Adventure Soaring Flights

GlideOmarama offers Introductory Adventure Soaring Flights to visitors interested in learning about the sport and artistry of soaring and gliding and who wish to experience the joy of silent flight in a high performance sailplane. No flying experience is necessary. Given suitable conditions your instructor will offer you the opportunity to handle the glider controls and fly the aircraft for part of the flight.

We offer Gift Vouchers for those who wish to give something different.

30 Minute Flight (the Southern Soaring Explorer)

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NZ$325 Per person

Our most popular flight!
After a briefing by your instructor/pilot our tow plane will take you to the nearby mountains. 2,000 - 3,000 feet above the ground the glider is released to fly on its own.
You then experience the beauty of soaring in the vicinity of the lakes and mountains of the Mackenzie Country.
The flight is tailored to suit your own aspirations - whether that be for a smooth and gentle ride or more dynamically adventurous is entirely up to you.
The 30 Minute Flight is suitable for 1st time flight experiences. If you are enjoying the flying and wish to extend the flying time a decision to extend the flight can be taken while in the air. (Subject to continued availability of pilot and aircraft.)

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One Hour Flight (the Southern Soaring Adventurer)

NZ$395 per person

Best value flight!
Experience the cross country potential of these extraordinary high performance sailplanes.
Soar into the spectacular mountains that ring the Omarama Basin and be introduced to the fascinating alpine environment that attracts glider pilots from around the world.
If you are enjoying the flying and wish to extend the flying time a decision to extend the flight can be taken while in the air. (Subject to continued availability of pilot and aircraft.)

Long Flights

from NZ$640 per person

Longer duration more adventurous flights can be made deeper into the Southern Alps.

The flight that has it all! for example -
south west past Lake Wanaka to Mount Aspiring, or
north to Mount Cook and the Tasman Glacier, or
wave flights up to 500 km long and over 20,000 feet high are often possible.

These flights are dependent on suitable soaring conditions. We will advise you on the day if prevailing conditions suggest longer flights are worth attempting. It is advisable to have had some previous light plane or soaring experience before taking a longer flight.

The cost is NZ$640 for the first 2 1/2 hours and NZ$220 pro rata for each additional flying hour.

Please note:

You are welcome to join us for the daily morning briefing at 10:00am at the Soaring Centre on the Omarama Airfield.

Most short flights are scheduled between 10:30am and 12:30pm each day but earlier or later times may be arranged.

Nausea or motion sickness associated with circling and the sensations of flight can be a problem for some people. If you are unsure of your likely reactions to the sensations of flight, book a shorter rather than a longer flight. We can usually extend your flying time in the air if requested. We suggest you prepare yourself by:

taking travel sickness tablets or using other anti-nausea devices
look in the direction of the turn while the glider is turning and avoid sudden head movements
follow the directions of your instructor.