Catch the best waves with a heli-surfing experience in New Zealand

We can mostly wrap our minds around heli-skiing, but what in the world is heli-surfing, you might ask. And how does it work? Well, we at Unmissable like to help, so here is a handy equation:

Helicopter + surfing = finding the best surfing spots that are only accessible by helicopter.

Now that we got to grips with what heli-surfing entails, we want nothing more than to charter a helicopter and order it to take us surfing all day long. Luckily we discovered Awarua Guides, whose heli-surfing wilderness trips have us so close to giving up on the British weather and flying straight to New Zealand.

Based in Fiordland on the south-west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, Awarua Guides is run by Warrick Mitchell, who has lived in the area his whole life. In fact, the riverside cabin in which overnight guests stay is actually Warrick’s childhood home. Needless to say, this guy knows a thing or two about wildest Fiordland, that’s for sure. Including how to access its most remote beaches, when roads aren’t an option.

Trips hosted by Warrick, and his family and friends, are tailor-made to your needs, wants, hopes and dreams. While some people opt for a day’s heli-surfing, others go the whole hog and immerse themselves in the full residential experience. This of course includes hiking, free diving, fishing and, you’ve guessed it, more surfing. And thanks to the combination of Warrick’s expert local knowledge, and a helicopter that can fly you to seemingly inaccessible spots, you’re never far from a memorable surf. And if at first you don’t succeed, simply move on – that’s the joy of heli-surfing.

And what incredible surfing this is. Fiordland really does come up with the goods. You won’t see many people. In fact, your own group may be the only other humans you see. And those who have managed to conquer this wild coast before you boast about the exhilarating waves found here. Sometimes weather conditions and the turning tide mean you’ll touch down, hop out, and have the briefest of mind-blowing surfs before your pilot needs to take off again. It all adds to the adrenaline-filled experience.

But if you’re having a particularly tricky time finding the right waves,  the view from the helicopter should delight and distract you for a while.

Yeah, we’re as stoked as you are. Give us a shout, we’ll get this trip all planned and loaded for you in no time.