Save 10% with code RANKERS

Foot-launched from Coronet Peak at up to 5500 feet, this is about as raw a way to see the Queenstown basin as you'll find. You're not strapped into a plane or a gondola. You run off a hill and fly. The pilots here get consistently good marks from travellers, not just for safety but for actually making the flight personal. They read what you're after and deliver it.

The one honest trade-off that comes up repeatedly is cost. Photos and video on the day are pricey extras, so budget for those if you want to take something home. The flight itself is on the shorter side too, though most people seem fine with that once they're in the air doing acrobatics over the Remarkables.

Worth knowing it's seasonal and weather-dependent, so spring through autumn is your window and you'll need some flexibility on timing. My pick would be a clear autumn morning when the light on the ranges is something else. The Rankers code gets you 10% off, which helps take the sting out of what is already a premium experience.