Where is Southern Lakes Heli Ski Located?

As the name suggests, Southern Lakes Heliski operate in the majestic mountains of the Southern Lakes region of New Zealand. They offer both heli skiing Queenstown or heli ski Wanaka options.

The staging area (the place you take off from in the helicopter) can vary from one day to the next depending on weather and snow conditions, and the transport to the staging area may be via a van or a boat ride across the gorgeous Lake Wakatipu or other waterways. There are days when the Wanaka heli skiing terrain provides the best options – it doesn’t matter if you’re staying in Queenstown, as SLHS will still provide transport from your Queenstown accommodation.


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Heli Skiing Terrain

Southern Lakes has over 8,500 square kilometres of terrain in which to play. With 11 mountain ranges to choose from and more than 600 runs, Southern Lakes Heliski has something for everyone. Their terrain offers cruising through untouched powder to challenging steeps and glaciers. As examples, Southern Lakes Heliski has access to the Central Harris Mountains on Branches Station, the Minarets (near Minaret Station), and the amazing Clarke Glacier in the Forbes Mountain Range which includes high elevation terrain.

As with all New Zealand heli skiing, the terrain is above the tree-line so there is no fear about learning to ski powder and navigate around trees at the same time! The SLHS stats state that average runs are 600-1,000 metres of vertical drop, but depending on the snow conditions, there are also many runs from 400 to 600 metres of vertical. The stats for elevations are between 2,585 and 1,200 m, although many of the drop-offs are around 1,900m and depending on the snow conditions, pick-ups may be at about 1,400-1,500m.

SLHS Terms & Conditions

Prices

Prices are per person and in New Zealand dollars. Inclusive of 15% GST (goods & services tax)

Payment

• All transactions will be processed in NZD$
• Cash, Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted

Cancellation Policy

• Day heli ski guests to cancel daily run bookings until 2 pm the day prior for 100% refund
• Private charter bookings can cancel 48 hours prior to their scheduled booking for a 100% refund
• Luxury package bookings can cancel 31 days prior to their scheduled booking for a 100% refund

Any cancellations by guests who do not notify SLHS by the latest time/date will be charged 100% for the booking

Cancellation Due to Bad Weather

Bookings canceled by Southern Lakes Heliski due to inclement weather, that cannot be rescheduled, will be refunded provided that if some heli-skiing has been possible but less than the number of runs booked, then you will be refunded an amount equal to the lesser of the following amounts:

• the price for that part of the package that has been canceled; or
• the aggregate of $100 per run not skied.

Refunds are not given due to injury, lack of ability, fitness or cancellations on the day.

All transactions are conducted in NZD. Due to exchange rate fluctuations, at times there may be some variance in the amounts refunded compared to the amount initially charged. No liability is accepted for these variances or any subsequent credit card/bank charges relating to these transfers.

It is recommended that you have comprehensive travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances that may affect your travel plans.

Southern Lakes Heli Ski Review

A day out heli skiing is superb; the thrill of the helicopter ride, the opportunity to get out in the pristine backcountry, and the lure of untracked snow. The Powderhounds have been very fortunate to head out heli skiing with Southern Lakes Heliski on three occasions in the Wanaka heli skiing area, with 2 days in terrain near Treble Cone (Towers Ridge and near Black Peak), and a day out in the marvelous Minarets which are further to the north of Wanaka.

Southern Lakes Heli Ski is a very well honed and reputable outfit, but of course no heli skiing company is perfect for everyone. Our review covers different aspects of their operation so that you can determine if Southern Lakes is likely to match up with your priorities. It is worthwhile noting that many of the New Zealand heli skiing operations are very similar, and the Wanaka and Queenstown heli skiing operators in particular are very difficult to fully differentiate, as they are very alike. As a guide to ratings, a 5/5 equates to absolutely phenomenal, 4/5 is excellent, whilst 3/5 is still a very good score. You can check out our heli ski ratings to see how Southern Lakes Heliski compares to other heli skiing operations (where you’ll note that no operator gets perfect scores).

