Heli-assisted
Snowshoe Hikes
Explore the peaks and ranges around Lake Tekapo
Explore Lake Tekapo Winter Adventures Trek The Best Day Hikes & Walking Trails in Tekapo SnowshoeingSnowshoe Heli-Hikes
Snowshoe Heli-Hikes
Lodge based day tours on the peaks and ranges around Lake Tekapo
Heli-snowshoe hikes for those wanting to be based out of Lake Tekapo, but still get into the mountains for a fun winter adventure.
You may be holidaying with family in Tekapo or haven’t got the time for the walk into our huts. Or maybe you simply prefer staying in a comfortable holiday home or hotel rather than a backcountry hut. Here is the snowshoeing trip for you!
The mountain ranges surrounding Lake Tekapo offer grand views across the Mackenzie Basin and of the major peaks of the Main Divide, including Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. By using a combination of 4WD and helicopter access, this trip will take you further into the alpine zone into the "wild heart" of these ranges, normally only visited by hunters.
Our trips can cater to first-time snowshoers as well as to experienced groups. It is a popluar option for families.
Overview
Our Snowshoe Heli-Hikes are available as 2 day or 4 day options based from our own Edelweiss Lodge in Lake Tekapo Township. Each day we either take you to a skifield via 4WD or we use a helicopter to get dropped in a remote and normally inaccessible location to start our snowshoe exploration. You'll explore the mountain ranges east and west of Lake Tekapo during the day, returning to the comforts of Lake Tekapo every evening.
Here is the recipe for a great backcountry holiday - relax with a soak in the hot pools or enjoy a stargazing tour after an exhilarating snowshoe trek in untouched snow! We recommend 2 days for a weekend away for "sampling" snowshoeing, and 4 days for those looking for a refreshing break combining the comfort of the township and its attractions with active visits in the surrounding alpine environment.
Value & flexibilty
All trips are planned with your arrival in the evening before the first day in the snow, so no time is lost in the morning for checking gear, getting organised or waiting for participants to arrive - we like you to get maximum value and enjoy full days out in the mountains! Trips are designed to be flexible with our changeable New Zealand weather in mind. The base trip cost is paid upfront, with helicopter flights paid extra, based on if and how much you fly (flights can be affected by weather or the group may choose to add on extra days). We also want you to offer you the most competitive flight price, as numbers and total passenger weight influences the costs. Talk to our office staff to get all the information you need on the flight cost.
Edelweiss Lodge
This modern four-bedroomed holiday home has a lovely sense of space with great mountain and lake views. Only a kilometre walk from the town centre and bus stop (we can arrange a pick-up on request), it's a pleasant stroll to a good choice of cafés and restaurants in town and about 15 minutes walk to the hot pools and spa.
For more information about the lodge and the various room options, please see the Edelweiss Lodge page.
Snowshoe Heli-Hikes dates are scheduled on a case by case basis - please contact us with the dates you would like. We recommend that you settle guiding dates well in advance as guide availability during peak season is limited. Please allow extra time in case you are held up in the mountains due to weather.
Standard bookings
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for $100 off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Standard Price | 2 days price per person | 4 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Individual bookings group size | NZ$1180 2 - 4 per guide * | NZ$2010 2 - 4 per guide * |
Please read the information on minimum and maximum group sizes below.
Group discounts: get a group of family and friends together and book as a group. The amount of discount you will be eligible for, will depend on the group size - the more people you book, the more your discount will be. If our scheduled dates don't suit your group's travel plans, please contact us so we can reschedule a trip to suit (subject to guide availability).
Please note that group bookings are not private bookings - if you wish to keep your group closed and have a private guide just for your group, a surcharge will apply.
| Group Discounts | 2 days price per person | 4 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Group booking of 3 | NZ$1,125.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$1,910.00 2 - 4 per guide |
| Group booking of 4 | NZ$1,065.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$1,810.00 2 - 4 per guide |
| Group booking of 5 | NZ$1,145.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$1,950.00 2 - 4 per guide |
| Group booking of 6 | NZ$1,125.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$1,910.00 2 - 4 per guide |
| Group booking of 7 | NZ$1,090.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$1,850.00 2 - 4 per guide |
| Group booking of 8 | NZ$1,065.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$1,810.00 2 - 4 per guide |
Deposit Payment
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- NZ$300.00
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 60 days of the trip start, the full amount will be due.
