10 min · Up to 6 pax
Nelson Scenic
The city, the bay and the Boulder Bank from the air.
| Whole AS350 | NZ$836.48 |
|---|
Editorial spotlight · Nelson Airport
2026 Southern Cross Awards nomineeBest Scenic Helicopter Flight
Helicopters Nelson
The largest privately owned helicopter company at the top of the South Island, flown by the Darling family out of Nelson Airport. Alpine landings in the Richmond Ranges, beach drops in Abel Tasman, picnics on mountain peaks, and a thirty-minute trial flight where you take the controls. Read the prices carefully: they are per helicopter, not per person.
- Nelson Scenic, up to 6
- NZ$836.48
- Trial flight, 30 min
- NZ$520.83
- Tripadvisor
- 5.0
- Reviews
- 112
Editorial spotlight. Helicopters Nelson is a nominee in the 2026 Southern Cross Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The operation
Family owned, two airframes, priced by the aircraft
Helicopters Nelson describes itself as the largest privately owned helicopter company in the top of the South Island, and it is run by the Darling family from a base at Nelson Airport. Two airframes do most of the work: an MD520N that carries up to three passengers and an AS350 Eurocopter that carries up to six. Both are weight dependent, so the stated capacity is a ceiling rather than a promise.
The important thing about the price list is that almost every flight is sold as a whole helicopter. The ten-minute Nelson Scenic at NZ$836.48 is the cost of the aircraft, so with six aboard it works out around NZ$139 each and with two it is NZ$418 each. The exceptions are the trial flight, which is one person at the dual controls with an instructor, and the heli-hikes, which are quoted per party with a guide. Flights range from ten minutes over the city to a three-national-park day and Lord of the Rings location flights into Mt Owen and Mt Olympus.
“The largest privately owned helicopter company in the Top of the South Island.”
- T
Pilot
Tom
- T
Pilot
Theo
- C
Pilot
Charlie
- S
Pilot
Steve
Pilots named repeatedly by reviewers, along with Nicola and Charlotte in the office. The company has not yet confirmed which names, roles and licence ratings it wants printed.
The one to book
Nelson Scenic
Ten minutes of flight time in the AS350 over Nelson City, the Maitai Dam, the Coppermine Trail, the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, Port Nelson, the Boulder Bank and Tasman Bay. The company pitches it as the intro flight for first-timers and nervous flyers, and it is the cheapest way into one of their aircraft.
NZ$836.48 buys the helicopter, not a seat. Fill it with six and the cost per head is about NZ$139; take it as a couple and it is about NZ$418 each. Capacity is weight dependent, so give the office real weights when you book.
| Whole helicopter, up to 6 | NZ$836.48 |
|---|---|
| Per person if 6 fly | about NZ$139 |
| Flight time | 10 minutes |
Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026. Prices are per helicopter unless stated.
Check AvailabilityThe aircraft
Two airframes, both weight dependent
Capacity is a ceiling, not a guarantee. The office works to actual passenger weights.
MD520N
- Capacity
- Up to 3 passengers
- Used for
- Most scenic and landing flights
AS350 Eurocopter
- Capacity
- Up to 6 passengers
- Used for
- Nelson Scenic, big-day charters
Cabri G2
- Role
- Dual-control trainer
- Used for
- The 30-minute trial flight
Book it
Flights
Prices are for the whole helicopter unless the row says otherwise. Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
30 min · One person
Trial Flight
You fly the Cabri G2 from the dual controls with an instructor.
| Per person | NZ$520.83 |
|---|
1 hour · Alpine landing
Nelson Mountain
Into the remote ranges with one mountain landing.
| Up to 3 | NZ$1,694.00 |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 | NZ$2,495.76 |
Half day · Landing + picnic
Picnic on a Peak
A peak in the Richmond Ranges and a grazing box.
| Up to 3 | NZ$1,957.04 |
|---|
2.5 hours · Beach landing
Abel Tasman Scenic
Golden sand, a landing at Awaroa and time on the beach.
| Up to 3 | NZ$2,822.98 |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 | NZ$4,159.24 |
Full day · Up to 6 pax
Top of the South, 3 National Parks
Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman in one flight.
| Whole AS350 | NZ$9,510.60 |
|---|
The company also runs Lord of the Rings location flights to Mt Owen and Mt Olympus from NZ$3,440.61 per helicopter, heli-hikes quoted per party with a guide, and heli-transfers to around a dozen lodges across Golden Bay and the Marlborough Sounds.
Before you go
Know before you go
Prices are per helicopter
Almost every flight is sold as the whole aircraft. Divide by the number of people actually flying before you compare it with a per-seat operator.
Weight dependent
Both airframes list a maximum number of passengers “weight dependent”. Give the office real weights when you book rather than finding out on the day.
Ten minutes is ten minutes
The Nelson Scenic is advertised at ten minutes of flight time. It is an introduction, not a tour.
Weather
Scenic flying at the top of the South is weather dependent. Build a spare day in if the flight is the point of the trip.
Reviews
What guests say
- 5.0Tripadvisor112 reviews as of October 2, 2026
- #11of 47Tours and activities in Nelson
- 6Max passengersAS350, weight dependent
Reviewers name the pilots and praise the commentary, the stories and the willingness to point out landmarks and wildlife. The recurring practical note is that the pricing is per aircraft, which is good value for a full load and expensive for two; several reviews are of the bigger landing flights rather than the ten-minute scenic.
Questions
Good to know
Where does it leave from?
Nelson Airport.
What does it cost?
NZ$836.48 for the whole AS350 on the ten-minute Nelson Scenic, up to six passengers. That is about NZ$139 each with a full load. Checked October 2, 2026.
Is the price per person?
No. Almost every flight is priced for the whole helicopter. The thirty-minute trial flight at NZ$520.83 is the one clear per-person product.
How many people fit?
Up to three in the MD520N and up to six in the AS350, both weight dependent.
Priced by the aircraft, so fill it
Ten minutes over Nelson for NZ$836.48 the helicopter, or Abel Tasman with a beach landing from NZ$2,822.98.
Check Availability