Top 5 North Island Helicopter Tours: Reviews & Recommendations

Looking to view the breathtaking wonder that New Zealand’s North Island has to offer? Then perhaps seeing it from above is for you. Helicopter tours, too, they provide a special vantage point that you’re unlikely to see any other way, offering views of rugged coastlines, geothermal areas, and lush forests. This review looks at some great North Island helicopter trip options and what sets them apart, hopefully to help you find something suitable!

1. Auckland City & Harbour Helicopter Flight

To get started, there’s the Auckland City & Harbour helicopter tour, it gives you an aerial view of this rather spread-out spot. Very often folks want to see the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Sky Tower, it offers amazing views as the chopper winds over that. But, for what it’s worth, this helicopter trip goes beyond just those well-known sights. Seeing the bustling waterfront and the quiet bays is a real feast for the eyes. Plus, getting an overhead view of the yachts bobbing in the harbor really, truly highlights why Auckland’s often nicknamed the “City of Sails.” I’d recommend that if you are after a little snapshot of the central isthmus and main sights, then this trip might be a really nice place to start your explorations.

2. Rotorua Geothermal Helicopter Tour

Next up is the Rotorua Geothermal helicopter flight which goes across some geothermal terrain! A completely standout thing, it allows you to look down on geysers, mud pools, and steaming vents—it’s like viewing a totally different planet. Depending on which operator you fly with, it’s almost a guarantee that most excursions include a stop at a remote hot spring where one can actually relax and immerse themselves. It might be the best way to experience Rotorua’s thermal activity. You actually end up understanding how Rotorua has earned its reputation as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand! You almost can’t do anything else afterwards as you are simply filled with wonder at this part of the country.

3. Bay of Islands Helicopter Scenic Flight

Then there is the Bay of Islands helicopter scenic trip which is very, very suitable for anyone that likes coastal beauty, this one, by the way. Over 144 islands dot the sparkling blue waters and a birds-eye perspective here makes for some really, very postcard-worthy photography opportunities. Some tours could actually even feature landing on a remote island for a beach picnic, how nice! Also the very picturesque Hole in the Rock and secluded beaches simply cannot be missed as well! The entire thing almost ends up feeling more like a paradise, basically something out of a travel magazine. I might say it’s that beautiful. You tend to think back on the islands dotted in the sea afterwards, as it makes a memorable picture of this Northland gem.

4. Tongariro National Park Helicopter Flight

So, consider checking out the Tongariro National Park helicopter flight for someone searching for an adventure that highlights mountain settings. Very few can believe how much better this trip will allow people to grasp the grand scale of this volcano park with its views from the air. You’ll view Mount Ngauruhoe (also known as Mount Doom to you “Lord of the Rings” devotees), Mount Ruapehu, and Mount Tongariro with all their raw beauty on show, it really offers something unique. Some routes might even take people close to the incredible Taranaki Falls! In order to gain a completely different sense of what’s up there, so try thinking of it this way.

5. Waitomo Caves Helicopter Tour

A totally fascinating tour choice that could perhaps spark your interest is the Waitomo Caves helicopter excursion. While folks can experience these famous caverns at ground level to look at glowworms and interesting limestone creations, going up high adds an entirely different angle. Usually, they get combined to include a trip into the actual caverns with the helicopter part offering sweeping views across the Waikato countryside that is simply a delightful complement to the cavern exploration below. It is likely an almost unmatched mix that delivers the perfect perspective of Waitomo’s natural beauty from below and up above, almost guaranteeing this place gets ingrained in the very, very fondest corners of your memory. This combination is magical.