Pros

• Southern Lakes Heli Ski is a very professional and proficient operation, and has some highly qualified and experienced guides.
• Southern Lakes take out multiple groups each day. This provides them with more flexibility to cater for different ability levels and match guests with those of a similar ability and fitness level. And won’t have to wait to see if there are minimum numbers to fly.
• Southern Lakes has huge terrain, which assists in finding the best snow possible and tracked out snow would be unlikely.
• As with all NZ heli skiing, the price of heli skiing is a fraction of what you’d pay in other countries.
• Southern Lakes offers some amazing week-long luxury packages where you can stay in unique alpine lodging only accessible by helicopter or stay on a luxury yacht.

Cons

• As with all NZ heli skiing, the quality of the snow can be very inconsistent, and SLHS has on occasion “over-sold” the likely snow conditions. That being said, they under-sold the snow on one day and we scored amazing blower powder!
• Some of the terrain that is good for “efficiency” (ie they don’t have to fly far) is not as high as with other Queenstown/Wanaka heliski operators, which may result in slightly shorter runs and the potential for inferior snow quality. However, some of the terrain a further flight away (e.g. Minarets) is amazing.
• SLHS has a tendency to milk the one zone (with an emphasis on efficiency) rather than heading to 2-3 different areas to provide more terrain variety and sniff out the best powder.

