The region around Queenstown, Fiordland, and the Southern Alps is one of the most spectacular landscapes in New Zealand – and also one of the most demanding. Deep fjords, remote hiking trails, fast-flowing rivers, isolated alpine plateaus, and sudden weather changes can turn a short outing into a life-threatening situation. This is exactly where Southern Lakes Air Rescue becomes a vital lifeline: a team of pilots, paramedics, rescue specialists, and medical staff providing help where no road and no ground ambulance can reach.
Medical emergencies and patient transport
A large proportion of operations involve medical emergencies and accidents in inaccessible terrain. Whether it is a hiker with a broken leg, a mountain biker injured in the high country, a heart attack at a remote campsite, or a ski accident far from the road – Southern Lakes Air Rescue responds wherever every minute counts.
In addition, the organisation regularly carries out inter-hospital transfers to specialised clinics, including Invercargill and Dunedin. These flights are conducted under New Zealand health system regulations and in close cooperation with doctors, hospitals, and authorities.
Search and rescue – on land and at sea
Many missions begin as search and rescue operations when people fail to return or an emergency signal is triggered. The team works closely with the police and the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre.
Thanks to modern locator technology, Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), EPIRBs, and ELTs can be detected – devices that hikers, sailors, or pilots activate in an emergency. These signals make rapid location possible, even in dense bush, in Fiordland, or out at sea.
Specialist operations in the mountains, on the water, and in the bush
Southern Lakes Air Rescue has specialised equipment to handle even the most extreme situations:
• Ten-person rescue net ("Eldart")
Ideal for water rescues, boating accidents, group recovery after rafting or canyoning incidents, and rapid team insertion during avalanche or search scenarios.
• Heli Fire Fighter & Hydraulic Extraction Kit
This hydraulic rescue system is used in serious vehicle accidents in remote areas – anywhere conventional fire services cannot reach quickly enough.
• Alpine and cliff rescue
Specially trained rope-rescue specialists and mountaineers support missions on cliffs, rock faces, and glaciers. The region is one of New Zealand’s most demanding mountain environments – and many missions are correspondingly complex.
• White-water rescue
Southern rivers, fjords, and lakes regularly see rafting or paddling accidents. Specialised teams are trained to operate in narrow gorges, strong currents, and hard-to-reach banks.
Technology, expertise, and cooperation
Southern Lakes Air Rescue combines state-of-the-art air rescue technology with deep local knowledge. The crews not only need to fly – they must read the wind, the mountains, the turbulence in the fjords, and the fast-changing weather in order to land safely.
Often, a landing is not possible at all – then the rescue depends on long-line operations, rescue nets, or specialised stretcher systems. Every mission is unique and requires precise coordination, risk assessment, and experience.
Recognition and responsibility
Southern Lakes Air Rescue has received several awards, including the TrustPower Community Award, which recognizes its contribution to regional safety. The organisation operates as a charitable service and relies on the support of communities, donors, and funding bodies, because its work is not a given – it is a life-saving service for residents, travellers, and outdoor adventurers from all over the world.
My podcast episode about my encounter with Southern Lakes Air Rescue
Voyage 2 Go – Episode 48 – New Zealand: Dusky Track – Helicopter rescue from Fiordland’s rainforest
Southern Lakes Air Rescue – official website
If you would like to see more real-world impressions from missions, training, and crew work, you can find the official Southern Lakes Air Rescue photo gallery here.
Main website: Southern Lakes Air Rescue