Kaikoura Food & Wine Tours

Kaikōura Food & Wine
Kaikōura is better known for what comes out of the water than what grows on land, and the food and wine experiences on this page lean into that coastal setting rather than a vineyard trail. The Kaikōura Helicopter Flight & Alpine Picnic is the standout here, trading a restaurant table for a landing spot in the mountains above the town.

Kaikōura Helicopter Flight & Alpine Picnic
Kaikōura Helicopters runs this as a 30-minute flight over the coastline and the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges, then a 45-minute landing at altitude for a picnic of local produce. Dietary requirements can be accommodated on request. Flights depart 11.30am from Kaikōura Helicopters at 16 West End, and the whole experience runs 1.25 hours door to door. Children aged three to 11 travel at a child rate and infants under two fly free, though minimum group numbers apply.

Where the picnic lands
The helicopter climbs over the Kaikōura peninsula before setting down in an alpine spot near the Hapuku River and Puhi Puhi Valley, inland from the coast. It's a working scenic flight as much as a meal stop: watch the water on the way up, since sperm whales and dolphins are regularly spotted from the air off this stretch of coastline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What food and wine experiences are there in Kaikōura?
The Kaikōura Helicopter Flight & Alpine Picnic is the standout food and wine style experience in the region, pairing a scenic flight over the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges with a picnic of local produce at a remote alpine landing site.
How long does the Kaikōura helicopter picnic take?
The full experience runs 1.25 hours door to door: a 30-minute helicopter flight and a 45-minute landing at the alpine picnic site.
What's included in the Kaikōura helicopter picnic?
The trip includes the return helicopter flight, an experienced pilot and a picnic of local produce at the landing site, with dietary requirements accommodated on request.
Where does the Kaikōura helicopter picnic land?
The helicopter lands in an alpine location near the Hapuku River and Puhi Puhi Valley, inland from the Kaikōura coast.
Can children do the Kaikōura helicopter picnic?
Yes. Children aged three to 11 fly at a child rate, and infants under two travel free, though minimum group numbers apply, so it's worth checking availability for smaller groups.