Air Safaris

Air Safaris Explore New Zealand's
most spectacular alpine scenery! See Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, glaciers and more.
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Air Safaris is an award-winning company, flying for over 50 years in the Aoraki Mt Cook and Westland National Parks. The pioneering family started with just one aircraft and still own and operate the business, now one of New Zealand’s largest scenic flight airlines. WHY FLY WITH AIR SAFARIS?

• Experience New Zealand’s incredible scenery, including Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo.
• Flights depart from Lake

Tekapo, Glentanner Park/Mt Cook or Franz Josef.
• Safe, modern aircraft with experienced local alpine pilots.
• Fixed wing and helicopter flights.
• Every seat is a window seat for unparalleled views.
• Go further & see more – epic mountains, glaciers, alpine valleys, glacial lakes, and
braided rivers.
• Informative and entertaining commentary with multi-language brochure supplied.
• Private charter flights include Milford Sound, Queenstown, West Coast,
Christchurch or Dunedin.
• Family-owned business with friendly, personal service since 1970! SCENIC FLIGHT OPTIONS:

The Grand Traverse: The magnificent “flight of a lifetime!” Experience breath-taking scenery up close from your own window seat, including Aoraki Mt Cook, glaciers, braided rivers, and glacial lakes. 50-minute scenic plane flight from lake Tekapo or Franz Josef (West Coast). Aoraki Mt Cook Franz & Fox Magic: A amazing 60-minute helicopter flight from Lake Tekapo with incredible scenery and alpine snow landing. See Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand’s longest glacier, beautiful glacial lakes, and braided rivers. Mount Cook Alpine Grandeur: An awesome 45-minute helicopter flight from Lake Tekapo with an alpine snow landing. Explore incredible valleys and glaciers of the Southern Alps, and see mighty Aoraki Mt Cook. Mackenzie Explorer: One of the most popular helicopter flights! Enjoy a stunning 30-minute flight from Lake Tekapo then experience a snow or alpine landing. Milford Sound Excursion: Experience an epic flight direct to Milford Sound or via Aoraki Mt Cook. Enjoy incredible scenery then relax in beautiful Milford Sound before flying back. 2.5 hour return flight from Lake Tekapo or Franz Josef (West Coast). Weddings & Engagements: Enjoy the privacy of an exclusive helicopter flight with a gorgeous alpine landing high above Lake Tekapo. Wedding and engagement packages can be tailored for you, making that special day even more magical!

Reviews like this make our day! Thank you to all of our amazing customers for choosing to fly with us.If you’ve flown wi...
05/06/2026

Reviews like this make our day! Thank you to all of our amazing customers for choosing to fly with us.

If you’ve flown with us before, feel free to leave us a review on Google or TripAdvisor—we love hearing about your adventures. ✈️

At Air Safaris, we’re passionate about sharing the story of aviation, tourism, and New Zealand’s unique landscapes with ...
20/05/2026

At Air Safaris, we’re passionate about sharing the story of aviation, tourism, and New Zealand’s unique landscapes with the next generation. 🛩

We genuinely enjoy welcoming school groups and creating experiences that are both inspiring and educational.
Whether it’s learning about tourism operations, aviation, geography, weather systems, sustainability, or the history of the Mackenzie region.

Seeing students engage with the industry firsthand and gain insight into how tourism and aviation work behind the scenes is something we value greatly.

We’re proud to support schools by offering educational experiences that are interactive, memorable, and tailored to different learning levels.

To learn more about our educational opportunities and school visit options visit
https://airsafaris.co.nz/educational-flight-tour-students/

09/05/2026

To the mums who gave us wings before we ever stepped on a plane 💙

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating the women who inspire adventure, courage, and unforgettable memories.

From all of us at Air Safaris, thank you for everything you do.

Happy Mother’s Day ✨

📍 Mackenzie Country from above never gets old.

We asked our pilots what is everyone wanting right now…And the answer? Braided rivers.The way these rivers get their col...
06/05/2026

We asked our pilots what is everyone wanting right now…

And the answer? Braided rivers.

The way these rivers get their colour is pretty incredible - glaciers grinding against rock creating a fine “rock flour” that flows into the lakes, giving the water that striking turquoise blue.

On our Grand Traverse flight, you’ll see the braided rivers of the Godley, Cass, Macauley, Murchison and Tasman - and on a clear day, even the Waiho River on the West Coast.

Come and see it from the air with us - you’ll understand why it’s so special ✈️

22/04/2026

Here we go again... ✈️✨

Current scenes around the Godley River. The Southern Alps have been getting a bit of rain over the past few days, bringi...
30/03/2026

Current scenes around the Godley River. The Southern Alps have been getting a bit of rain over the past few days, bringing plenty of glacial water and silt (the milky white colour you can see at the top of the lake) into Lake Tekapo.

FYI for anyone planning to head into the Godley Valley over the Easter break.

We’re incredibly proud to be part of this 💙At Air Safaris, it’s not just about flying, it’s about creating moments that ...
25/03/2026

We’re incredibly proud to be part of this 💙

At Air Safaris, it’s not just about flying, it’s about creating moments that matter.

Being able to give kids facing tough times the chance to take to the skies, see our beautiful backyard, and just be kids for a moment… that’s something really special.

Huge thanks to Uplift in Kind for making this possible. We’re honoured to be involved ✈️✨

Towering peaks, untouched snow, and cloud drifting through the valleys. A perspective you simply can’t get from the grou...
24/03/2026

Towering peaks, untouched snow, and cloud drifting through the valleys. A perspective you simply can’t get from the ground. 🛩

Our iconic Grand Traverse scenic flight takes you deep into the heart of Aoraki/Mt Cook & Westland National Parks, where every seat is a window seat and every moment is unforgettable.

No crowds. No hiking required. Just pure alpine magic. 😍

We often get asked: “What’s better.... helicopter or fixed wing?”And the truth is… it depends on the person.Some people ...
09/03/2026

We often get asked: “What’s better.... helicopter or fixed wing?”

And the truth is… it depends on the person.

Some people dream of landing in the snow and stepping out onto a snow covered mountain.
Others want a guaranteed window seat and the best panoramic scenic views from above.

The good news? We offer both.

Our fixed-wing Grand Traverse flight (most popular) covers a huge area of the Southern Alps, including Aoraki/Mt Cook, the Tasman Glacier, braided rivers, and turquoise alpine lakes, with every passenger enjoying a window seat.

Our helicopter flights offer the thrill of hovering among the peaks and the chance to land high in the mountains or on snow, making it a truly unforgettable alpine experience.

So the real question is…

Which would you choose? Helicopter or plane?

It’s one of our favourite times of year. 🍂Fresh snow dusting the mountain tops, golden valleys below, and that crisp aut...
03/03/2026

It’s one of our favourite times of year. 🍂

Fresh snow dusting the mountain tops, golden valleys below, and that crisp autumn air.

A front-row seat to nature’s seasonal shift ✈️.

#2026

Address

State Highway 8, Lake Tekapo Airport
Lake Tekapo
7945

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 5pm
Sunday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6436806880

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