Powder Snow
As with all New Zealand heli skiing, you shouldn’t have high expectations for the quantity of the snow. The same can be said for Southern Lakes, especially considering that their average annual snowfall statistic is only 2.5 to 3.5 metres. And with respect to quality, the snow conditions can vary significantly (as with all NZ heli skiing). You have to be rather lucky to score a blower powder day. We’ve had very mixed experiences. Our first day we had very unfortunate snow conditions because it had rained on the lower elevations. Our second day out was also unlucky with thick wind crust at the top (even though Towers is renowned for being protected from the wind), a tiny bit of fluff for 15 turns, and then icy rain affected slopes. Unfortunately the office staff had oversold the conditions somewhat and told us the snow would be “good” when it was far from that (the guides during the day were also saying the snow was “nice” which was a bit of a worry). It’s days like these where you have to remember that the main delight with NZ heli skiing is the experience of the helicopter ride, the views, and just being out in the backcountry. Of course Southern Lakes Heliski also has great powder days, and on our 3rd time we scored the most amazing dry powder; the type that flies coldsmoke off your rooster tail. It was absolutely phenomenal! One potential limitation for Southern Lakes is that a lot of the “old” terrain is at maximum elevations that are a little lower than its competitors, so snow quality may not be as good (although lower terrain is less likely to be wind affected). Their “new” terrain (acquired from the former Backcountry Helicopters) has lots of higher elevations and it’s further into the ranges so the snow can be colder due to fridge effects, but it’s a case of whether they’re prepared to fly further to get to this terrain. SLHS generally has a rep for efficiency whereby they try and keep the helicopter fly time to a minimum and don’t fly further to find great snow. This has been our experience on 2 occasions, but it sounds as though the company is trying to improve this.
Overall Terrain
Southern Lakes scores additional points for having a huge tenure, but loses points for it not being well connected and not always using it all, and going to hills near the staging areas to save fuel, and then efficiently staying in the one area. It sounds as though the new ownership relationships with Aspiring Helicopters may change this long held reputation. Their statistics state average vertical runs of 600-1,000 metres, and a proud motto on the SLHS vans claim to have the longest vertical of the NZ heli skiing operators (even though another operator has slightly longer vert stats). Our experience in the Towers area was an average of 386 metres of vertical, and in the delicious Minarets area our runs were about 580 metres (approx 1,830 – 1,250m). On all 3 trips, all runs were in the same zone. They didn’t fly across to the next ridge to mix things up, so particularly in the Towers area and another zone near Black Peak (near Treble Cone), there was a lot of repetition.
Alpine Terrain
Like all other heli skiing in New Zealand, all the terrain is up in the alpine. In all 3 areas the runs had some short steep pitches but were largely of a moderate gradient. The terrain near TC had a combination of fall line stretches as well as rollers and banks to keep it a little interesting, but switching areas (as other NZ heli operators do) would make it more remarkable. The Minarets terrain had much more variety than that found at Towers and near Black Peak.
Tree Skiing	zero
The only “tree skiing” is dodging the shrubs that can be found at the base of some of the runs.
Strong Intermediate Terrain
Like the other Queenstown/ Wanaka heli skiing operators, Southern Lakes specifically has a package for intermediate riders so they score some points here. As a large operator, another major pro is that they’ve got a high likelihood of being able to group guests according to ability level. However our experience suggests that they take intermediates on steep-ish terrain with challenging snow conditions even if they are struggling. On our first 2 trips, there were 4-5 groups sharing the one helicopter, and all groups skied exactly the same terrain regardless of whether they’d categorized themselves as a Heli 1, 2, 3 or 4. On the 3rd trip, an intermediate group sometimes had lower drop-off points to avoid the steepest pitch.
Advanced Terrain
The terrain was very well suited to advanced riders. More variety in the terrain would have scored them more points as a little déjà vu was occurring.
Expert & Extreme Terrain
We didn’t tackle any major steeps or chutes due to avalanche risk considerations. The terrain had a scattering of rocks and mini cliff bands but there probably wasn’t any shenanigans or hucking because our group/s hadn’t specifically asked for it. Some of the terrain has plenty of steeps and gnarly features and if experts can wait until the avalanche risk is low, the guides have plenty of experience in taking out super experts (e.g. pros and film crews). With most heli ski outfits, you have to take a private package to fully make the most of the expert to extreme terrain, but SLHS has the advantage of providing semi private charters specifically for experts.
Guiding
Like other NZ heli skiing, the guide to guest ratio is nice and small (4-5). The guiding program is led by internationally certified IFMGA guides and many of the lead and senior guides are very well qualified, veterans of the profession, and know the terrain very well. However this is not necessarily the case for all the guides. Due to fluctuations in demand, Southern Lakes uses various casual and junior guides who are not well qualified. Our experiences with the guides have been a little mixed, but a few of the senior guides we’ve encountered are absolutely fantastic at their jobs and provide clear instructions, have plenty of personality, and throw some hilarity in to add to a fun day. Many heli ski companies only have 3 groups sharing the one helicopter, yet our experience was for 4-5 groups. On the day of 5 groups per heli, our guide was the lead guide, and it seemed that he had his job cut out for him herding around such a large group.
Heli
Southern Lakes Heli Ski primarily uses B2 Squirrels which are powerful and agile machines. All the operators seem to use the same choppers, but for some reason the SLHS choppers feel squeezier in the back than other helis (maybe I had a serious case of heli belly?!). This is despite them removing all the cushions (which is done for weight safety reasons). This makes it a fraction uncomfortable but you’re not usually in the chopper for long. All heli skiing pilots are very skilled, but a couple of the pilots we’ve encountered were amazingly skilled.
Avalanche Mitigation Strategies
Southern Lakes use an information exchange program to assist in the monitoring of weather patterns and the resultant snowpack stability. The head guide’s emphasis on avalanche safety in the field was apparent through the digging of pits and the careful selection of aspects. One guest pack containing a shovel and probe was provided per group.
Safety Briefing
The safety briefings were not particularly comprehensive but they covered the basics, and are very typical for a NZ heli operator. All 3 briefings varied somewhat and beacon search practice was not always included. One covered what to do in the event of an avalanche (either as the victim or non-victim), and another included a cursory demonstration of the probe and shovel. One included the instruction that “you just shovel like crazy”! Hmmm...? Safety around a helicopter was covered although this wasn’t always done in the presence of the helicopter, which makes it a little more difficult to get the message across.
Frills
The frills associated with the heli experience are very similar across the Wanaka / Queenstown heli ski operators. As with all operators they provide accommodation pick-ups and drop-offs, and lunch is supplied. The Southern Lakes lunch consisted of soup, hot egg pies or pizza, Subway rolls with a choice of fillings, Subway cookies, tea and coffee, and other beverages. Water was not available throughout the rest of the day, so BYO if you think you’ll need it. Southern Lakes have a small range of rental skis, or if you hire them from one of the other Queenstown ski hire or Wanaka ski hire shops, they will pick up the equipment on your behalf. Another nice frill is that the guides can take photos and video (although probably not the lead guide if it’s a busy day) that can be purchased at the end of the day. However as is typical to NZ heli skiing, there’s no après session at the end of the day for looking at photos or high fiving.
Value for Money
Along with the other NZ heli ski operators, Southern Lakes Heli Ski is very inexpensive, particularly if the NZ dollar is running at peso currency. The runs might not be as long as with heli skiing in Canada or the USA, and the powder might not be waist deep, but by golly it is super cheap in comparison. The rates for the New Zealand heli skiing operators are very similar, although possibly Wilderness Heliski (at Mt Cook) and Methven Heliski provide slightly better value for money with longer runs than Southern Lakes. See the NZ heli skiing comparison for more information on rates and statistics. As with all NZ operators, powder ski or snowboard rental is not included in the package.