Booking conditionsInclusions & Exclusions
All prices include the following:
- IFMGA / NZMGA certified alpine trekking guide
- Department of Conservation licence fees
- Heated PRIVATE lodge accommodation (for night before and all nights during trip)
- One-ride pass for Mt. Dobson Ski Area
- ALL ground-based transport during trip
- ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
- ALL avalanche safety and snowshoeing equipment
The following items are NOT included:
- Meals and accommodation before/after the course are NOT included.
- Accommodation after the trip is NOT included
- Flights are NOT included
Flight costs - not included in trip price
Heli cost will be charged after the trip, as weather may influence the number of flying days. Each heli day requires a return flight - one flight in to the venue and one back out. Extra heli days can be added on request during a trip, but require buy-in from the whole group (we cannot split groups during a trip due to the unlikelihood of extra guides being available at short-notice).
Expect a normal trip to include:
- 2 day trip: 1 flying day - add 1x return flight cost to trip price
- 4 day trip: 2 flying days - add 2x return flight cost to trip price
Weather dependent: As there is no guarantee of being able to fly (due to weather) and no obligation to fly, we like to be able to pass on any potential savings directly to our guests.
| Price per person per return flight | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Aircraft | Guests | Price |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Head of Boundary Stream | MD 500 Helicopter | 2 | NZ$970.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Head of Boundary Stream | Squirrel Helicopter | 3 | NZ$830.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Head of Boundary Stream | Squirrel Helicopter | 4 | NZ$620.00 |
Please note: Flight prices are given as examples only and are subject to change by aircraft operators at any time. In addition to guests, each aircraft will also transport the guide and gear.
Minimum & Maximum Group Size
A minimum number of 2 participants is required to run this trip. If you end up being the only person booked on the trip, you will be offered the choice of:
- paying an additional fee to run the trip at a reduced guide-to-guest ratio
( NZ$765.00 for 2 days, NZ$1,300.00 for 4 days ) - rescheduling to another trip/date
- a full refund
A maximum number of 4 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
Optional Extras
Accommodation upgrade options:
If you wish to upgrade from a shared room, Edelweiss Lodge also has a selection of private rooms available - please enquire when you book.
Discounts:
If you are on a holiday in Tekapo and you have your own accommodation and meals sorted, talk to our office staff as we can give you a discounted price for the trip.
Previous Experience
Snowshoeing Fitness:
You will be carrying a 3-4kg day pack, including avalanche transceiver, spare clothing and your lunch. Compared with our hut-based trips, a lower level of fitness is required as participants DO NOT need to carry an overnight pack, however a reasonable level of hiking fitness is recommended to get maximum enjoyment out of each day. Expect the equivalent of a 4-6 hour hike.
How difficult is snowshoeing?
The snow evens out the bumps and hollows of the summer terrain and makes it easy to walk over the surface without having to negotiate rocks or tree roots as you often have to do when tramping. With the addition of ski poles it makes for enjoyable walking, taking in the scenery, instead of watching where you are placing your feet.
If you enjoy bushwalking, tramping or just ordinary hiking, then you'll enjoy walking over the snow on snowshoes. You don't sink into the snow as you would with just boots on. Using snowshoes is very straightforward - it's as simple as strapping them onto your normal hiking boots, grabbing a pair of ski poles and walking!
For a more challenging option we recommend our hut-based Snowshoe Hikes at Rex Simpson Hut.
Difficulty Ratings
Endurance: 1 - Basic hiking/trekking fitness
Suitable for people who regularly undertake day hikes. Day pack up to 4kg and short duration of activity (2-4 hours). Some prior training is always beneficial.
Agility: 1 - Basic hiking/trekking agility
Hiking on unmarked routes in sub-alpine terrain. Able to move efficiently on uneven terrain with steps, rocks, tree roots etc. while carrying a light backpack. No scrambling or technical equipment required. Little or no exposure.
