biplane flights scenic flights

Our Ag-Cat biplane takes two passengers and allows you to sit side-by-side with stunning panoramic views. Share the fun!

On all our flights you get to wear a leather flying jacket, leather helmet and flying goggles! Headphones within each helmet allow you to hear a commentary from the pilot.

Leather jackets, flying helmets and goggles are supplied!

We can fly throughout New Zealand but our summer base is at Omarama in the spectacular Mackenzie Basin and at the head of the Waitaki Valley. This is just south of Mount Cook and east of the Southern Alps. During winter, we operate from Ashburton Airfield, just south of Christchurch.

The view looking forward from the passenger compartment

Flight Options

Winter 2010 - Ashburton

Ashburton Aerodrome is the perfect place to fly in an open cockpit biplane during the cooler winter months. During WWII this airfield was alive with RNZAF pilots training in Tiger Moths. Today, it is home to the Ashburton Aviation Museum which houses a fantastic collection of aircraft ranging from biplanes to a Harrier Jump Jet! Combining a visit to the museum with your Aviation Adventures flight is highly recommended! Flights are undertaken when the museum is open on weekends and on Wednesdays - or on other days if demand exists.

Option 1 - Town and Around

Enjoy a flight over the town of Ashburton and Lake Hood! For those living in Ashburton, we suggest bringing your camera so you can photograph your house from the air. This flight provides fantastic views towards the Southern Alps. Flight time is approximately 12 minutes. Allow 30 minutes for the whole experience. Price per person is only $135.00.

The view forward from the passenger compartment looking over the town of Ashburton

Option 2 - Pacific Circuit

Starting from Ashburton Aerodrome, this 25 minute flight takes you out to the Pacific Ocean at a height of 500 feet above the ground. From the coast, the flight continues south to the Ashburton River Mouth before following the meandering river upstream to Lake Hood. The tour concludes with an orbit around the town of Ashburton. Allow 45 mins for the whole experience. Price per person is only $295.00.

Looking back across Lake Hood to the Ashburton River and the Pacific Ocean

Option 3 - Foothills Flight (with skydiving or gliding option)

On this flight, you get to choose a mid-Canterbury destination from the following options: Mt Hutt Skifield, Geraldine, Mt Peel, Rangitata Gorge, Mt Somers, Pudding Hill, Rakaia Gorge or Hororata. With the Pudding Hill and Hororata destinations, we can land at airfields located there so you can either go skydiving or gliding if you wish! Price per person is only $395.00 (add $329.00 per person for the skydive or $220.00 for a glider flight if you want these options).

Looking south-west to Mt Somers

Mount Hutt Skifield

Summer 2010/2011 - Omarama

Option 1 - Clay Cliffs Circuit

The Clay Cliff Circuit allows you to fly over Omarama and then visit the Clay Cliffs, a rock formation that is spectacular from the air! Flight time is approximately ten minutes. Allow 30 minutes for the whole experience. Price per person is only $135.00.

Cruising past the Clay Cliffs

Option 2 - The Dambuster Special

Our classic flight! On this 45 minute experience (with a 25 minute flight) you get to go down the Waitaki Valley above the spectacular turquoise waters of Lake Benmore to fly over the Benmore Dam - the largest earth dam in New Zealand. The scenery is superb! We finish the flight with a circuit over the township of Omarama so you can wave to those below. Price per person is just NZ$295.00.

Shortly after leaving Omarama you will fly across the Ahuriri River - famous for its trout fishing.

Flying down the spectacular gorge that links the Mackenzie Basin to the Benmore Dam.

Over the Benmore Dam - the largest earth dam in New Zealand.

Option 3 - The Waitaki Valley Highlights

On this combination flight you get to see all of the highlights of the Dambuster Special flight (see above) PLUS you get to fly out to the spectacular Clay Cliffs (as in Option 1). Flight time is approximately 35 minutes and the total experience takes around 55 minutes. Other options include deleting the Clay Cliffs sector and flying down to Lake Aviemore or up the North Arm of Lake Benmore to the Totara Peak campsites. Price per person is NZ$395.00.

Option 4 - Mt Cook spectacular

This is the ultimate New Zealand adventure! New Zealand is renowned as being the "land of adventure" but this flight is as good as it gets. Weather conditions permitting, we fly you to the top of Mount Cook - a height of over 12,000 feet! To do this, even in summer, we supply you with PLENTY of warm clothing. Flight time return is one hour twenty minutes. Price per person is NZ$990.00.

Flying over Mt Cook National Park

Summit ridge of Mt Cook with the Tasman Glacier at right. What a view!

