Queenstown Tours
Lord of the Rings and Glacier Helicopter Tour
5

Lord of the Rings and Glacier Helicopter Tour

By Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters
Recommended by 95% of travelers
95% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About
Soar above 'Lord of the Rings' film sites on this helicopter tour, flying above the fictional Middle-earth locations of the Misty Mountains, Isengard, Lothlórien, and more. Make two spectacular landings, on Clarke Glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park and in Skippers Canyon. Your pilot—who worked on the 'LOTR' and 'Hobbit' trilogies—shares stories and commentary throughout the scenic flight.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 15 per group
Duration: 1h 10m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Thrilling scenic 'Lord of the Rings' helicopter tour with two landings
  • Get both panoramic and up-close views of key film sites
  • Gain an insider perspective by flying with 'Lord of the Rings' film crew
  • Convenient round-trip transportation from select Queenstown hotels

  • Landing and facility fees
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • 70 minutes of flight time
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
What's not included
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

After pickup at your Queenstown hotel, head to the airport to meet pilot Alfie Speight, who completed aerial film work for the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit.'  Once your helicopter lifts off, cover some gorgeous terrain, starting with the mountain range whose peaks became the films’ Misty Mountains and Redhorn Pass, then cross to Glenorchy via Dart Valley and Mount Earnslaw. Along the way, your pilot points out the places that Peter Jackson transformed into Isengard, Amon Hen, and Lothlórien. Two separate landings let you see the remote terrain up close! First, touch down on the massive Clarke Glacier, and then land in Skippers Canyon, a beautiful gorge with towering sides. Lift off a final time for the return trip to Queenstown Airport, where a shuttle meets you for transfer back to your hotel.

Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • 35 Lucas Place, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Pickup details
  • Will self-drive Pick up location TBC Kamana Lakehouse Mercure Queenstown Resort Heritage Queenstown Crowne Plaza Queenstown I-Site Millennium Hotel Pounamu Apartments The Rees Hotel Sherwood Bus Stop (Frankton Rd) The Hilton Resort & Spa
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    Additional pickup options
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.
    • Tāhuna Queenstown isite Visitor Information Centre, 22 Shotover Street, The Clocktower Building, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Wheelchair accessible
      • Stroller accessible
      • Near public transportation
      • Infants must sit on laps
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 9180P9

      • Most travelers can participate
      • Due to comfort and weight / balance of the aircraft, passengers must advise of weight at the time of booking
      • Infants will be charged at the child rate (0-3 years old sit on adults lap)
      • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
      • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 9180P9

      From
      $650.25
      per adult
      Select date and travelers

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        a Queenstown must
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        An Unforgettable Experience!
        A massive thankyou to the team - Grace, Hayley, Jhalak, Jack and of course our legendary pilot Kody. An unforgettable experience and a ‘must do’ when in Queenstown. Cheers!!!
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      See all 1,001 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

      Popular mentions

      5.0
      5.0 of 5 bubbles24 reviews
      Excellent
      23
      Very good
      0
      Average
      1
      Poor
      0
      Terrible
      0