Trip Difficulty Ratings - more info| Gear Check | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 pm | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Pre-Trip Evening
Gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. We schedule our gear check in the evening before the trip start, so we can give you a full day on the snow.
A gear check and the trip overview commonly takes about 1 hour.
First Day
From Lake Tekapo township we drive to our local skifield of Mount Dobson. Access to the lifts for a "free climb" is included in the trip. For any first-time snowshoers, the ski field gives your guide the opportunity to introduce the equipment and its use in an easy to manage environment. The day is spent with short tours close to the ski area depending on your ability. Spending a day based at the ski field means that you are fully ready for the heli-accessed hikes, even if you already have some snowshoeing experience.
Experienced snowshoeing groups may of course start directly with a heli-hike day (extra cost!). In that case, the trip would start with a short shuttle to the hangar of our flying partner MacKenzie Helicopters. They are based just outside Lake Tekapo township by the military camp. Please see info below on "Second Day" for touring description.
Second Day
In the early morning, we are headed out to the hangar of our flying partner MacKenzie Helicopters. After the short check-in including a heli-briefing and weighing of our load, we will be airborne to our snowshoeing destination. Within about 15 minutes flight time over the MacKenzie Basin and Lake Tekapo we get taxied to the snow. Depending on weather, avalanche conditions and your skill levels the guide picks the best start and end point for the day tour. After the helicopter departs, we are left with the solitude and sounds of only the mountains to enjoy. The rest of our day is human powered and shaped by your group only. We have a variety of terrain to choose from to suit all abilities.
Subsequent Days (for 4 day trips only)
Based at Edelweiss Lodge, you can already make the plan for the next day with your guide in the evening. We have factored in 2 heli-hike days on every 4 day trip, knowing that flexibility is key to maximise your snowshoeing time. Weather, in particular visibility and wind, will shape our plans. We are in Lake Tekapo for a reason. We can still get you out in the mountains east of the Main Divide, when the Nor-wester has shut down options in Aoraki Mount Cook - provided the wind is not too strong, we can fly, otherwise we can often still get into the backcountry from one of our local ski areas. All our snowshoeing is on non-glaciated terrain, which has been shaped by glaciers many thousand years ago.
Extra heli-hike days can be added in good weather on request.
Snowshoe Heli-Hikes - Clothing & Equipment Checklist
Your gear check time will be provided at time of booking. Please bring as many of the items on the equipment list as you can. We can provide (at no extra charge), any of the items in list A that you are missing. Your pack with your own gear should not weigh more than 6kg. Remember that you will be adding snowshoes and some fresh food (bread, meat, cheese, veges) to this weight, to end up with about 8-10kg to carry on the first day. Reminder: all food is provided.
Snowshoes, trekking poles and avalanche safety equipment are provided. Sleeping bags, mattresses, pillows and hut shoes are at the hut. We provide you with a sleeping bag liner and pillow case (if you have your own sleeping bag liner, please bring it).
*1 Boots: these must be well broken-in and waterproofed, with good ankle support. Please note that we stock boots ranging from EU size 37-48; if you have feet outside this range and do not have suitable boots of your own, you will need to hire boots independently from: Gnomes Alpine Sports, Darfield; Small Planet Sports, Queenstown; or MT Outdoors, Wanaka.. Book any hire equipment well in advance.
*2 Blister kit: we recommend Compeed and Leukoplast - available at chemists in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka.
