Photo: Jellybeanbee, CC BY-SA 4.0Heli Rural
A working rural helicopter operation at Pudding Hill that also flies scenic trips over the Rakaia, the high country and the Southern Alps.
Heli Rural is first and foremost a working rural helicopter company — mustering stock, spreading fertiliser and running frost protection for Canterbury farms — and that everyday mountain flying is what makes its scenic work good. Founded in 2020 by owner-pilot Scott Rodgers, a local with deep hunting and hill-country experience, the operation flies from its base at 562 Pudding Hill Road, a short drive from Methven toward Mt Hutt.
The scenic menu runs from a 15-minute Discover flight over Mt Hutt, the Rakaia Gorge and the plains (from NZD $199 per person) through to serious back-country trips: a 45-minute Rakaia Gorge Explorer with a landing ($399), an hour over the high country stations and Lake Coleridge ($599), and 1.5-hour expeditions to the glaciers at the head of the Rakaia or to Mt Sunday — the Edoras filming site from The Lord of the Rings — at $999 per person. Landings, commentary through the headsets, and on the longer trips refreshments beside a glacial lake are part of the deal.
The other side of the business is access. Heli Rural specialises in flying hunters, anglers, trampers and campers into the Canterbury back country between the Rangitata and Waimakariri rivers, with over 50 identified hunting areas on public conservation land and access to more than 70 DOC huts. Heli-transfers to the Mt Hutt ski area also run in winter, from $120 one-way from the hangar.
What to expect
Flights leave from the Heli Rural hangar on Pudding Hill Road, under the eastern face of Mt Hutt, though pick-ups from Methven accommodation or other local points can be arranged. Every passenger gets a headset with intercom, and the commentary is genuinely local — the pilots work this country year-round rather than flying a fixed tourist circuit.
The shorter flights deliver a lot quickly: within minutes of lifting off you are over the braided channels of the Rakaia and looking down the gorge, with Mt Hutt filling one window and the patchwork of the plains the other. The longer trips get into big country — tussock high-country stations, alpine lakes, and glaciers where tahr, chamois and red deer are often spotted from the air. Routes flex with the weather at the pilot's discretion.
This is a small owner-operated business, so booking is by enquiry form or phone rather than instant online checkout, and minimum passenger numbers and weight limits apply to each flight. Add-ons are their strength: heli-picnics, barbecues, fishing drop-offs, proposals and wedding flights are all done regularly, and gift vouchers are available.
Best time to visit
Flights run year-round, weather permitting. Clear, still mornings give the smoothest air and the sharpest light on the braided rivers — Canterbury nor'westers tend to build through the afternoon. Winter flights add snow on the ranges and coincide with the Mt Hutt ski transfers; late spring and summer are best for glacier landings and back-country drop-offs. Confirm bookings a day ahead so the pilot can call the weather.
Insider tips
- ✓The 15-minute Discover flight is the best-value introduction; the Rakaia Gorge Explorer adds a landing for $399.
- ✓Minimum passenger numbers apply, so small groups should book ahead and be flexible on timing.
- ✓Photographers should ask for the seat matching their subject — Mt Hutt on one side, plains on the other.
- ✓Hunters and trampers can arrange DOC hut drop-offs across the Rakaia and Rangitata catchments; discuss loads and firearms requirements when booking.
- ✓In winter, the $120 heli-transfer to Mt Hutt ski area beats the access road on a busy morning.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a helicopter flight over Mt Hutt and the Rakaia Gorge?
Heli Rural's 15-minute Discover flight over Mt Hutt, the Rakaia Gorge and the Canterbury Plains costs from NZD $199 per person. Longer options run to $999 for 1.5-hour glacier or Edoras (Mt Sunday) expeditions with landings. Minimum passenger numbers apply.
Can Heli Rural fly hunters into the Canterbury back country?
Yes — hunter access is a specialty. The company has identified over 50 hunting areas on public conservation land between the Rangitata and Waimakariri rivers, with access to more than 70 DOC huts, flying hunters in for red deer, tahr, chamois and wild pigs.
Where does Heli Rural fly from?
From its hangar at 562 Pudding Hill Road, about an 8-minute drive from Methven toward Mt Hutt. Departures from other local points, including accommodation pick-ups where possible, can be arranged when booking.
Where should I stay for a Heli Rural flight?
Methven, ten minutes away, is the natural base — you can fly in the morning and be back in the village for lunch, and winter guests can combine a stay with the heli-transfer to Mt Hutt ski area. Most visitors stay in Methven — see visitmethven.co.nz/stay for options.
Practical information
Price
from NZD $199 per person (15-minute Discover flight)
Location
562 Pudding Hill Road, Methven 7782 (7km from Methven town centre)
Phone
+64 27 435 4359
Booking required
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