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Heli-biking in Queenstown NZ
Just returned from Queenstown and some awesome heli-biking in the Remarkables. Vertigo bikes in Queenstown provided a full (and excellent) service and supplied everything. Good intermediate to advanced skills required to stay alive and a good rush - 5,000ft decent in two hours (includes stops to take in the views), quite technical and fast with a bit of terror thrown in. Highly recommended.
It's back to Manly Dam for me over the week-end but I will be dreaming of other places.
GregHM
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Photos look great!
The misses wants to go to NZ for a holiday and I want to do this.
When you said technical, how technical? any comparison with Sydney trails?
Also could you bring your own bike?
thank you
As long as you are at least at intermediate level you will have no problem - there are some tricky/technical bits but the guide is excellent and will talk you though these at various points along the descent. (I have only been riding for 2/3 years and I consider myself to be no more than at an intermediate + level). There were 5 of us - all at various levels of riding competence and everyone had a blast.
I can't compare this ride to anything I have riden in Australia but there is a lot of loose stuff on the higher reaches so you need to be comfortable on a steep loose surface at a fair pace . It then settles down to some amazing, long, firm singletrack (not very steep) and finally a long, fast and sandy exit road.
Vertigo Bikes will take your bike up but I found that their 150mm (6") Giants to be excellent choice (I was glad I did not take my bike as the Giants do take a beating). Vertigo offer a number of other rides as well - check out their web-site.
I would however take your bike if you are going to spend more than a few days riding in NZ as you will pay up to $65 a day to hire a good dualy.
I hope that helps.
Cheers
Greg