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

akta.pro primary industry

Scenic & Sightseeing Helicopter Tours (THABAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Demand Helicopter Charter (Private/Corporate) (TLAFACAB), Helicopter Resort & Remote Destination Transfers (TLAFACAF), VIP/Executive Helicopter Transport (THABAGAH)

Keywords

• Scenic helicopter tours
• Helicopter charters
• Adventure tourism flights
• Aerial sightseeing services
• Heli adventure experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Queenstown

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Scenic Helicopter Tours: Per-experience transaction-based revenue from scenic helicopter flights including Milford Sound, Fiordland, glaciers, and alpine landings. Pricing varies by duration, exclusivity (shared vs private), and helicopter type.
2. Private Helicopter Charters: Exclusive private charter services for custom itineraries including bespoke experiences, heli weddings, corporate events, and special occasions.
3. Premium Experience Packages: Upscale packages combining helicopter access with exclusive experiences such as gourmet dining at private high-country stations, wine tours, and golf at altitude.
4. Adventure Experiences: Specialized adventure services including heli skiing, snowmobile tours, and fishing expeditions with guide services included.
5. Gift Vouchers: Prepaid gift vouchers available for purchase, valid for experiences across the product range.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Over The Top Helicopters operates premium scenic helicopter tours and bespoke experiential flights from Queenstown across New Zealand's South Island, using a fleet of Airbus H125 Squirrel and EC130/H130 Eurocopter helicopters. Offerings include Milford Sound and Fiordland scenic flights, alpine snow and glacier landings, heli fishing, heli skiing, ski field transfers, exclusive golf and wine tours, wildlife excursions, private charters for weddings and corporate events, and packaged experiences such as alpine BBQs and gourmet peak picnics.

