Heli-Accessed Ski and Splitboard Touring
Heli-ski touring tours give skier and splitboarders the opportunity to explore the peaks of the Harris Mountains and Buchannan Mountains, just west of Lake Wānaka. These are a short flight from the Matukituki Valley and provide excellent viewpoints over Lake Wānaka and the peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. They are seldom travelled ski and splitboard touring venues so flying into these remote locations allows an uncrowded and remote day trip from Wānaka.
Heli-accessed Locations
Helicopter access allows ski and splitboard tourers the opportunity to skip the lift queues and enjoy some untouched backcountry terrain. Finish back at Treble Cone ski field or with a final helicopter ride back to the valley floor at the end of the day.
Locations for heli-ski and splitboard tours can be chosen depending on conditions, budget, ability, and aspirations for private groups. We’ll make a recommendation of where to head based on the group’s experience and where conditions are likely to be best on the day. To maximise skiing and riding, we recommend fly-in and fly-out options. For multi-day trips to these remote areas, check out our Heli-camp.
Locations include:
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] End Peak](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NDI1OjMxNTQ=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Heli-Ski Touring 2")
End Peak
From the summit of End Peak (2100m), explore a variety of epic backcountry terrain. With options for all levels of abilities and aspects to target the best snow conditions.
Black Peak
The summit of Black Peak (2289m) in the Harris Mountains provides outstanding views of the Southern Alps, down over the southern end of Lake Wānaka, and the township.
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Mt Alta](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NDQ1OjE1NTg=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDMyMCAzMjQwIiB3aWR0aD0iNDMyMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjQwIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg== "Heli-Ski Touring 4")
Mount Alta and Fog Peak
Mount Alta (2339m) in the Buchannan Mountains has views from Mt Aspiring through to Lake Wānaka. Day trips can fly directly to the summit to ski the south face and upper basins of the Rumbling Burn before climbing up and crossing the ridge and a final descent to the Tarns for a pickup and return to the valley floor.
Isobel Glacier
The Isobel Glacier on the north slopes of Mount Tyndall is deep in the heart of Mount Aspiring National Park. Flight over the Harris Mountains to reach this spectacular area with views from the rugged West Coast to Tititea / Mount Aspiring.
Itinerary
Your guide can pick you up from your accommodation in Wānaka or meet you at Aspiring Helicopters Cattle Flat Hanger (near the bottom of the Treble Cone ski field access road) early in the morning ready for the first flight into the mountains.
Flights out will be between 15:00 and 16:00, returning to Wānaka around 17:00. Timings will be confirmed before the day.
Experience Requirements
Participants must have some ski or split-board experience and good fitness to make the most of the full day out.
We recommend warming up on a Treble Cone Backcountry tour a few days before, especially if using hired touring equipment.
Heli-Ski Touring Pricing and Dates
| Duration: 8 hours |
| Maximum ratio:1:4 |
| 2025 Dates: |
| Private day trips available by arrangement on any suitable day from July to September. Register below to express your interest and your available dates, group size, and any other requirements and trips will be confirmed 24 hours before departure depending on weather and conditions. Get in touch with us for bespoke helicopter accessed touring camp multi-day trips. |
| 2025 Prices: |
| We charge a base rate of $350 / $450 / $590 / $990 per person for 4+ / 3 / 2 / 1 participants. We’ll make a recommendation of where to head based on where conditions are likely to be best on the day. We then charge a group price depending on the location: Black Peak, fly-in/fly-out: $1480. End Peak fly-in/fly-out: $1640 Mount Alta or Fog Peak, fly-in/fly-out: $2370. Isobel or Tyndall Glaciers, fly-in/fly-out: $3110. |
| Price includes taxes, NZMGA-certified guide, helicopter flights, and landing fees (if applicable), transport from Wānaka, and avalanche safety gear. Excludes: Lunch and snacks, ski touring equipment hire (if required), and lift passes (if required). A packed lunch package can be arranged for an additional charge. |
| To hire touring skis, we work with MT Outdoors in Three Parks, Wānaka and we recommend getting in touch with them as soon as possible to make a booking during busy times of year. Splitboards hire can be arranged through us. Prices are around $130 per day. If using hired touring equipment, we recommend warming up with the gear before the day so that you can get the most out of the trip. |
See Also
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Treble Cone Backcountry Tour](IMG-20220823-WA0003 "Heli-Ski Touring 7")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Whare Kea Chalet](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NTUwOjMxMDQ=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Heli-Ski Touring 8")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Aspiring Glacier Ski Tour](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NTU0OjMxNDI=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Heli-Ski Touring 9")
‘A great local company offering backcountry tours. Less people, fresh lines and opportunity to enhance your backcountry skills. Our guide, was exceptional. He picked a great route, great skiing in variable conditions, and included some snow science along the way. Highly recommended.’
— Nathan, Remarkables Backcountry Tour
I did a day ski touring trip with WMG with Tim as my guide. He was excellent at communication before I arrived in NZ as well as sorting out some travel logistics for me. Tim was very helpful and great at explaining what we were doing. He took the time to give some ski tip instructions and made sure that everyone in the group was looked after in terms of ability while touring. It was a wonderful day out. Thank you.’
— Sheila, Remarkables Backcountry Tour
‘Incredible experience getting to ride in a helicopter right to the top of a mountain and ski untouched snow all day! Tim was an amazing guide and was very knowledgeable about the area, and the helicopter organization was seamless and very well run. Highly recommend taking a day out ski touring with Wanaka Mountain Guides!’
— Edward, Heli-ski Tour
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Heli-ski and Splitboard Tours](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzM5OjI5NjU=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDYwOCAzNDU2IiB3aWR0aD0iNDYwOCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzNDU2IiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg== "Heli-Ski Touring 11")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Heli-ski and Splitboard Tours](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzQ4OjEzODU=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA1NzYiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjU3NiIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Heli-Ski Touring 13")
![Wanaka Mountain Guides [] Heli-ski and Splitboard Tours](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzU2OjMwMzk=-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTAyNCA3NjgiIHdpZHRoPSIxMDI0IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijc2OCIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48L3N2Zz4= "Heli-Ski Touring 15")