Notes Regarding Review

The review is largely based on our experience, but also on discussions with staff, former guests, and information available on their website. Our review has some limitations as it’s not possible to ski all the terrain and in all possible snow and weather conditions. Every guide is somewhat different and we acknowledge that everyone’s experience will be different. The ratings are from our perspective only and if you've been out with Southern Lakes, we encourage you to contribute to the overall review of the operation by adding a review.

Check out our heli ski ratings to see how Southern Lakes fares against other backcountry operations around the world.

The photos and video are not captured using professional riders. They aim to show an example of a “standard” experience.

Further Information and Bookings

If you have any questions, would like to book, or view the booking and refund policy, click here.

Below is a short video of a day out with Southern Lakes Heliski in the Minarets...

Frequently Asked Questions

How “good” do I have to be to go heliskiing?

The good news is you don’t need powder experience; you only need to be of an intermediate level and above. If you can confidently link your turns on a blue run, then you can heliski. Fill out our ability guide

I am concerned that I will hold up the group. What should I do?

This is your day and we do our best to make sure each and every person enjoys it. We group people together with others of similar ability, and your guide is there to keep you safe and to take you to terrain that is comfortable for you to ski or board. Communicate with your guide and they will help you achieve what you need to from the day.

I’m an expert. Will I be grouped with intermediates?

We work hard to create groups of skiers and boarders who are of similar ability, however very occasionally, we find ourselves with a group of mixed abilities. The amazing thing about NZ terrain is we have such variation within one back country area, so talk to your guide and he will show you the more advanced lines open to you. Your perfect run may be right next to an open slope more suited to an intermediate.

My partner is a different ability level. How can we be together?

We find people like to be together with their friends and family so we try and offer this as much as possible. There is terrain for everyone within the one run so we can make it work most of the time. It’s always way more fun heliskiing with friends!

How long are the runs and how long do they take to ski/board?

The runs vary depending on the terrain area. They can be anywhere from 600-1000m vert. Depending on people’s abilities, it can take 15 minutes to get down or an hour. We generally heliski the best snow between 1200m and 2585m.

Where do you ski?

We can heliski anywhere from Queenstown to Wanaka to Kingston, Glenorchy, Makarora and over to Ohau. Our terrain spans over 17 mountain ranges so we go to where the best snow and weather conditions are on the day, which is determined by our snow safety expert. Check out our terrain map to see where we can go!

What about avalanche danger?

Because we are working with Mother Nature in conditions that are always changing, there is potential of avalanches. To eliminate as many dangers as possible our guides and snow safety expert are constantly monitoring the snow pack and weather conditions. We share that information with other guides and companies. Safety is our main priority.

What is the snow like?

Because New Zealand is an island and close to the sea we have maritime snow, it makes it easier for our first time clients as it compacts quickly after a dump. Snow will vary during the season depending on temperature, sun exposure, snowfall and wind. We are fortunate to get regular dumps of snow in our backcountry and our guides are excellent powder hunters.

How many people go in each group?

We are under strict weight restrictions for our helicopter loads so we weigh everyone in and that determines if we can fit 4 or 5 clients in the heli with one guide. If you choose the daily heliski option then we can have up to 4 groups working with one helicopter.

Do you have to jump out of the helicopter?

