Our STORY
More than 30 years ago, Helisika began as a small rural helicopter operation serving the Central North Island. With one helicopter and a handful of passionate pilots, we flew hunters and fishermen, into the heart of the Kaimanawa Forest Park.
Our long-standing partnership with Poronui Lodge soon became a defining part of our story. Helisika became the gateway to untouched valleys and remote rivers for world-class trout fishing.
As tourism in the region grew, we saw an opportunity to share these landscapes with visitors from around the world. Scenic flights, heli-hiking, and heli-biking emerged alongside our traditional backcountry work, showcasing the Central North Island in a new light.
Over the years, strong partnerships with several Māori trusts entrusted us with access to approximately 80,000 hectares of iwi owned land, incredible places that others simply can’t reach. These relationships remain at the heart of our business, and we remain deeply grateful for the ongoing support and partnership that allows us to continue doing what we do.
As travellers began seeking more meaningful, elevated ways to experience Aotearoa, a new vision took shape. In February 2025, Escape Aviation launched as our dedicated tourism brand, designed to deliver high-end, tailor-made experiences while staying true to the Helisika legacy of connection, authenticity, and kaitiakitanga. Operating from Poronui, Taupō Airport, and the edge of Tongariro National Park, Escape Aviation now runs a fleet of five helicopters and a wide range of luxury adventures.
Three years earlier, in partnership with the Lake Rotoaira Trust and Kaimanawa Trust, we created Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures and the North Island’s only private heli-biking trail, a 23-kilometre alpine descent now regarded as one of New Zealand’s must-do mountain bike rides. In 2024, we expanded further with Waipakihi Glamping, an off-grid wilderness retreat deep in the Kaimanawa Ranges, offering overnight stays or day trips with chef-prepared riverside dining.
Our commitment to kaitiakitanga continues through conservation work with the Sika Foundation, including a 30-kilometre predator-control trapline throughout the Waipakihi Valley, part of a long-term mission to one day reintroduce kiwi back into this part of the Kaimanawa Ranges.
In November 2025, we opened the region’s first purpose-built FBO Lounge at Taupō Airport, offering a premium gateway for private jets and charter aircraft. From December 2025, we are set to launch of our fixed-wing division, introducing a twin-engine Piper Navajo to operate private charters across New Zealand.
From a single helicopter in the 1990s to a multi-brand aviation and tourism portfolio today, our story remains centred on people, place, and purpose. We are proud to share extraordinary experiences in the most remarkable corners of the Central North Island and to protect the places that make them possible.