The Southern Alps Expedition: The Ultimate New Zealand Paragliding Tour

  • Price: $3,000 AUD

  • Tour 1: February 5th – 15th 2027.

  • Tour 2: March 1st – 10th 2027 (if spots for the first tour fill up).

Tour Overview

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Fly Paragliding Tours. Our signature 10-day expedition is meticulously crafted to immerse you in the truly world-class flying environments of New Zealand's South Island, blending professional logistics with an unforgettable social experience.

What truly sets this tour apart is the dedicated mentorship of our CFI, Zak. We believe that to fly the NZ alpine environment safely and successfully, you need more than just general guidance; you need native Kiwi expert coaching. Zak will leverage his deep local knowledge to check and interpret the specialized Southern Alps weather patterns, guiding you not only to the best active site each day but also identifying specific launch and landing windows that others might miss. This local insight guarantees you get more flyable days and helps you achieve massive learning growth.

Tour Dates

  • Tour 1: February 5th – 15th.

  • Tour 2: March 1st – 10th (if spots for the first tour fill up).

Minimum participants: 8

Maximum participants: 10

The expedition begins and ends with convenient pickups from Queenstown Airport. Your home base is nestled in Wanaka, the true geographic heart of the Southern Alps, providing unrivalled access to premier flying sites such as Coronet Peak and Treble Cone, along with numerous stunning New Zealand backcountry grassy alpine launches. However, to ensure you maximise every possible opportunity, we are always prepared to shift our operational base to Christchurch/Canterbury if regional weather patterns change.

Your daily routine is structured specifically for progression, designed as a 10-day continuously learning workshop. Morning briefings cover detailed synoptic weather analysis, site selection strategy, and specialised alpine meteorology education. Zak will set customised XC routes tailored to the group's ability and the specific day's conditions. In the air, you will benefit from technical, instructional radio coaching to help you master tricky alpine thermals and make confident glides. Back at base, detailed debriefings analyse your flights, providing customised feedback for the next day.

While you are focusing on the sky and maximising your airtime, Kyle and MJ manage all behind-the-scenes operations and dedicated, professional logistics. When you land out on an XC mission, there is zero stress; our reliable retrieve service and van support will get you back to the group efficiently. From handling ground transport to coordinating safety, our team ensures your expedition is completely hassle-free, allowing you to simply enjoy the majesty of the Southern Alps and the incredible flying community.

Start Your
Next Adventure

Meet your New Zealand

Instructor

Zakury
Founder of Para Clinic Aotearoa

We are honoured to have Zac on our board for our tours in New Zealand. With years of experience and knowledge in Southern Alps flying, he will be the leading instructor.

Zak Morris is an experienced paragliding instructor, acro pilot, and commercial tandem operator with over two decades in the sky. After years of flying and teaching across the globe, Zak returned to his roots in Aotearoa with a clear mission: to bridge the gap between basic training and confident, independent flying.

Not just a flying tour

We understand that New Zealand is an adventure destination. On days when the weather prevents flying, we ensure you get your money's worth with a curated selection of group activities, including but not limited to:

  • Queenstown lake cruises and sightseeing.

  • Trips to the iconic Milford Sound.

  • Visits to glowworm caves.

  • Indulging in local craft beer and wine tours.

  • Scenic driving and hiking around Mt Cook, along with many other activities.

Tour Logistics & Inclusions

Your tour experience includes:

  • Dedicated Retrieve: A professional driver and logistics to maximise flying opportunities and assist pilots wherever practical and safely accessible.

  • Seamless Transport: Pick-ups and drop-offs to Queenstown airport and township at the start and end of your tour.

  • Accommodation: Twin-share accommodation is provided (private rooms are available upon request for an extra charge).

  • Expert Support: Local CFI instruction, radio coaching, theory lessons, briefings, and debriefs.

  • organised activities on non-flyable days.

Requirements

Sometimes paragliding in New Zealand means flying in valleys with no or limited access to roads. To maintain a high standard of safety and quality, we have established the following requirements:

  • Minimum Pilot Requirements: Pilots must hold an Australian SAFA PG3 rating/NZHGPA PG2 or international equivalent and have at least 50 hours of inland flying experience.

  • Insurance: International travel insurance that covers solo paragliding activities, e.g., CoverMore

  • GPS tracker: e.g., Garmin inReach, SPOT

  • Offline maps: NZ South Topo 50

  • Radio with all 80 NZ/AUD channels

  • Emergency kit including bivy/ survival gear

  • Sustenance: adequate food/ water, and a power bank for long retrieve or walk-out scenarios

  • NZHGPA membership: You need to apply and get the NZHGPA membership before you can fly paragliders in New Zealand.

Secure Your Spot

Spaces are limited. Don’t miss your chance to soar through the Southern Alps with a crew of like-minded pilots. To secure your spot:


Step 1: Fill the form below, email us, or call today, and review our Terms and Conditions

Step 2: A team member will contact you shortly for a friendly chat about the tour and the minimum requirements

Step 3: You will be asked to pay a non-refundable* depost of A$500 to secure your spot.

Step 4: Around 90 days before the tour, we will have an online briefing with our local CFI, Zac, and we will finalise our group. We highly recommend not buying non-refundable flights before finalising the tour.

*If the tour failed to reach the minimum number of participants by 90 days before it starts. The tour will be cancelled, and your deposit will be refunded. Please review our Terms and Conditions for more information