Earnslaw Burn Heli Hike
Experience
Earnslaw Burn Heli Hike
- Allow 3.5 - 4 hours
- Departure times 9.00am
- $1375
The Earnslaw Burn with its hanging glacier and cascading waterfalls really is New Zealand’s best-kept secret, and our guided heli hike is the best way to experience it.
Departing Glenorchy, take a heli flight over Glenorchy, the Dart River, and Mt Alfred before touching down in the Mt Earnslaw basin. From there, your experienced guide will tell you tales and guide you through some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery.
You’ll follow a meandering glacier-fed river, see an array of wildlife, tussock, speargrass and waterfalls before you reach a corner where the mighty Earnslaw Burn comes into view. It will be a moment you never forget.
As the hike continues, your guide will stop along the way to tell stories about the area, give you ample photo opportunities and time to admire the surrounding views.
After 1.5 - 2 hours of walking, your hike will conclude in the Earnslaw Burn by a tumbling waterfall and below Mt Earnslaw Glacier - a world famous glacier. Here, in this beautiful spot, you can sit back and relax with a picnic and soak in the tranquillity of this breathtaking location.
After your picnic, your pilot will return you to Glenorchy via a 1,000 metre (over 3,000 feet) ascent towards the blue ice of the hanging glacier.
The Earnslaw Burn Heli Hike is an easy-moderate hike, suitable for most people with a moderate level of fitness. For most of the hike, you will be walking on easy gradients with small ascents and easy river crossings. There will be some unmarked parts along the walking track, but you will be guided for the duration of your hike. For more confident walkers, there will be an opportunity to follow ridges, bush spurs and explore multiple river crossings.
Trip summary: 20-25 minutes of flying, 1.5 - 2 hours of hiking, 1 - 1.5 hours for a picnic and exploring.
Prices listed are for shared experiences with others. To book a private charter, click here.
Transport from Queenstown
We offer complimentary return transport from Queenstown return. Please make sure to book this in addition to your flight experience.
If you are self-driving, it will take approximately one hour to drive from downtown Queenstown to Glenorchy.
What to bring
As you will be hiking while enjoying an alpine environment, we recommend you:
- Wear sensible comfortable walking shoes, trainers or hiking boots.
- Wear warm clothing and bring a windproof jacket.
- Bring along a small day pack with a water bottle, camera, sunscreen, sunglasses and insect repellent.
- You’re more than welcome to bring snacks (a picnic lunch will be provided at the end of your hike).
Additional information
Minimum passenger numbers apply. Heli Glenorchy 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. Weather checks are to be made one hour prior to departure by phoning 0800 4354 49. If we cannot fly due to weather, we will offer alternative options.
Cancellations
Any cancellations made within 24 hours of departure will incur a 50% cancellation fee. If passengers ‘no-show’ for a flight, 100% of the fare will apply. If we cannot operate due to weather and as a result, passengers are unable to fly, no cancellation fees will apply.
Your journey
Book flight
Flight options are for a minimum of 2 people.
Prices
Subject to change without notice. Valid until 30 September 2024.
Child Prices
Aged 3 –11.
Child prices are 70% of the adult fare.
Infant prices are 50% of the adult fare.
Payments
As all flights are weather dependent so no payment is taken until the time of your flight. A 2% surcharge will apply to all credit and contactless transactions made at the counter.