A. Equipment which Alpine Recreation can provide if you do not have your own:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| avalanche safety equipment transceiver, shovel, probe | 1 |
| backpack - 35L | 1 |
| buff / sun scarf for protecting ears & neck | 1 |
| gaiters to fit over trekking / mountaineering boots | 1 |
| headlamp with spare battery | 1 |
| hiking boots | 1 |
| polypro / merino thermal leggings | 2 |
| polypro / merino top long-sleeved | 2 |
| snowshoeing equipment snowshoes, poles | 1 |
| sun hat | 1 |
| synthetic / fleece jacket | 1 |
| trekking / hiking poles | 1 |
| warm gloves / mittens | 1 |
| waterproof hard-shell pants full-length zip | 1 |
| waterproof over-mitts | 1 |
| waterproof pack liner to keep your gear dry | 1 |
| waterproof parka must have a hood | 1 |
| wool hat / balaclava | 1 |
| woollen socks | 2 |
B. Equipment you must bring yourself/Alpine Recreation do not provide:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| camera | 1 |
| down jacket | (optional) 1 |
| drink bottle / thermos flask wide-mouth, minimum 1 litre | 1 |
| ear plugs in case of snorers | 1 |
| personal first aid please provide your own blister kit | 1 |
| personal underwear | 1 |
| quick-drying shirt long-sleeved, for sun protection | 1 |
| small dry bags for organising gear | 1 |
| snow goggles | (optional) 1 |
| sun and lip screen high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| sun glasses high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| toiletries please keep these to a minimum | 1 |
How do I make a booking?
Simply click on Book Your Adventure, fill out the enrolment form, and pay your deposit fee. Once you have submitted your completed enrolment form and we have received your deposit payment, we will confirm your reservation on the trip. You will receive a formal confirmation receipt by email.
Your scheduled dates don't work for me - what should I do?
Please contact us with your available dates. We may be able to accommodate your request.
What happens if we have really bad weather?
New Zealand's weather is notoriously fickle. It is possible you could be delayed getting into or out of the mountains due to the weather. For this reason, we recommend leaving 1-2 days spare at the end of your trip to avoid disruption to other travel plans. Your guide will endeavour to provide alternative activities/venues to give you the best possible experience. In some cases, if all participants and the guide have flexibility with time, it may be an option to postpone the whole trip by a day (however we cannot guarantee this option and it is at the discretion of the guide).
In many cases, the weather may not be as bad as the forecast might lead you to believe - please remember that we are used to dealing with New Zealand's weather on a regular basis and know where to go and what to do to make the most of it!
Please see our Bad Weather Policies for more information.
When is the gear check?
All trips start with a gear check at Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. For your specific trip gear check and start times, please refer to the Itinerary section of the relevant product page.
What trekking equipment do I need to bring?
Please refer to the clothing and equipment checklist in the Equipment section. Any equipment you need to borrow from us will be issued by your guide at the gear check. We can provide boots, trekking poles, outdoor clothing and packs at no extra cost if necessary.
Do I need travel insurance?
In the case of an accident, New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) will cover the majority of costs (about 80%) involved with evacuation and injury treatment, even for visitors to New Zealand. However, we strongly recommend taking out travel insurance, as you still need cover for things such as cancellation if an injury prevents you taking part on the trip, or a close relative suddenly becomes ill; and medical insurance in case you become ill. Many standard travel insurance policies DO NOT cover high-risk adventure activities so be sure to check the wording of your policy.
More information on New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC).
Recommended insurance providers:
→ New Zealand Alpine Club provides mountaineering specific insurance options for New Zealand or Australian residents.
→ Austrian Alpine Club provides world-wide rescue and repatriation insurance to members.
→ World Nomads provides travel insurance for guided adventure activities.
→ Insure4less provides cover for a selection of high-risk activities for Australian residents.
How do I get to/from Lake Tekapo?
The easiest way to get to Lake Tekapo is to catch the bus from Christchurch or Queenstown, or hire a rental car. Most buses arrive in Tekapo around midday.
→ Lake Tekapo Transport recommendations.
Where is the best place to stay in Lake Tekapo before/after my trip?
Alpine Recreation provides accommodation at Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. This is also where your gear check takes place before departure. It is recommended you book the nights before and after your trip here to facilitate the gear check and to allow flexibility in case of any delay in trip start due to weather. To book your nights, simply answer the relevant questions on your trip booking form.
→ Other Lake Tekapo Accommodation recommendations. We strongly recommend that you book your accommodation well in advance, as Tekapo is a popular tourist destination and options become limited during peak season.
Where can I park my car?
Secure off-street parking is available by Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge. Please leave your car keys with us (in case we have to move your vehicle if someone is parked in and so you don't lose your keys on the mountain!).
