New Zealand Elopements in the Southern Alps
All-inclusive helicopter elopements for couples marrying in Queenstown, Wānaka and the alpine country between them — planned end to end, wherever you are flying in from.
Why couples elope in New Zealand
Few places put this much landscape within a short flight of a small town. From Queenstown and Wānaka you can be standing on a glacier, a lake terrace or a summit ridge within twenty minutes of lifting off — with no crowds, no venue schedule and no wedding party to manage.
The legal side is unusually simple too. There is no residency requirement, the licence is applied for online, and two witnesses are all you need. For couples travelling from overseas, that combination is the reason New Zealand works so well for an elopement rather than a full wedding.
How to legally marry in New Zealand
The requirements below come from the New Zealand Government. Fees and forms change from time to time, so always confirm the current detail on govt.nz before you apply — and we will walk you through each step once your date is held.
Step 1
Apply for a marriage licence
Every marriage in New Zealand needs a marriage licence, and anyone can apply online whether you are already in the country or not. The licence currently costs NZ$158 through Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Step 2
Allow at least three working days
Your licence must be arranged at least three working days before you marry. Overseas couples usually apply well ahead of travelling so nothing depends on flight times.
Step 3
Be married by a celebrant
The ceremony must be conducted by a celebrant recognised in New Zealand. Celebrant booking is included in our packages, and your celebrant carries the licence into the mountains on the day.
Step 4
Bring two witnesses
Two witnesses are required for a personalised ceremony. If you are eloping without guests, tell us in advance and we can help make sure suitable witnesses are available.
Step 5
Order your certificate afterwards
Your marriage certificate is the official record of the marriage and is ordered separately from Births, Deaths and Marriages once the ceremony is registered.
Source: Get a marriage licence — govt.nz. Verified August 2026. This is general guidance based on information published by the New Zealand Government. Requirements, forms and fees can change, so please confirm the current details with Births, Deaths and Marriages on govt.nz before you apply.
Where to elope
We fly from two bases in the Southern Lakes. Both reach the same alpine country — the choice is really about where you would rather stay the night before.
Queenstown
The most connected base in the Southern Lakes, with an international airport, a deep pool of accommodation and the shortest flight times to dramatic ridgelines. Best if you are flying in from overseas and want everything within easy reach.
Queenstown locations
Wānaka & Mt Aspiring
Quieter, more spacious and closer to Mt Aspiring National Park. Wānaka suits couples who want fewer people around, wide lake terraces and a slower rhythm to the day.
Wānaka locations
The best time of year to elope
Every season flies. What changes is the light, the snow line and how much flexibility your timeline needs.
- Summer — December to February
- The longest days, the warmest alpine conditions and the widest choice of landing sites. Popular dates book out first, especially around Christmas and New Year.
- Autumn — March to May
- Golden tussock, calmer air and softer light. In our experience autumn often brings settled flying windows, and it is our own favourite season to photograph. Conditions still vary year to year.
- Winter — June to August
- Snow at low altitude and true glacier landings. Fewer daylight hours and more weather holds, so we build extra flexibility into winter timelines.
- Spring — September to November
- Snow still on the tops with green valleys below — the most dramatic contrast of the year, paired with changeable conditions and a well-planned backup.
What an all-inclusive elopement covers
Our packages are built so you arrive in New Zealand with one point of contact rather than five suppliers. Helicopter flights and landings, celebrant booking, photography and film coverage, weather monitoring with pre-selected backups, and the planning that ties it together are all handled by us.
What it costs
We quote each elopement individually rather than publishing one figure, because the same date can cost quite differently depending on how you want the day to run. Four things move the number:
Which package you choose — half day, full day, or the five-location experience.
Total flight time and how many alpine landings you want in the day.
Season and daylight, which affect helicopter scheduling and backup planning.
Optional additions such as hair and makeup, florals or a helicopter fly-by.
Send us your date and preferred package and you will get a written quote with every inclusion itemised.
Planning from overseas
Most of the couples we fly arrive from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom or Asia. We plan around your arrival, not the other way around: we allow buffer days after long-haul travel, hold a weather-flexible window rather than a single fixed hour, and handle the licence timing so nothing hinges on a delayed flight.
Every package includes a pre-elopement consultation over video, so by the time you land you already know the plan, the timings and the backup.
New Zealand elopement questions
Yes. New Zealand has no residency requirement to marry here. You apply for a marriage licence online — anyone can apply, whether they are in New Zealand or not — arrange it at least three working days before the ceremony, and marry in front of a recognised celebrant and two witnesses. Current fees and forms are published by Births, Deaths and Marriages on govt.nz.
For peak summer and autumn dates we recommend six to twelve months so helicopter availability, celebrant and accommodation line up. Shorter timelines are often possible outside peak weeks — send us your date and we will tell you honestly what is still open.
In our experience autumn and summer often bring the settled conditions and the longest days. Winter offers genuine snow and glacier landings but needs more flexibility around weather. Spring sits between the two, with snow on the peaks and green valleys below.
Cost depends on your package, flight time, number of landings and season, so we quote each elopement individually rather than publishing a single figure. Every quote itemises the inclusions so there are no surprises.
Two witnesses are required for a personalised ceremony. If you are eloping without guests, tell us in advance and we can help make sure suitable witnesses are available. Requirements can change, so confirm the current detail with Births, Deaths and Marriages on govt.nz.
Alpine weather is monitored in the days before your date and backup locations are chosen in advance. If it is not safe to fly, we adjust the plan or move the day. The pilot's safety call is never negotiated.
Queenstown is the easiest base for international arrivals and has the widest range of accommodation. Wānaka is quieter and closer to Mt Aspiring National Park. Both fly into the same alpine landscapes; the difference is the town you stay in and the pace of the day.
Small groups can be accommodated depending on helicopter capacity and the landing site. Tell us how many people you are hoping to bring and we will plan the flight configuration around it.
Choose your base
Most New Zealand heli elopements fly from Queenstown or Wānaka.
Queenstown elopements
Flight times, landing areas and how a Queenstown-based day actually runs.
Wānaka elopements
A quieter base, minutes from Mt Aspiring National Park.
Heli elopement packages
Compare the flight times, landings and inclusions of each package side by side.
Start your New Zealand elopement
Tell us your dates and where you are travelling from, and we will come back with what is possible.