For bookings - Phone
0800 REDCAT (0800 733 228)

	Aviation Adventures offers a unique aviation experience! We are the only company in the South Island operating an open-cockpit biplane that can take two passengers in addition to the pilot! This means you can share the fun and adventure with a family member, friend or partner. To see us on You Tube, please click here! All Black Captain Richie McCaw and his father Don after a flight in the Ag-Cat. Both Richie and Don fly gliders and power aircraft. Our Ag-Cat biplane takes two passengers and allows you to sit side-by-side with stunning panoramic views. Share the fun! On all our flights you get to wear a leather flying jacket, leather helmet and flying goggles! Headphones within each helmet allow you to hear a commentary from the pilot. Leather jackets, flying helmets and goggles are supplied! We can fly throughout New Zealand but our summer base is at Omarama in the spectacular Mackenzie Basin and at the head of the Waitaki Valley. This is just south of Mount Cook and east of the Southern Alps. During winter, we operate from Ashburton Airfield, just south of Christchurch. The view looking forward from the passenger compartment Flight Options Winter 2010 - Ashburton Ashburton Aerodrome is the perfect place to fly in an open cockpit biplane during the cooler winter months. During WWII this airfield was alive with RNZAF pilots training in Tiger Moths. Today, it is home to the Ashburton Aviation Museum which houses a fantastic collection of aircraft ranging from biplanes to a Harrier Jump Jet! Combining a visit to the museum with your Aviation Adventures flight is highly recommended! Flights are undertaken when the museum is open on weekends and on Wednesdays - or on other days if demand exists. Option 1 - Town and Around Enjoy a flight over the town of Ashburton and Lake Hood! For those living in Ashburton, we suggest bringing your camera so you can photograph your house from the air. This flight provides fantastic views towards the Southern Alps. Flight time is approximately 12 minutes. Allow 30 minutes for the whole experience. Price per person is only $135.00. The view forward from the passenger compartment looking over the town of Ashburton Option 2 - Pacific Circuit Starting from Ashburton Aerodrome, this 25 minute flight takes you out to the Pacific Ocean at a height of 500 feet above the ground. From the coast, the flight continues south to the Ashburton River Mouth before following the meandering river upstream to Lake Hood. The tour concludes with an orbit around the town of Ashburton. Allow 45 mins for the whole experience. Price per person is only $295.00. Looking back across Lake Hood to the Ashburton River and the Pacific Ocean Option 3 - Foothills Flight (with skydiving or gliding option) On this flight, you get to choose a mid-Canterbury destination from the following options: Mt Hutt Skifield, Geraldine, Mt Peel, Rangitata Gorge, Mt Somers, Pudding Hill, Rakaia Gorge or Hororata. With the Pudding Hill and Hororata destinations, we can land at airfields located there so you can either go skydiving or gliding if you wish! Price per person is only $395.00 (add $329.00 per person for the skydive or $220.00 for a glider flight if you want these options). Looking south-west to Mt Somers Mount Hutt Skifield Summer 2010/2011 - Omarama Option 1 - Clay Cliffs Circuit The Clay Cliff Circuit allows you to fly over Omarama and then visit the Clay Cliffs, a rock formation that is spectacular from the air! Flight time is approximately ten minutes. Allow 30 minutes for the whole experience. Price per person is only $135.00. Cruising past the Clay Cliffs Option 2 - The Dambuster Special Our classic flight! On this 45 minute experience (with a 25 minute flight) you get to go down the Waitaki Valley above the spectacular turquoise waters of Lake Benmore to fly over the Benmore Dam - the largest earth dam in New Zealand. The scenery is superb! We finish the flight with a circuit over the township of Omarama so you can wave to those below. Price per person is just NZ$295.00. Shortly after leaving Omarama you will fly across the Ahuriri River - famous for its trout fishing. Flying down the spectacular gorge that links the Mackenzie Basin to the Benmore Dam. Over the Benmore Dam - the largest earth dam in New Zealand. Option 3 - The Waitaki Valley Highlights On this combination flight you get to see all of the highlights of the Dambuster Special flight (see above) PLUS you get to fly out to the spectacular Clay Cliffs (as in Option 1). Flight time is approximately 35 minutes and the total experience takes around 55 minutes. Other options include deleting the Clay Cliffs sector and flying down to Lake Aviemore or up the North Arm of Lake Benmore to the Totara Peak campsites. Price per person is NZ$395.00. Option 4 - Mt Cook spectacular This is the ultimate New Zealand adventure! New Zealand is renowned as being the "land of adventure" but this flight is as good as it gets. Weather conditions permitting, we fly you to the top of Mount Cook - a height of over 12,000 feet! To do this, even in summer, we supply you with PLENTY of warm clothing. Flight time return is one hour twenty minutes. Price per person is NZ$990.00. Flying over Mt Cook National Park Summit ridge of Mt Cook with the Tasman Glacier at right. What a view! For bookings - Phone 0800 REDCAT (0800 733 228)