Heli Accessed Ski Touring - Day Trip
Wanaka’s Ultimate Backcountry Snow AdventureHeli Accessed Ski Touring - Day Trip
Experience the best of two worlds of ski adventure with a helicopter-accessed ski touring day deep in the Southern Alps. Departing from Wanaka, you’ll be whisked away to untouched, high-alpine terrain few ever get to explore. Your playground? The majestic End Peak, Black Peak, The Buchanans, Mt Alta, Triple Peak, and the shimmering expanse of the Isobel Glacier.
Each landing zone offers endless possibilities: long, flowing descents, wide open powder fields, and aesthetic ridge lines — all set against a dramatic backdrop of glaciated peaks and deep valleys. Whether you’re carving fresh tracks down the smooth flanks of Black Peak or threading technical lines among the rugged spires of Mt Alta, every run is pure magic.
With the helicopter handling the heavy lifting, you maximize your time on snow, gaining rapid access to terrain that would otherwise take days to reach. After the drop-off, your day becomes a human-powered exploration, skinning up pristine ridges and skiing untouched lines under the vast New Zealand sky.
Perfect for intermediate to advanced ski tourers, this day is about freedom, exploration, and the raw joy of the mountains. If you’re seeking a truly unforgettable backcountry experience, this is Wanaka’s finest.
LOCATION
We offer ski touring day trip with helicopter access in the following locations:
End Peak | Black Peak | The Buchanans | Mt Alta | Triple Peak | Isobel Glacier
The location is usually confirmed the day before according to the snow conditions, weather and avalanche risk.
ski-touring difficulty
The easy access and day trip makes it accessible for intermediate ski-tourers. However it is off-piste terrain with non groomed slopes so a relatively intermediate to advance alpine ski level is required.
All of the Locations offer also steep and challenging slopes for the more advance ski-tourers
Trip Info
LOCATION
End Peak | Black Peak | Mt Alta | Triple Peak | The Buchanans | Isobel Glacier
DATES
July to October
DURATION
Day trip
SKI TOURING DIFFICULTY
Intermediate to Advanced
GUIDE TO CLIENT RATIO / GROUP SIZE
1 Guide for 4 people max per group
Private Group Only
PRICE
From NZ$350/pers + Helicopter Flights
Itinerary
The location will vary, depending on the weather and snow conditions at the time of the trip. Here is a quick snip at what it would be:
Day 0. Meet in Wanaka, gear check.
Day 1. Early Morning travel to the Helicopter Hangar on Mt Aspiring Road ( 30min from Wanaka ).After a short helicopter safety breifing, we take off to our location of the day. We spend the day exploring and ski touring the location, alternate between skiing and skining. At the end of the day we take the helicopter back to the hangar, then drive back to Wanaka.
Dates & Pricing
PRICE - HELI ACCESSED SKI TOURING - DAY TRIP
| 1 pers. | NZ$ 1,050 |
| 2 pers. | NZ$ 590/pers. |
| 3 pers. | NZ$ 450/pers. |
| 4 pers. | NZ$ 350/pers. |
HELICOPTER FLIGHT PRICES 2025 - ACCESS & EGRESS
| Black Peak | NZ$ 1,480 |
| End Peak | NZ$ 1,640 |
| Mt Alta, Triple Peak, The Buchanans | NZ$ 2,370 |
| Isobel or Tyndall Glaciers | NZ$ 3,110 |
DATES
July to October
EXTRA WEATHER DAY
NZ$650/group
TRIP INCLUSION
- IFMGA/NZMGA Mountain & Ski Guide
- Ground transport from Wanaka
- Avalanche Safety Gear
- GST
TRIP EXCLUSIONS
- Personal equipment
- Ski-touring gear
- Snacks and Lunch
- Appropriate skiing clothes
- Personal Insurance
- Cancellation Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
Extra Weather Day, What this is?
It’s a NON-GUIDED day, to add-on at the begining and/or the end of your trip at the time of booking, to guaranty the availiability of the guide, in the event of bad weather and the trip’s dates have to be shiftted slightly. The price is per group and per day and does not include accomodation or meals.
What If the weather is bad for my trip ?
The Southern Alps in New Zealand is a worldwide desired climbing and skiing destination due to its remoteness and wilderness beauty. Windows of nice settled weather between fronts are oftern in place. But as for all mountain ranges in the world, the Southern Alps also has challenging weather. After all, it’s a long, high mountain range located on a tiny island surounded by the Tasman Sea and the Southern Pacific Ocean…
Summit Explorers Mountain Guides are well experienced in judging the weather and conditions to provide you the best possible trip. They will go above and beyond to make the trip happen. But sometimes, it’s out of our control, so if the weather remains terrible and prevents the trip from happenning as originally planned, you will be offered a different location and/or climb. There will be no refund for bad weather and conditions. However, depending of the agreement and avaibility of the guide, an arrangment could be discussed to postpone the trip at a different date.
Should I get a trip insurance
We strongly advice that all clients purchase travel and cancellation insurance that specifically covers cancellation due to injury or illness as well as weather cancellation. This is highly recommended for all trips with Summit Explorers due to the nature of the trips we provide. We have a relationship with the provider Global Rescue which has an option which includes a “Cancel for any Reason” policy. Rescue and Extraction is covered by ACC in New Zealand, however ACC does not cover for any trip cancellation. Insurance policy costs will vary based on age, duration of trip and coverage selected. . You can learn more and get a free quote here: Global Rescue by Summit Explorers
How do I get to Wanaka
Queenstown airport is the closest to Wanaka. There are regular shuttles which service Wanaka.
For shuttle and taxi information:
Summit explorers Terms and Conditions
Please visit our Booking terms and conditions page
Why Choose Summit Explorers
YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL GUIDING EXPERIENCE
Our Company and our incredible team of mountain guides are passionate, talented climbers and skiers who have a extremely valuable guiding experience in the New Zeland mountains and Internationally.
SAFETY FOCUSED
Our number one priority is insuring that every body that join us on a trip, will enjoy a safe one! Certified Mountain Guides are trained to perform at the highest international standards of skills and safety.
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
Adaptative to your needs and dreams, always on the search to make your mountain journey a memorable one, that’s what we do and how we guide.
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