Although you can see that stuff in the movies we do not allow it. Our guides need to be able to unload equipment and get people out safely at the top of the mountain.

How many runs can I do in one day?

It depends on the package. Daily heliskiing offers the opportunity to add in extra runs so you can do more than the package bought. If you partake in a private charter you average around 10-15 runs in a day.

Can I book extra runs on the day?

Yes, all you need to do is let your guide know at lunch time and if 3 or more people agree to extra runs then we can do it. The cost is only $125 per extra run.

Do you offer fly fly option so I can get a longer scenic flight?

The fly fly is a great option to be first on the slopes and to get a longer scenic flight to and from the staging area. The cost is $200 per person and its worth it! Just ask when booking your heliski trip.

Why should I choose Southern Lakes Heliski

We have over 30 years of experience of taking people into the mountains, and we also have the largest amount of terrain within the Southern Lakes Region. This spans over 17 mountain ranges offering an excess of 800 runs so it gives us a lot of possibilities. We have an excellent team who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge accompanied by great customer service. Our aim is to allow people to tick off that bucket list and leave with a smile upon their faces.

When is the best time to go?

Our season can start in late June and runs to the end of September with our busiest period being from late July to early September. August is really busy so make sure you book in advance.

Do you mix skiers and boarders?

Yes and this has never been a problem. There is terrain out there for everyone and by the end of the day most people, whether they ski or board are sharing a beer and some stories together at the local pub.

Are your prices in New Zealand Dollars?

Yes but our eftpos facility allows us to take other currencies.

What kind of terrain do you ski and how steep is it?

We ski alpine terrain which is above the tree line. It has a combination of chutes, natural half pipes, big open bowls and can be steep or mellow. If the avalanche danger is low we can get into some steep terrain that will get your heart pumping.

How old do you have to be to go heli-skiing?

If you are an intermediate skier or boarder you are welcome to come. Our youngest so far has been 6 years old and he ripped!

Can I use my own transceiver?

Yes but we do include ours as standard practice.

How far in advance should I book?

You can book in on the day prior if we have space, but during our busy time (late July – early September) we advise you to book in advance.

What do I do to reserve my group?

Book directly on our website, or give us a call or an email and we will talk you through it. Once you confirm we will ask for a small deposit which is fully refundable if we can’t fly.

What do I do if I need to cancel?

Please contact us at the very earliest for cancellations. Costs may be incurred, please refer to our Terms & Conditions

If weather prevents me from completing my booked runs what happens?

Unfortunately sometimes bad weather prevents our operation. Should this occur, all payments will be fully refunded. If some heliskiing has been possible, but due to the weather you had fewer runs than you booked for; the value of refund offered will be determined by the package purchased. Visit us in-store for details. Refunds are not given due to injury, lack of ability, fitness or cancellations on the day so we advise all guests have insurance.

Can I bring a snowboard and skis and switch part way through the day?

No unfortunately we don’t have the room in our heli pod for both pieces of equipment.

Should I bring a backpack?

Try and be as compact as you can in the helicopter as there isn’t much room. We provide everything you need for the day so try to fit your camera, sunscreen etc into your jacket pockets.

What should I wear?

Wear what you would normally wear for a day on a ski field. A couple of warm layers under a ski jacket and pants. Make sure you bring your gloves, goggles, boots and ski or boarding equipment.

Do guests wear avalanche airbags?

SLHS doesn’t require the use of airbags but we allow it if guests want to wear one to feel safer in the mountains. All of our customers are given an avalanche transceiver and training. We also carry 2 shovels and probes per group of 4-5.

Do you accommodate special dietary requirements?

We sure do. Just let us know when you make your booking.

Do I need special skis or board?

For skiers we recommend fat powder skis (95mm or greater underfoot). Snowboarders have the option of using a longer board for big powder days or changing the stance on their own boards to a free ride position. Talk to our booking offices in Queenstown or Wanaka to make sure you have the right equipment for the day, if you don’t we’ll assist you with suitable rentals.

Do you offer film shoots and photo shoots?

Southern Lakes Heliski specialist film safety guides have assisted in the making of many film and television productions over the years. We provide extensive location knowledge, site management, helicopter safety and filming advice.