Our Story
The Stewart Island Journey
2016
In 2016, Gaven and Jennie created the first scenic helicopter experiences for Stewart Island.
2018
Gaven’s love of hunting and the outdoors led him to explore remote locations on the island and improve access for hunters year-round.
2023
Stewart Island Helicopters was featured on Southern Crossing Lap of Luxury.
2024
In 2024, we sponsored five hectares of restoration land to support the Halfmoon Bay Habitat Restoration Project. Generous donations from our passengers also helped support predator control work being done around the bay, ensuring further protection for the native fauna in and around the township and out to Ackers Point.
We are forever expanding what we offer. With so much growth behind us, we can only imagine what the years to come may look like – but we’ve got a few ideas up our sleeves. No matter where life takes us, we’ll always strive to provide a safe, efficient, and incredibly memorable experience for our clients. We’ll put your needs first, and keep our standards as high as our helicopters.
– Gaven and Jennie Burgess
Meet the fleet
Our team of hard-working helis.
[ZK-HNU] Squirrel H125 B2 Heavy Lift Squirrel
This helicopter is ideal for heavy lifting, freight, and passenger transport. It has 6 passenger seats and an external lifting capacity of 945kg on the cargo hook.
Our sister companies
Meet the rest of the team, from Milford to Te Anau and all the fiords in between.
Te Anau Helicopter Services
Based at the gateway to Fiordland, Te Anau Helicopter Services was Jennie and Gaven’s very first helicopter offering in New Zealand. Started in 2014, Te Anau Heli has grown into a thriving flight service offering incredible scenic flights, adventure packages and transport services to the region. Get in touch with the team for a wide range of helicopter services in Fiordland.
Milford Helicopters
Originally founded in 1988 by a local Te Anau couple, Milford Helicopters joined the fold as a sister company in 2020. Milford Helicopters is the only helicopter company based in Milford Sound, offering incredible scenic flights through Piopiotahi Milford Sound and the wider Fiordland region, and showcasing the best of New Zealand to both national and international guests alike.
Join us on a journey through the skies of Stewart Island
Join us on a journey through the skies of Stewart Island
Explore scenic flights