Sightseeing from a small plane or helicopter on a scenic flight will give you the ultimate view of New Zealand’s spectacular geography.
You’ll be able to count the volcanic cones that are scattered across the face of Auckland; appreciate the immensity of Lake Taupo, a supervolcano that’s just biding its time; and glimpse the beautiful glaciers that tumble down from the peaks of the Southern Alps.
Flightseeing opportunities are concentrated in areas where the scenery is most extraordinary - Northland and Auckland, the central North Island, Canterbury, Queenstown, Fiordland and the West Coast.
Some operators combine airborne sightseeing with ground explorations. White Island, an active marine volcano in the Bay of Plenty, is a destination that uses this formula. At Mount Cook and Franz Josef a ski-plane operator makes glacier landings, so that you can get out and feel the quiet solitude of the mountains. Another rare treat is a flight to watch the whales at Kaikoura.
