Frequently asked questions

The following information should answer all the questions you may have when booking a helibike trip through this site. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please contact us.

1. What is Heli-biking?
2. What is the Qualmark Standard?
3. How do you transport the bikes?
4. Can I take my own bike?
5. What can I hire?
6. What’s included on each trip? 
7. What do I need to take with me?
8. How hard are the rides?
9. How many people can go on a group deal?
10. Payment and Cancellation Policy

1. What is Helibiking?

If a trip includes a helicopter flight to carry your mountain bike to the start of a ride, it’s a heli-bike trip! Heli-biking allows you to do any of the following:

• Downhill. It can be for the downhill enthusiast who wants to fly to the top of a mountain and just ride down
• Accessibility. Or, it's for the mountain biker who wants to get to a location that would be other wise inaccessible by bike either through lack of fitness or lack of vehicle access.
• Variety. Or, for locations where you use the same track in and out, it allows you to fly in and bike out
• Adventure. Or, just to enjoy 2 adventure activities in one.

2. What is the Qualmark Standard?

Qualmark New Zealand Limited is New Zealand tourism's official quality agency. It is a government and private sector partnership between Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Automobile Association. Qualmark licenses professional and trustworthy New Zealand tourism businesses to use the Qualmark 'tourism's official quality mark' to help international and domestic travellers select places to stay, things to do and ways to get around.

 
A Qualmark Operator has undergone a detailed on-site quality assessment. The ability to display the Qualmark Logo means that the Helibike.com (under it's parent company Discovery Tours Ltd) has been found to be professional and trustworthy.

3. How do you transport bikes?

In Twizel, we are one of the very few Helibike Operators to use The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved helicopter bike racks, which are specially designed to protect your bike from damage. We do not Strop bikes (hang them beneath the helicopter from a rope).

Other bike transport includes a purpose built trailer and vehicle bike racks.

4. Can I take my own bike?

Yes, we allow you to take your own bike on our tours, providing it is of a suitable quality and well maintained. For safety, we will check it before allowing you on our trip. For our Helibike Tours, due to the terrain, we strongly advise that you use a full suspension mountain bike.

5. What can I hire?

We have mountain bikes and mountain bike equipment for hire or sale. Please see our Mountain Bike Hire page for more information.

6. What’s included in each Helibike trip?

We include the scenic helicopter flight, an experienced Mountain Bike Guide and any transport to and from the start and finish points. If required, for a small hire charge we also provide a quality full suspension mountain bike, helmet, gloves, windproof/waterproof jacket and backpack. Please see our Mountain Bike Hire page for more information.

7. What do I need to take with me?

• Clothes: Wear comfortable clothes you would be happy mountain biking in and sturdy footwear. The weather in New Zealand can change very quickly, even in the summer, so please bring a windproof/waterproof jacket, thermals (depending on the season and the weather forecast), sunscreen and sunglasses.
• Bike equipment: A full suspension mountain bike is highly recommended. These trails are quite rocky in places and a hard tail just isn't fun unless you're really experienced. Mountain Bike, Helmet, protective glasses, backpack and gloves are essential. You can hire all these from us if you don’t have your own. Please see our Mountain Bike Hire page for more information.
• Anything else? Twizel has notoriously low humidity so you’ll need to drink plenty of water. Pack plenty of water, food/snacks and, of course with scenery like this, your camera!

8. How hard are the rides?

We use a grading system from 1 - Very Easy (smooth and flat and suitable for beginners) through to 6 - Elite/Expert (Trials skills needed, high risk level). Most of the rides advertised in this website are graded 2 to 4. 

9. How many people can go on a group deal?

The helicopters we use have seats for up to 5 riders plus a guide. However, there is a strict weight limit for both the helicopter total load and the individual loading on our bike racks. For groups of heavier riders and/or heavier bikes, we are only able to take a maximum of 4 riders per group. We will instruct you on how to weigh your group and bikes at the time of booking. To meet our strict safety requirements, we will weigh you, your bikes and your equipment on the day to ensure you are under the agreed weight limits. Please don't try and cheat, we cannot bend the rules so we'd hate you to have to leave someone behind. We will not discount the price if you have miscalculated the weight and are only able to take 4 people. Use the load calculation guide to work out your total group weight.

10. Payment and Cancellation Policy

• Who do I pay and when? A deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm your trip. The balance of payment can be made on the day.
• How do you send confirmation of my booking? You will get an e-mail (or fax if you don't have an e-mail address) containing all the information required for your trip. If you are unsure of any details, please don't hesitate to contact us, we're here to help you.
• What happens if I want to cancel? Helibike.com will offer a full refund if the trip is cancelled with 7 days notice. Within 7 days, if we cannot replace your spots on the trip, you will forfeit your deposit.
• What happens if the trip is cancelled? If the trip is cancelled by us, we'll try and rearrange your trip for another day. If this is not suitable for you, you will get a full refund.
• How long is the website price valid for? Due to factors outside our control, the published price of each trip may change without warning. The price will be confirmed and agreed with you at the time of booking.