Product overview

Over The Top Helicopters operates as a premium helicopter tour operator offering scenic flights and experiential adventures from Queenstown, New Zealand. The company provides a diverse portfolio of 22 distinct helicopter experiences spanning scenic flights, adventure activities, dining experiences, golf, fishing, wildlife viewing, and bespoke events. Core offerings include Milford Sound tours (Ultimate, Highlights, Heli Cruise, & Glaciers variants), Fiordland Explorer, Alpine Snow Landing, heli fishing (Guided and Ultimate), Over The Top Golf, wine tours (Top of the Wine and Wine by Invitation), private heli skiing, ski field transfers, Out The Back Alpine BBQ, Heli Picnic on a Peak, Remarkable Discovery, Queenstown Memories, Stewart Island, Otago Peninsula, and West Coast Glacier Explorer. Bespoke Experiences enable customized heli weddings and group events. The company also operates The ClubHouse as a downtown concierge facility with shuttle services and Trackman golf simulators. Safety infrastructure includes Safety Management System certified by Civil Aviation Authority, V2 Track satellite tracking, and EYE IN THE SKY cockpit data recorders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Milford Sound Ultimate Heli Tour Private 4-hour signature helicopter experience from Queenstown to Milford Sound featuring four remote landings (alpine lakes, west coast beach, glacier/snow, and high-country stations) plus a gourmet picnic hamper with champagne. Available on AS350 Squirrel (up to 5 passengers) or EC130 Eurocopter (up to 6 passengers).
• Milford and Fiordland Highlights 2-2.5 hour scenic helicopter flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound featuring a remote west coast beach landing and an alpine/glacier landing. Available as Share With Others or private charter on Squirrel or Eurocopter.
• Milford Sound Heli Cruise 4-hour combined helicopter flight and boat cruise experience of Milford Sound, with the pilot acting as personal guide on the cruise portion and an alpine landing on the return leg. Partnership with Milford Sound Cruise Operators.
• Milford Sound & Glaciers 1.5-hour scenic helicopter flight over the Southern Alps to Milford Sound including a glacier areas landing. Available as Share With Others or private charter.
• Fiordland Explorer Scenic Flight 6-hour private charter exploring Fiordland National Park via Norwest lakes and Doubtful Sound, with options to extend to Dusky or Milford Sound.
• Alpine Snow Landing 45-minute helicopter experience landing in the Southern Alps snow, with snowman building, snowball fights, and optional sledging activities.
• Guided Heli Fishing Helicopter-access fishing experience with local guide, all gear, fishing licenses, and a fisherman's lunch included.
• Exploration Fly Fishing Ultimate Full-day private fly fishing excursion with helicopter at disposal, local guide, all gear and licenses, and a fisherman's lunch cooked riverside. Season: November to May.
• Over The Top Golf Exclusive helicopter golf experience featuring a par 3 hole at 4500ft altitude on Cecil Peak, with clubs and balls provided by Golf Warehouse and Srixon. 1.5 hour duration.
• Top of the Wine 3-3.5 hour helicopter wine tour featuring a remote alpine landing and visits to 2-3 Otago wineries.
• Wine by Invitation 4.5-5 hour private helicopter wine tour with winemaker guide, visits to 3-4 wineries, gourmet picnic hamper, and champagne.
• Bespoke Experiences Customized helicopter experiences including heli weddings, anniversaries, honeymoons, birthdays, and conference/incentive group events for up to 80 people.
• Private Heli Skiing Private alpine heli-ski tour with expert guide, gourmet alpine lunch, ski equipment, and helicopter flights to remote back-country terrain.
• Ski Field Transfers Helicopter transfers to ski fields including Coronet Peak, Remarkables, Cardrona, Treble Cone, and Snow Farm, with one-way pricing per helicopter.
• Out The Back – Alpine BBQ 2-3 hour helicopter experience to a private high country station featuring a restored Goldminers Cottage, Alpine Kitchen, Dirty Nugget Saloon, and gourmet BBQ.
• Heli Picnic on a Peak Private alpine helicopter picnic experience with a gourmet hamper including meats, cheese, fruit, and champagne, with special occasion and Ferg Burger options. Priced for 2, 3, or 4 guests.
• Remarkable Discovery 30-minute scenic helicopter flight with a mountain top landing on The Remarkables range, featuring panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu.
• Queenstown Memories 40-minute helicopter experience showcasing Queenstown landmarks including The Remarkables, Skippers Canyon, and Shotover River with an alpine landing.
• Stewart Island Full-day helicopter excursion to Stewart Island featuring wildlife viewing, hiking, fishing, and optional gourmet or seafood lunch options.
• Otago Peninsula Full-day wildlife experience featuring yellow-eyed and blue penguins, seals, sea lions, and albatross, with a flight over Central Otago wine country.
• West Coast Glacier Explorer All-day helicopter tour along the Southern Alps to Mt Cook featuring Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers and West Coast beaches, with optional glacier landings or hikes.
• Helicopter & Snowmoto Tour New Zealand's only combined helicopter and snow bike experience featuring Snowmoto snow bikes or heated snowcat tours in the Southern Alps, via exclusive partnership with Snowmoto.
• Gift Vouchers Prepaid custom gift vouchers available for purchase, valid for experiences across the helicopter product range.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of continuous safe operation in challenging alpine terrain
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Heli Support NZcoreTechnology or IntegrationProfessional helicopter maintenance services ensuring all aircraft are maintained to the highest standards. Critical operational partner for fleet maintenance and safety compliance.
• Golf WarehousesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolf equipment supplier providing clubs for the Over The Top Golf experience. Continued support acknowledged for the Over The Top Golf green.
• SrixonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolf ball supplier supporting the Over The Top Golf experience with Srixon balls provided for guests.
• SnowmotocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership for snow bike tours - the only provider of snow bike tours in New Zealand. Over The Top helicopter flights are the fastest way to access Snowmoto's alpine playground from Queenstown.
• Milford Sound Cruise OperatorssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with cruise boat operators in Milford Sound for combined helicopter and boat experiences. Pilots act as personal guides on cruise portions of the Milford Sound Heli Cruise experience.
• Department of ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong collaborative relationship with the Department of Conservation ensuring continued access to National Parks and remote areas. Joint commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental preservation through Tiaki Promise.
• Private LandownerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with private landowners providing exclusive access to High Country Stations and remote properties for unique experiences including the Out The Back Alpine BBQ location.
• Local Restaurants and WineriessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with restaurants, wineries, and private venues in the Otago wine country region for wine tour experiences. Includes consented helipads at partner establishments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heliworks Queenstown: Established Queenstown helicopter operator offering scenic, charter and custom flights in the same South Island geography. Closely comparable on product type (scenic, charter, bespoke) and direct-to-consumer booking model serving the Queenstown tourism funnel.
• Alpine Helicopters: Multi-base NZ helicopter operator with Queenstown-area scenic and charter services alongside commercial work. Comparable business model on the scenic / charter / corporate side of the NZ helicopter market and a credible regional peer.
• The Helicopter Line: New Zealand's largest helicopter tour operator with bases in Queenstown, Mt Cook, Franz Josef and Tekapo. Overlaps directly with Over The Top on Milford Sound, Fiordland and glacier scenic routes from Queenstown, using a comparable shared-plus-private charter product mix targeting international tourists.
• Glacier Helicopters: Fox Glacier-based scenic helicopter operator offering glacier landings, snow landings and Milford Sound excursions. Directly comparable product on the West Coast glacier routes that anchor Over The Top's West Coast Glacier Explorer and Milford Sound & Glaciers products.
• Southern Lakes Helicopters: Queenstown-based helicopter operator offering scenic and charter services across Fiordland, the Southern Alps and Milford Sound. Competes head-to-head on the core Queenstown scenic flight category with shared and private charter pricing tiers mirroring Over The Top's structure.

Regional players

• Maverick Helicopters: Major Las Vegas and Grand Canyon scenic helicopter tour operator with a 30+ year operating history. Similar premium positioning, Airbus/Eurocopter fleet choice, tiered shared/private product structure and emphasis on safety credentials - a strong US analog for Over The Top's positioning.
• Sundance Helicopters: Las Vegas-based scenic helicopter tour operator focusing on Grand Canyon landings. Comparable on shared vs. private charter tiering, premium pricing and tourist funnel conversion via a single dominant gateway market - analogous model in a different geography.
• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters: Hawaii-based premium scenic helicopter tour operator serving a different geography with a near-identical business model - shared and private scenic tours, modern Airbus/Eurocopter fleet, strong safety reputation and direct-to-consumer booking. Closest US analog for product design and premium positioning.
• Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters: Grand Canyon and Las Vegas helicopter tour operator offering landing and air-only tours across multiple product tiers. Comparable on scaled scenic tour design, premium pricing tiers and direct-to-consumer booking in a concentrated tourism geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Overthetophelicopters
• Instagraminstagram.com/overthetophelicopters
• Xx.com/ottheli
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/over-the-top---the-helicopter-company

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Over The Top - The Helicopter Company