The Wet Jacket Wine Experience – Fiordland by Helicopter

The Wet Jacket Wine Experience starts in Queenstown with a private helicopter lift into the Southern Alps. Snow-capped peaks and crystal alpine valleys stretch out beneath you. The flight weaves through ridgelines, glacier-fed lakes, and remote wilderness. Heading south into Fiordland National Park, the story of Wet Jacket Wines comes alive. It’s not about vineyard rows, but one of New Zealand’s wildest places: Wet Jacket Arm in Dusky Sound. Named by Captain James Cook in 1773 after his crew returned drenched from stormy seas, this rugged fiord is the brand’s spiritual home. Founder Greg Hay has spent over 20 years exploring these sounds, bringing their raw beauty, history, and isolation into every bottle.

Your journey includes two landings within Wet Jacket Arm. Each spot is chosen on the day by your pilot and private Wet Jacket Cellar Door Host. Aerial views of Resolution Island and Anchor Island reveal the scale and remoteness of the area. At each landing, enjoy a hosted tasting of Wet Jacket Wines. Towering peaks, still waters, and silence set the scene. Every pour reflects the brand’s heritage and the rugged landscapes that inspired it.

Next, you land at Campbell’s Kingdom. Your pilot selects the perfect location, and your host shares insights about the surrounding landscape. An elevated artisan picnic lunch follows, overlooking Doubtful Sound. Local gourmet produce is paired with Wet Jacket Wines, with fiord waters, lush valleys, and distant peaks as your backdrop.

The experience ends with a scenic flight back to Queenstown. Glide over glacier-carved valleys and snow-tipped summits one last time. It’s a seamless blend of wilderness, luxury, and heritage.

Top Reasons to Experience Wet Jacket Wines by Helicopter

• Private helicopter tours from Queenstown over the Southern Alps and Fiordland National Park
• Two exclusive landings within Wet Jacket Arm for hosted Wet Jacket Wine tastings
• Scenic aerial views of Resolution Island, Anchor Island, glaciers, and alpine valleys
• Artisan picnic lunch at Campbell’s Kingdom paired with Wet Jacket Wines
• Immersive Fiordland adventure combining luxury, heritage storytelling, and wildlife conservation