Flagship Heli-Wedding · Fiordland National Park
Lake Erskine
Heli-Wedding.
A glacier-fed lake at 1,390 metres. No road. No track. No other way in but air.
A glacial lake with
no way in but air.
Lake Erskine is a small, baby-blue glacial lake deep inside Fiordland National Park, southwest of Queenstown. There is no road. There is no walking track. There is no bus, no ferry, no shuttle. The only way to reach it is by helicopter, which is precisely what makes it one of the most extraordinary places in New Zealand to be married.
The lake sits at 1,390 metres in the Earl Mountains, ringed by sheer schist walls and snow-loaded peaks high above the Milford Track. The water holds that distinct pale glacial blue. Snow surrounds the basin every month of the year, and between July and September the lake itself freezes solid into a single white scene. The flight in takes around 25 minutes each way from Queenstown, crossing some of the most remote terrain in the country.
If Cecil Peak and The Remarkables are our close-to-town summit packages, Lake Erskine is the flagship. The day everything was set aside for.
One lake.
Everything handled.
A full-day bespoke heli-wedding flown out of Queenstown into Fiordland. Planning, celebrant, helicopter, photography, ground transport. Built around the weather, the light, and you.
Planning & coordination
Full elopement planning, vendor coordination, day-of management, weather monitoring, and the call two days out.
Helicopter to Lake Erskine
Private helicopter charter from Queenstown Airport into Fiordland National Park. CAA Part 135 certified operator, with current Department of Conservation concessions.
Registered celebrant
Licensed New Zealand marriage celebrant. Ceremony delivered lakeside, with personal vows woven into the script if you wish.
Full-day photography
Up to six hours of coverage. Hair and makeup through to the post-flight lakeside session at Lake Wakatipu.
Ground transport
Private transfers between your accommodation, the helicopter depot, and the post-flight portrait location.
Post-flight portrait session
One hour at Lake Wakatipu after the return flight. Different light, different setting, different mood, no extra fee.
Lake Erskine is flown as a bespoke flagship package, priced per date. Helicopter charter, season, and group size all affect the final figure. Enquire and we will send a tailored quote inside 48 hours.
Request a quoteThe lake itself
freezes solid.
Between July and September the surface of Lake Erskine freezes over. Snow blankets the surrounding peaks, the schist shoreline, and everything in between. The entire basin becomes one continuous white scene.
It is cold. It is quiet. It is unlike anything else we shoot. For safety, ceremonies and photography always remain on the shoreline, never on the lake surface itself. Backup dates are essential for winter Erskine bookings; Fiordland can close the flying window for days at a time. When it opens, the result is unmatched in New Zealand.
Hair, makeup & flowers
Morning prep at your accommodation. The photography team arrives to capture preparations, details, and the first look. Florals delivered to the door. Most couples choose to add the hair and makeup artist for an unhurried start.
Helicopter check-in
Earlier check-in than a standard heli wedding because of the longer scenic flight. The celebrant meets us at the hangar. Safety briefing for the Fiordland route. There are no facilities at the lake, so we take our time here.
Scenic flight into Fiordland
Twenty-five minutes southwest. The terrain shifts from familiar Wakatipu country into remote alpine peaks, hanging valleys, and the spine of the Earl Mountains. Most couples describe this flight as one of the highlights of the entire day.
Lakeside ceremony
Land beside the water. Ten to fifteen minute ceremony with snow-loaded peaks behind you and glacial blue at your feet. Followed by 45 to 60 minutes of photography around the lake edge and on the schist shoreline. In winter, the lake is frozen and the surrounding shoreline holds deep snow.
Champagne on the rocks
Before we leave, a quiet moment to take in where you are. Champagne, the lake, and twenty more minutes of nothing in particular. This is the part most couples remember.
Return & lakeside portraits
Twenty-five minutes back to Queenstown. One hour of portraits beside Lake Wakatipu in softer afternoon light, then drop-off at your accommodation. By the time you are back in your room you will have covered more ground than most weddings cover in three days.
Eloping at
Lake Erskine.
An incredible experience. A dream made real by the Nomad team. They handled a date change due to weather without the smallest hitch. The lead-up and the day were stress-free for us because they took care of everything so well. James was responsive and easy to work with. We are so grateful to the team for helping us make such magical memories.Sharda & Andy
What you
arrange yourself.
The parts most couples enjoy planning. Once your booking is confirmed, we send personalised recommendations for accommodation, restaurants, and post-wedding activities in Queenstown.
- Marriage licence (NZ$170, we guide you)
- Flights to Queenstown
- Accommodation
- Wedding rings
- Your outfits
- Honeymoon activities
- Vows to each other
The marriage licence must be arranged at least three working days before your ceremony. We walk you through the process after booking.
Available
add-ons.
Every Lake Erskine day can be extended. Add-on pricing is included with your tailored quote.
- Bridal hair and makeup
- Seasonal or luxe bouquet and buttonhole
- Wedding videography: ceremony video and 3 to 5 minute 4K highlight film
- Additional helicopter for up to four guests (subject to weight and weather)
- Multi-day backup window for winter dates
- Additional helicopter landings (Coromandel Peak, Tutoko Glacier, Earnslaw Burn)
- Astrophotography session under the Fiordland sky
- Custom celebrant script writing
Questions about
Lake Erskine.
Begin the
conversation.
Tell us your preferred date, group size, and anything else on your mind. We confirm availability and send a tailored Lake Erskine quote inside 48 hours. All enquiries go directly to our Queenstown team.
December, January, and February dates often book 6 to 12 months ahead.
Begin with a date. The rest, we handle.