South Coast Discovery – Scenic Helicopter Flight Take to the skies and explore Wellington’s wild southern coastline on this unforgettable aerial adventure. Departing from the city, fly past the impressive Makara Wind Farm, where massive turbines highlight modern engineering and clean energy. As you head south, witness rugged cliffs and remote seal colonies along the dramatic shoreline. Soar past the historic Karori Rock Lighthouse, guarding the infamous Cook Strait—one of the world’s most dangerous sea passages. On clear days, enjoy views of the Marlborough Sounds and the northern tip of the South Island. Returning via Wellington Harbour, take in sweeping views of the capital and landmarks like Te Papa, The Beehive, and the Cake Tin. Perfect for locals, visitors, or cruise passengers, this flight delivers a thrilling and scenic experience of Wellington’s untamed coastal beauty. Please note: This flight does not include a South Coast landing.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Helicopter departs from
Aerial views of
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Wellington South Coast Discovery Helicopter Flight lasts about 40 min. The itinerary has 5 stops.
Prices start at $215 per person for this Wellington experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Departure Point: Wellington waterfront, Queens Wharf. Address: 19 Jervois Quay, Shed 1, Wellington. Please check in 15 minutes prior to your departure time. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN, EN, EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 6 participants.
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Children under three years are free of charge provided they do not occupy a seat
Wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 15 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Wellington Helicopters.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
The views were pretty but definitely try to sit on the left side (when sitting in the helicopter) if you are doing the helicopter scenic tour. You can see much more of the landscape on that side. The right side was mostly an ocean view. The price was more reasonable for the ride than most locations though.
Exceptional Ride in a comfortable machine, with amazing views, informative Pilot, worth every cent!!
Safety briefing was really good. Felt very at ease. The flight itself was lovely and a great opportunity to see Wellington from a different view. The pilot was informative and we learned quite a bit about the area that we didnt previously know. Wish it could have been a lot longer, as thoroughly enjoyed it.
Absolutely loved it. I was scared of flying but they made it extremely smooth and made me feel really comfortable. Would definitely recommend
Awesome time! Very informative and fun. I highly recommend. Tongue point was my favorite as we saw several seals and birds.
The trip was amazing! I had one free day in Wellington and went straight from the airport coming from the US to the pier where the helicopters were. The people working there were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. I got to see fur seals, talk to the pilot a lot, and overall had the best experience. If anyone is visiting Wellington or lives there that has not done this it is an absolute MUST DO!!
Such a great experience. I went for the 45mins flight with a stop Tongue Point to watch the seals. The city is even more beautiful from the air, and the seals are adorable. Thanks you Andrew and James for the amazing tour!
Visiting the seal colony. Seeing major iconic sites of Wellington from a different angle. The commentary from the pilot on where we were flying over and his relaxed manner. Pilots stories were interesting
Amazing views and all staff were very friendly and helpful. I liked the way we were kept informed as to whether or not the trip was going ahead or not.
Hi Julie, thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. Happy to hear you enjoyed your trip out to the coast and we hope to see you again soon! I'll pass on your message to the team. Cheers James
Solid outfit, good equipment and an excellent team. Out Pilot, Adam, provided a great experience and my "rotary wing shy" wife ended up really enjoying the experience.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellington South Coast Discovery Helicopter Flight | 40 min | 4.8 (15) | $215 | |
 Scenic Wellington Helicopter Flight | 9 min | 4.8 (23) | $100 | View |
 15-Minute Wellington Harbour Helicopter Flight | 15 min | 4.3 (10) | $171 | View |
 West Coast Discovery Tour | 6 hours | 5.0 (47) | $126 | View |
 Mount Tarawera Volcanic Adventure by Helicopter | 1 hour | 4.9 (11) | $570 | View |
 West Coast Discovery - Piha Beach or Muriwai Beach from Auckland | 5 hours | 3.3 (6) | $114 | View |
 West Coast Discovery Piha Beach Private Tour | 6 hours | 4.8 (17) | $326 | View |