2024 Roar Flights for the Upcoming Season

In 2022, we proudly welcomed Backcountry Helicopters into the Wanaka Helicopters Group, extending our operations to an additional base in Makarora. As we gear up for the 2024 Roar Season we have put together everything you need to know to get your flight secured with Wanaka Helicopters or Backcountry Helicopters.

Flight Departure Locations
With the exciting expansion and an additional base to operate from we’ve been able to add even more departure locations which service all of the local roar blocks.

Our departure locations include Wanaka Airport, Makarora, Haast Airstrip, Pleasant Flat, Arawata Bridge, Martyr Homestead, and the Waitatoto River Bridge. Our departure locations are located close to popular local hunting blocks, ensuring proximity and reducing our ferry time. This helps to not only make sure we can get you in and out of your block efficiently but also reduces the cost for hunters flying with us.

Your Roar trip is a special annual event, one with much anticipation built up around it so to help we’ve compiled all the essentials to ensure you’re organised and ready by the time March rolls around.

Flight Departures
In addition to departing from our Wanaka Helicopters base and our Backcountry Helicopters base in Makarora we can also depart from a range of popular locations close to popular roar blocks. We can depart from Wanaka Airport, Makarora, Haast Airstrip, Pleasant Flat, Arawata Bridge, Martyr Homestead and the Waitatoto River Bridge.

With the additional pick-up/departure locations it ensures we are close to most roar blocks in the region and ensures our ferry times are kept to a minimum.

Pricing & Booking
We know your Roar Flight might be a once in a year event and we know the costs can escalate pretty quickly. By offering multiple departure locations which are all close to the Roar Blocks we can guarantee competitive pricing as our pricing is based on your departure location.

We do have limited availability for our Roar flights and we try to backload as much as possible so if you would like to book or enquire we encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

If you haven’t had a quote from us before we encourage you to get in touch to arrange a specific quote. You can email [email protected] for a quote or for more information call us on 03 443 1085.

Our Pilots
Our pilots all have extensive knowledge of the local area and are keen hunters themselves so you know you are in safe, experienced hands.

Packing for your Heli Hunting Trip
Our last tip is, before you plan for your heli hunting trip and the roar make sure you are up to date with what can and can’t be brought on board the machine, as well as weight limits for your heli drop. Here at Wanaka Helicopters and Backcountry Helicopters we do have restricted items and weight limits, as do most operators, so it’s best to be up to speed on these.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) limits the dangerous goods we can carry. Please take note of and apply the following limits to your gear list:
* NO LPG bottles with passengers. No exceptions.
* Ammunition: Max 5kg per person per load.
* Butane gas canisters: Max 1 kg per package (not bigger than 500 g each canister).
* White Spirits: Max 5 litres per load in approved containers (e.g. metal fuel flasks).
* Petrol: Max 5 litres per load in approved containers (e.g. petrol/diesel jerries).

There are also some items which don’t fit in the helicopters very easily and are heavy, inflexible and a bit awkward when we are limited for space. NZ Hunter have put together a great video on packing for your Helicopter trip so we recommend you watch this prior to planning your gear list.