Tom + Lorena
A secret two-person Wānaka elopement — vows on Coromandel Peak, then Lake Alta.
Landing Location — Wānaka & Mt Aspiring
Coromandel Peak Weddings
A cliff-edge summit directly above Lake Wānaka, reachable only by helicopter — and bookable as a private landing so the mountain is yours for the ceremony.
- Region
- Wānaka & Mt Aspiring
- Landscape
- Ridgelines & summits
- Access
- Helicopter only
- Flies from
- Wānaka or Queenstown
- Season
- All seasons, conditions permitting
The summit directly above the lake
Coromandel Peak rises on the western side of Lake Wānaka, in the foothills that run back toward Mt Aspiring National Park. What sets it apart from other alpine landings is the drop: the ceremony area sits on a narrow crest with the lake falling away directly beneath it, so the water, the islands and the ranges beyond all stack up in a single frame.
There is no road and no walking track to it. Every photograph taken there was taken by someone who flew in, which is why the summit reads as completely empty in every frame — no crowds, no other parties waiting their turn.
Why couples choose Coromandel Peak
A private mountain
Coromandel Peak can be held as an exclusive landing slot. For that window no other operator lands there, so your vows are not shared with a scenic flight that arrived two minutes earlier.
One frame, everything in it
Lake Wānaka below, Roys Peak across the water and the Mt Aspiring ranges behind. You do not need a second landing to make the gallery feel varied — the summit turns through the light on its own.
Short flight, long stay
It is close enough to Wānaka Airport that most of your booked time is spent standing on the summit rather than travelling to it, which matters on a half-day package.
How a Coromandel Peak day runs
- 01
Getting ready, then the helipad
You get ready wherever you are staying. We meet you at the Wānaka helipad for the safety briefing about half an hour before the lift.
- 02
The flight in
A short climb out over the lake, then along the western shore. The summit comes into view late, which is part of the effect.
- 03
The ceremony
Your celebrant flies with you and the ceremony runs on the crest, usually within a few minutes of landing while the light is where the pilot wanted it.
- 04
Portraits and time on the summit
Champagne, photographs along the ridge, and the film. On a half day this is where most of your booked time is spent.
- 05
A second landing, if you have booked one
Many couples pair Coromandel Peak with a contrasting site — an alpine tarn such as Lake Alta, or a snow landing higher in the range.
What the summit looks like through the year
Coromandel Peak can be flown in any season, conditions permitting. The season changes the ground underfoot and the length of the day more than it changes whether the day is possible.
- Summer (Dec–Feb)
- The longest days and the latest golden hour. Tussock and rock underfoot, warm on the summit, and the most flexibility if a morning is windy.
- Autumn (Mar–May)
- Often the most settled air of the year in our experience, and generally the calmest flying. Low light arrives earlier in the afternoon.
- Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Snow on the crest and soft, low light from late morning. Shorter days and a higher chance of moving to the backup window.
- Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Snow still holding on the tops with a green valley floor below — the combination that makes the scale of the drop read clearly.
What it pairs well with
Coromandel Peak works on its own for a half day. If you have booked two or more landings, pair it with something that does not look like a summit: an alpine tarn such as Lake Alta, the river flats of the Matukituki Valley, or a snow landing higher in the range for contrast in the gallery.
Real weddings on Coromandel Peak
Joy + Hubert
A Stoneridge Estate wedding with a two-landing heli adventure to Coromandel Peak.
Bryne + Jade
Six landings over two days, including sunrise on Coromandel Peak.
Coromandel Peak questions
Coromandel Peak sits high above Lake Wanaka on the western side of the lake, in the Mt Aspiring foothills. There is no road and no track to the landing area — the only practical access is by helicopter, which is exactly why ceremonies there stay private.
It is a short flight from Wanaka Airport, and a longer scenic transfer if you are flying from Queenstown. Most couples spend far more time on the summit than in the aircraft.
Yes. Coromandel Peak can be booked as a private landing slot, which means no other operator lands there while your ceremony is running. It is one of the few alpine sites in the region where exclusivity can be arranged in advance.
It depends on the aircraft and the number of lifts you book. Just the two of you plus a celebrant is the most common shape; small groups of family or witnesses are flown up in additional lifts.
It can be flown in any season, conditions permitting. Winter brings snow cover and low, soft light with shorter days. Autumn is often the most settled air in our experience. Spring holds snow on the tops with a clear valley floor, and summer gives the longest days and the latest golden hour.
We hold a backup window from the day you book and make the call with the pilot on the morning. If Coromandel Peak is not flyable, we move to a sheltered alternative or move the day — your ceremony is never flown into unsafe conditions.
Related planning pages
Coromandel Peak pairs with a Wānaka base — here is the rest of the picture.
Wānaka elopements
A quieter base, minutes from Mt Aspiring National Park.
Landing locations
Every peak, glacier and valley we can land on, grouped by landscape and region.
Heli elopement packages
Compare the flight times, landings and inclusions of each package side by side.
Hold the summit for your date
Tell us the date you have in mind and we will confirm whether a private Coromandel Peak landing is available on it.