BEN OHAU HELISKIING

Skiers and boarders should report to our base at the Old Mountaineers Cafe at Aoraki Mt Cook. From here you will receive a full safety briefing on all aspects of the day's operation. The Heliski Director then divides people into small, compatible groups, before flying into the day's first run. Each group is led by their own professional guide during the day. Ask about our private charters.

NOTE: Bookings & confirmations are essential.

COST: $825 per person

Heliskiing

We heliski in some of the most spectacular alpine terrain in NZ. The Ben Ohau Range, just outside the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, offers some of the longest vertical skiing in NZ.

Cost $825 Price includes 4 heli ski runs, professional guide service, lunch, safety equipment, GST and permit fees. The Grand Finale Finish is an optional 5th run down the Tasman Glacier: Cost: $1340 per person. Extra runs $125 per 1000 vertical metres.

PRIVATE CHARTERS:

Discerning skiers and boarders have the option to charter their own private heli and escape into the mountains for a day of private, guided heliskiing or boarding.Prices on application.

THE CLIMATE:

Helicopter skiing takes us into the high mountain ranges. You can therefore experience (sometimes even on the same day) excellent powder, breakable crust, or corn snow. Statistically, we ski good to excellent snow 75% of the time. In general expect powder from July to early September and spring snow from September to early November. Because New Zealand has a maritime climate with very high mountains close to the sea, the weather can be unpredictable so you may not be able to ski at all, particularly if you have a tight itinerary. Flexibility is the key to getting the best heliskiing.

YOU CAN HELISKI!

Our guides are happy to help improve your skiing or boarding standard, and can offer tips on soft snow technique which even expert piste skiers will find valuable. Standard downhill carver skis and boards are used. Warm, windproof clothing, with good gloves, sunglasses and hat are essential. You ski or board in a very high alpine region, so warm clothing is of prime importance.

If you can ski, you can heli-ski Ideally if you are a strong intermediate skier/boarder or better, with a sense of adventure this is recommended. We have exclusive access to extensive terrain in around the Mount Cook area. Easy rolling terrain for powder first timers, wide open bowls and challenging chutes with steep valleys for the more experienced. You'll be part of a small group of led by a guide who is committed to your safety and enjoyment of this alpine environment.

Heli-skiing works like this:

• Early in the morning we check the weather and then we contact you.
• If it's on, we'll pick you up or meet at the Old Mountaineers and take you to the staging area where you're introduced to your pilot, guide and fellow heli-skiers.
• A safety briefing is given covering avalanche transceivers, helicopter and mountain safety, then you fly off to the first heli-ski run.
• We find a really nice location to have our lunch with time to relax.
• Then it's back into more heli-skiing
• If weather conditions preclude flying you can reschedule to the next day. Reservations must be reconfirmed by 6.00pm.

We are a member of the the New Zealand Heliski Operators Group.