The Remarkables range rises 2,300 metres above Queenstown, a fault-block massif that drops sheer into the Wakatipu basin. The peaks were named in 1857 by surveyor Alexander Garvie, who noted their unusual north-south alignment — rare in the Southern Alps, where most ridges run northeast.
Māori knew the range as Kawarau Tūhura, the place where the Kawarau River begins its descent from Lake Wakatipu toward the Clutha. The rock is schist, metamorphosed over 100 million years and tilted nearly vertical by the collision of tectonic plates. In winter the range collects enough snowfall to support New Zealand's southernmost commercial ski field, but the alpine zone above 1,800 metres remains raw tussock and scree year-round.
Helicopter access opened the high basin in the 1980s, when commercial operators began landing clients on snowfields inaccessible by road. Today scenic flights depart from Frankton, five kilometres east of central Queenstown, climbing over Lake Wakatipu and threading the southern spurs before ascending to the main ridge. Flight paths follow the spine north toward Double Cone, the range's 2,319-metre summit, then loop back over the shadowed eastern faces. Weather determines the landing zone — most operators touch down at 1,900 metres on the Alta Peak saddle when conditions permit, allowing passengers to step onto consolidated snow with views across Otago and Southland. The flight duration averages 20 to 35 minutes depending on the route, with alpine landings adding ten minutes on the ground.
The Remarkables Helicopter Tour tours operate daily from Frankton, subject to wind shear and cloud ceiling. Morning flights between 09:00 and 11:00 offer the calmest air, before thermal turbulence builds over the basin floor. Pilots brief passengers on alpine safety and rotor wash before departure. The aircraft used are typically five- or six-seat turbine machines — Eurocopter AS350 or Airbus H125 variants — chosen for their altitude performance and large cabin windows. Radio communication with Queenstown tower is mandatory during the climb, as the flight path intersects controlled airspace below 3,500 feet. Entry is free at the Frankton heliport; the tour itself is a paid commercial experience priced per person, with rates varying by duration and whether a snow landing is included.
20 min
