About this tour
When Jake from our team ran this combo, it was the kind of day that justifies a trip to Te Anau. You start with a proper helicopter flight — not a quick hop, but a scenic cruise over Lake Te Anau and a series of hidden alpine lakes visible only from the air. A brief landing on Mt Maury gives you a summit perspective before the real action: a guided walk along part of the Kepler Track from Luxmore Hut, with options to push to Mt Luxmore's peak or take the gentler lakeside descent. A boat ride back rounds it out. Eight hours total, mixed pace, and the views genuinely don't get old.
Highlights
- Extended helicopter flight covers hidden lakes inaccessible by foot
- Mt Maury landing offers aerial perspective before the walk begins
- Luxmore Hut alpine views deliver the payoff everyone hopes for
- Guide brings genuine local knowledge and humour to the track
- Choice between Mt Luxmore summit push or easier lakeshore route
- Morning tea includes fresh-baked date scones mid-flight
- Boat return avoids retracing steps, frames the whole landscape again
What to expect
The day kicks off at a helicopter pad — expect a proper aircraft briefing, then you're airborne with the South Island's biggest lake sprawling below you. The pilot detours over smaller alpine lakes tucked into the ranges, which is the whole point: no track goes there. You land briefly on Mt Maury, clip out, and take in views that frame the Kepler massif. Back in the air, you're dropped at Luxmore Hut, where your guide meets you with morning tea and those scones.
From there, the hike is your call: the fit can tackle Mt Luxmore's steep push to the true summit, or you can take the marked trail down toward the lake through beech forest and open tussock. The guide knows the area intimately and doesn't bore you with speeches. At the bottom, a boat picks you up for the cruise back across the water. It's genuinely mixed-terrain — helicopter exposure, alpine walking, a dose of choice — and the pacing suits people who want activity but aren't training for Everest.
What travellers say
- Helicopter flight covers genuinely inaccessible alpine scenery
- Morning tea and fresh scones mid-flight beats cafe coffee
- Hike flexibility: summit option or scenic lakeside descent
- Guide brings local expertise without the patronising tone
- Boat return doubles the lake perspective, no backtracking
- Not accessible for spinal injury, pregnancy, or poor fitness levels
- Weather-dependent — cancellations possible, rescheduling required
- Early starts and full-day commitment suits organised planners only
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This genuinely combines two bucket-list elements — heli time and the Kepler — without either feeling rushed. The guide's local knowledge lifts it beyond a standard tramp. The helicopter leg isn't filler; those hidden lakes are the real deal. Suits hikers after a long-view day without an epic grind.
It's pricey, and you need moderate fitness minimum. The helicopter isn't for anyone with spinal issues, pregnancy, or dodgy cardiovascular fitness — those aren't guidelines you can push past. Weather can ground helicopters, so flexibility matters. The Mt Luxmore summit push is steep and exposed; the lakeside route is easier but less thrilling. You're looking at a full eight-hour commitment with early starts typical for heli ops. Not suitable for young kids or anyone uncomfortable at heights.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.