Our Bases
Escape Aviation operates across the Central Plateau from three key bases. Our primary base is at the Taupō Airport which provides seamless access to the region and beyond. Helisika, our original home base, is located on Poronui Station and our third base Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures, is located 30 minutes south of Turangi on State Highway 1, positioned on the doorstep of Tongariro National Park.
Taupo Airport
Escape Aviation is based at the Taupo Airport, home to our EC130 helicopter and twin-engine Piper Navajo fixed-wing aircraft. This is the hub for our charter operations, local scenic flights, and FBO services.
Helisika Poronui
Helisika Poronui is our original home base, with over 30 years of operations in the Poronui Valley. Located a 35-minute drive from Taupō along State Highway 5 toward Napier, this base is the hub for the majority of our commercial work, including hunting and fly-fishing flights. It is home to a fleet of two Hughes 500 helicopters and one Squirrel during summer operations, expanding to two Squirrels over the winter season.
Kaimanawa alpine adventures
Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures opened in 2023 and is located a 20-minute drive south of Turangi on State Highway 1. Perched on the doorstep of the Tongariro National Park, this base is the launch point for some of our most adventurous experiences such as heli-biking and heli-hiking, alongside remote sightseeing flights over the surrounding moutnains and exclusive stays at our Waipakihi glamping site.