      Sunshine17063961356
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2023 • Family
      Amazing highlight of my trip to Queenstown. I highly recommend a trip with Luke! His competence and experience shows an ability to reassure and make passengers feel safe, especially those anxious about flying. Stopping on a glacier was an especially memorable. Specular views of the mountainous and lake terrain were breathtaking. Don’t hesitate, you’ll love it! Mauri ora Fabian.
      Written November 11, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Kia Ora Mauri ora Fabian, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback on your recent scenic flight. I am so pleased that your Pilot, Luke made you all feel safe during the flight, meaning you had a more enjoyable experience! We trust you took many photos and videos to look back on. Thank you very much for choosing to fly with GSLH. We hope to fly you again in the near future. Kind regards, Tegan
      Written November 13, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Ian Wu
      Singapore21 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      10/10 experience! The views were breathtaking and the helicopter experience felt very safe and exciting. Jeremy, our pilot, was a steady hand and gave us a some amazing views and insights into the area. The booking process was also very smooth - they were responsive and very clear with the instructions. Complimentary pickup was also included! Highly recommended and it left us wishing we could go on more flights with them in the future 😊😊😊
      Written April 4, 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi iWuverine83, Thank you very much for your recent 5* review on your Lord of The Rings & Glacier Helicopter flight. We are so pleased to hear that you had a smooth experience from when you made the initial booking to the flight itself. Thank you for your kind words about Pilot Jeremy, I will make sure to pass these comments along to him. We look forward to flying you again in the future, maybe Milford Sound next time?? Kind regards, Tegan
      Written April 28, 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      mbs5
      Lansdale, PA159 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Dec 2019
      Our family of 8 traveled to New Zealand and spent New Years Eve 2020 in Queenstown. We were split into 2 helicopter and given a tour of a lifetime! Matt and Jono showed us the breathtaking landscape of Queenstown and pointed our Lord of the Rings sites throughout our trip. They took pictures of our group and were so friendly! I like Lord of the Rings but really signed up because it was the longest tour. You see so much!!! We landed twice....once on a snow covered peak/glacier!! There is no better way to take in the beauty of Queenstown and surrounding areas! I would recommend everyone do this!! Thank you!
      Written January 2, 2020
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Kia ora! I am so pleased to hear what a wonderful experience you had with us! Queenstown certainly has breathtaking views! Matt and Jono are great pilot with a huge amount of experience and I am glad it was a great memorable experience for you all - what a way to enter 2020! We hope to welcome you back in the future!
      Written February 2, 2020
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Elena
      Brisbane, Australia7 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Mar 2023 • Solo
      This was a last minute booking for my birthday and GSLH were able to squeeze me on to one of their afternoon LOTR flights. All I can say is it turned out to be one of the highlights of my whole trip! Not a lot of LOTR content but the scenery and the thrill of my first helicopter flight eclipsed that. Will definitely be back again soon to do another helicopter tour with these guys. Great customer service with pick up and drop off options for Queenstown.
      Written May 6, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Elena, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent LOTR + Glacier Flight. We are so happy that we were able to accommodate you and especially seeing as it was your first every Helicopter flight! I will certainly pass along your wonderful feedback to our wider team and be sure to mention your comment about more LOTR commentary. Thank you again for choosing to fly with GSLH and we are so honoured to have flown you on your first evert flight! Kind regards, Tegan
      Written May 15, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      MeeAe M
      5 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2023
      This was such a GREAT experience! I'm terrified of heights and I've never felt safer. Jeremy was knowledgable and friendly. It was a last minute splurge for our Honeymoon and worth every penny! I'm a huge LOTR fan and they even gave a booklet with extra information!
      Written January 11, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Meeaem, Thank you very much for sharing your recent experience. We are so happy to hear that you had a wonderful time during your flight and what an added bonus that you got to experience so many of the LOTR filming locations. Congratulations and we hope you had a wonderful rest of your Honeymoon, we are so glad that we could be apart of it! Thank you very much for choosing GSLH! Kind regards, Tegan
      Written January 16, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Mobile04261327872
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sep 2024 • Couples
      Amazing experience highly recommend it to anyone and Will our pilot was great! Unbelievable views on the mountain ranges
      Written September 7, 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Mobile0426137872, We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your scenic flight experience with your Pilot, Will! Thank you so much for choosing to fly with us. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Queenstown. Kind regards, Tegan
      Written September 15, 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Extraordinary706747
      23 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic day. We were picked up and dropped back off at our accommodation which was very helpful. The entire staff made us feel safe and welcome.
      Written May 18, 2024
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Extraordinary706747, Thank you for your recent 5* review. We are so pleased to read that you had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Thank you very much for choosing to fly with us! Kind regards, Tegan
      Written May 22, 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Vanessa M
      Sydney11 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jul 2023 • Couples
      We loved this tour! Our pilot Michael was excellent! Amazing views throughout the whole experience. Highly recommend
      Written July 26, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Nessandkev, Thank you very much for sharing your lovely feedback. We are so pleased to hear that you had such an incredible flight. I will be sure to pass along your kind words to Michael. Thank you for choosing to fly to GSLH! Kind regards, Tegan
      Written July 30, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Brian H
      5 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jun 2023
      This was an awesome experience. The two landings were stunning. Michael our pilot was fantastic with a great commentary showing some great filming locations. The view of the landscape from above was outstanding.
      Written June 30, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi W6524HPbrianh, Thank you for your taking the time to share your recent experience. We are so pleased to hear that you had such an incredible flight with Pilot Michael and enjoyed the stunning landings along with the commentary. Thank you for choosing to fly with GSLH Kind regards, Tegan
      Written July 2, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Sandi
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jun 2023 • Family
      My family had a fabulous experience.
      We were picked up close to our hotel and shuttled to the airport. Our pilot took great care of us and pointed out numerous points of interest during our flight. Our two mountain landings were perfect! It gave us an incredible view of the area surrounding Queenstown and was the highlight of our vacation!
      Written June 27, 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Hi Sandiredhead, Thank you so much for taking the time to review your recent Lord of The Rings + Glacier Explorer flight. We love to hear that your entire experience from your pick through to your flight was fantastic and best of all it was the highlight of your trip!! Thank you so much for choosing to fly with GSLH. Kind regards, Tegan
      Written June 28, 2023
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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