Air Safaris

Air Safaris is a family owned scenic flight and charter company. The same family still owns and runs the company, which has flown in the Mount Cook and Westland national parks since 1970. The company says it is one of New Zealand's largest scenic flight airlines.

Air Safaris operates from its own airports at Lake Tekapo and Franz Josef Glacier. It also has bases at Glentanner Park, near Mount Cook, and at Twizel. Its flights cross the Southern Alps and reach Aoraki Mount Cook, Milford Sound and the Tasman, Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

The Grand Traverse is the company's most famous flight. It lasts about 50 minutes and flies from Lake Tekapo or Franz Josef. Guests get a window seat for views of Aoraki Mount Cook, the glaciers, braided rivers and glacial lakes. Helicopter flights from Lake Tekapo include the Mackenzie Explorer, a flight of about 30 minutes with a snow or alpine landing, and the Aoraki Mt Cook Franz and Fox Magic, which also includes a snow landing.

Other flights include a Milford Sound excursion of about 2.5 hours, which flies direct or via Aoraki Mount Cook and the glaciers. Winter sunset flights, star gazing and farm tour flights are also offered. The company runs educational flight tours for students, and it offers exclusive helicopter flights with an alpine landing for weddings and engagements above Lake Tekapo.

Air Safaris also does commercial work, including aerial photography and filming, aerial survey, air freight and cargo transport, and remote access. The company says all its aircraft are available for private and commercial air charter.

The fleet has three aircraft types. A Bell 206L3 LongRanger helicopter takes up to six passengers, with one passenger beside the pilot and five in club seating. Two Cessna 208B Grand Caravans carry up to 13 passengers. Three Gippsland GA8 Airvans carry seven. The company says each aircraft is set up so every seat has its own window.

The company began in 1970 in the Rangitata Valley. It added a Cessna 185 for scenic flights in 1973, and it built the Lake Tekapo Aerodrome, with a sealed runway, in 1975. In 1995 it bought Westair and set up a West Coast base at Franz Josef. In 2012 it received approval for commercial helicopter operations. It has won The Director of Civil Aviation's Award for Safety and holds Qualmark Enviro Gold accreditation.

Services

• The Grand Traverse
• Helicopter flights from Lake Tekapo
• Milford Sound excursions
• Trans divide scenic flights
• Scenic charter flights
• Weddings and engagements
• Aerial photography and filming
• Aerial survey
• Air freight and cargo transport
• Remote access