THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Lift into the Southern Alps for an 8‑minute scenic helicopter flight, then walk a 7km high country track across private Glentanner Station. Expect glacier‑sculpted views, a restored Field Station stop with hot drinks, and accessible guided exploration of the Mackenzie Country.
Lift into the Southern Alps for an 8‑minute scenic helicopter flight, then walk a 7km high country track across private Glentanner Station. Expect glacier‑sculpted views, a restored Field Station stop with hot drinks, and accessible guided exploration of the Mackenzie Country.
The helicopter rises, skimming a cold shoulder of cloud, and the Mackenzie basin spreads beneath — a braided Tasman River daring you with turquoise channels, Lake Pukaki a slab of impossible blue. After an 8‑minute scenic lift you set down on private high country owned by the Glentanner family and step onto a 7‑kilometre, well‑maintained 4x4 track that threads through fence lines, tussock flats and remnant glacial moraine.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Glentanner High Country Heli Hike · Mount Cook Village, Canterbury
The helicopter rises, skimming a cold shoulder of cloud, and the Mackenzie basin spreads beneath — a braided Tasman River daring you with turquoise channels, Lake Pukaki a slab of impossible blue. After an 8‑minute scenic lift you set down on private high country owned by the Glentanner family and step onto a 7‑kilometre, well‑maintained 4x4 track that threads through fence lines, tussock flats and remnant glacial moraine.
This is high country history made tangible: century‑old muster routes, a restored Field Station with artifacts from early sheep runs, and landscape shaped by Pleistocene ice that gouged the Mackenzie Country into broad basins and sharp alpine ridges. Ngāi Tahu connections to the land are part of the region’s story, and the open pastures and river deltas still show the marks of both natural forces and pastoral use.
Expect alpine winds that shape the tussock and kea bold enough to investigate packs. The hike itself is straightforward — gravel and compacted 4x4 track with occasional short climbs and wide views over the Tasman Delta and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Guides provide context, safety and hot drinks at the Field Station; home‑baked snacks warm hands and legs.
Plan for changeable weather, sun and chill in the same hour, and boots with ankle support. The tour runs about 3.5–4 hours including safety briefing; cancellation is possible in poor conditions. For a compact taste of Southern Alps flightseeing plus accessible high country walking, this heli‑hike combines big views, living station history and practical, guided exploration.
moderate.
3.5–4 hours.
Suitable for people with moderate fitness who can walk 7km on gravel/4x4 track with some short climbs.
The scenic helicopter segment is approximately 8 minutes each way, offering aerial views of Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mount Cook before landing on Glentanner Station.
Tours are subject to cancellation in poor weather for safety; you can get a refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before departure or if conditions force a same‑day cancel.
Hot tea, coffee and hot chocolate, plus home‑baked snacks, are provided at the Historic Field Station stop during the hike.
This activity requires a moderate fitness level and weight details are collected at booking; travelers with spinal or serious heart conditions are not recommended to join.
Glentanner Station is a working high country sheep station with artifacts and routes reflecting 19th‑century pastoral expansion and the region’s Ngāi Tahu connections.
The Mackenzie landscape is ecologically fragile; stick to tracks, avoid disturbing tussock, and practice biosecurity to prevent spreading seeds or pests.
Glentanner High Country Heli Hike operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The helicopter rises, skimming a cold shoulder of cloud, and the Mackenzie basin spreads beneath — a braided Tasman River daring you with turquoise channels, Lake Pukaki a slab of impossible blue. After an 8‑minute scenic lift you set down on private high country owned by the Glentanner family and step onto a 7‑kilometre, well‑maintained 4x4 track that threads through fence lines, tussock flats and remnant glacial moraine.
The helicopter rises, skimming a cold shoulder of cloud, and the Mackenzie basin spreads beneath — a braided Tasman River daring you with turquoise channels, Lake Pukaki a slab of impossible blue. After an 8‑minute scenic lift you set down on private high country owned by the Glentanner family and step onto a 7‑kilometre, well‑maintained 4x4 track that threads through fence lines, tussock flats and remnant glacial moraine.
This is high country history made tangible: century‑old muster routes, a restored Field Station with artifacts from early sheep runs, and landscape shaped by Pleistocene ice that gouged the Mackenzie Country into broad basins and sharp alpine ridges. Ngāi Tahu connections to the land are part of the region’s story, and the open pastures and river deltas still show the marks of both natural forces and pastoral use.
Expect alpine winds that shape the tussock and kea bold enough to investigate packs. The hike itself is straightforward — gravel and compacted 4x4 track with occasional short climbs and wide views over the Tasman Delta and Aoraki/Mount Cook. Guides provide context, safety and hot drinks at the Field Station; home‑baked snacks warm hands and legs.
Plan for changeable weather, sun and chill in the same hour, and boots with ankle support. The tour runs about 3.5–4 hours including safety briefing; cancellation is possible in poor conditions. For a compact taste of Southern Alps flightseeing plus accessible high country walking, this heli‑hike combines big views, living station history and practical, guided exploration.