The 6 Best Scenic Helicopter Flights in Rotorua

1.Mt. Tarawera Volcano Scenic Floatplane Tour from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · from $242Our pick

Take off and land on Lake Rotorua aboard a small floatplane, then fly over Mokoia Island, Mt. Tarawera, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the Blue and Green Lakes, and Whakarewarewa. Your pilot provides commentary throughout. Choose a morning or afternoon flight, with space for up to 10 people.

“The flight and the scenery were incredible. Our pilot Katie gave a great commentary and looked after us so well, especially my husband who had a back injury. It was an unforgettable experience.”

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2.Mt Tarawera Helicopter Tour with Volcano Landing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $417

Leave Rotorua’s lakefront helipad for a 40-minute helicopter flight over the Northern Lakes district. Circle Lake Tarawera and the 1886 eruption zone, then land on Mt. Tarawera for a short guided walk among craters and volcanic domes. Your pilot provides commentary, and groups are limited to six people.

“The whole tour was amazing from start to finish, landing on the volcano and seeing it up close was the highlight! Commentary was fun and informative, would thoroughly recommend!”

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3.Scenic Flight over Mt Tarawera & Waimangu Valley

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 25 reviews · 40 min · from $236

Take off and land on Lake Rotorua in a small floatplane, then fly over Mokoia Island, 13 lakes, Mount Tarawera’s 8-kilometer crater rift, Waimangu Valley, Inferno Crater, Frying Pan Lake, and Pohutu Geyser. An English-speaking pilot provides commentary. Flights carry no more than 10 people, and every passenger gets a window seat.

“Brilliant scenic flight Great scenic flight with pilot Ben. Very smooth takeoff and landing. Window seats for all passengers. Scenery was absolutely magnificent. Ben assisted me into and out of the plane as I have Parkinson’s disease. Very thoughtful and patient. Would highly recommend this experience.”

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4.15-Minute Crater Lakes Flight by Floatplane from Rotorua

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $155Best value

Take off from Rotorua’s Lakefront with a pilot-guide and headset, then fly over Mokoia Island, Lake Okataina, Lake Okaraka, Blue Lake, Green Lake, Whakarewarewa Forest, and Sulphur Bay. The flight lasts about 15 minutes, carries up to 10 people, and runs in suitable weather.

“The only problem is that I would've liked the flight to be longer. My flight time was rescheduled but after I informed the tour operator that I might not be able to make it to check in time, they were flexible and did a quick check in after I arrived. The plane is amazing, the views, too.”

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5.Helicopter Flight and Guided Walk on Mt Tarawera

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 40 min · from $376

From Rotorua’s lakefront, Volcanic Air takes you by helicopter over lakes, parks, and mountains to Mount Tarawera. After landing, an English-speaking guide leads a walk among the 1886 eruption craters, explaining the volcano’s geology, culture, and past. The flight lasts about 40 minutes overall, with weather affecting the route and landing.

“An amazing bucket list experience. Stunning landscape. Ian our pilot was a fabulous narrator. Cannot recommend this enough.”

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6.Floatplane Flight with Orakei Korako Landing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $505

You’ll take a small floatplane from Lake Rotorua over Mount Tarawera, Waimangu, Wai-O-Tapu, and the lakes district. Pilot Ben has been praised for clear, friendly commentary. After landing on the Waikato River, you get an hour to walk Orakei Korako’s hot springs, geysers, mud pools, silica terraces, and thermal cave.

“Every minute memorable. Pilot, Ben, made it. Relaxed, friendly, enthusiastic, informative, confident and very competent. Very little not to like. You need to be a bit flexible to get in and out of the plane - it’s very compact (six small bucket seats) but this all part of the fun. The landing on and take off from the river a highlight. Gazing down on relatively recently extinct volcano craters, volcanic lakes and the general geography was fascinating. Ben’s commentary added to the scene. Would do it again in a heartbeat.”

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