the freedom of flight awaits - come soar with us
Learn to fly in sunny Nelson
Trial Flight (Tandem) - $240
Experience and learn about paragliding by taking a trial flight with one of our experienced instructors.
Intro Course + PG1 Licence - $800 *Limited spaces available for 2024/25
PG1 course is your first step towards obtaining a full pilot’s licence. 3-7 flying days and a minimum of six flights. $500 if Intro Course has been completed.
Speedflying
Speedflying uses small, high-performance wings to descend at speed down mountains or soar in stronger winds. We do not teach speedflying however our PG2 course is the best start to getting your speedflying licence. We will coordinate with expert speedflying instructor Jamie Lee on a pathway for you.
Intro Course - $350
This is designed to give beginners a hands-on experience with the basics of paragliding. Usually completed within a day, depending on conditions.
PG2 Licence ($2,200*)
Ready to elevate your paragliding journey? After completing PG1, it’s time to step up to PG2 and become a confident, safe solo pilot. This is a comprehensive 40 flight course over a number of weeks.
The right gear makes all the difference. We offer discounted PG + equipment packages through trusted brands and dealers. Second-hand gear or school gear may also be an option, depending on suitability.
*PG2 course pricing is $2,200 when equipment is purchased through us, or $2,600 if equipment is purchased elsewhere. We may decline to teach using gear not purchased through us.
Your safety is our top priority. We only teach with gear we know and trust, and we’ll price match advertised new gear from other NZ schools. Our prices are competitive—check out our shop or ask us for more details.
Learn in one of New Zealand's best paragliding regions
We have multiple sites within driving distance of Nelson and Richmond including the Barnicoat Range, Takaka Hill, Tapawera, and smaller training hills.
The Nelson region, with it’s mix of mountains and coastal flying combined with good weather, is a popular region for national competitions. There is a strong community of regular flyers with a great local club https://tasmanhgpc.wordpress.com/
What is paragliding?
It’s launching from a hill and gliding through the air using a lightweight, foot-launched fabric wing.
It’s using the natural thermal currents and dynamic wind to stay flying, sometimes for many hours across hundred of kilometres.
It’s sitting in a harness suspended in the air, providing a bird’s-eye view of landscapes and is a serene yet exhilarating experience.
It’s using extremely portable equipment, allowing pilots to hike to remote locations and fly.
Paragliding offers a sense of freedom and connection with nature unmatched by other aerial sport. Once you try it you will question why it is not something everyone does. Training and certification are essential for safe and skilled paragliding. Come fly with us!
High quality – High innovation – High technology
As the proud sole dealership for DaVinci Gliders in New Zealand, we are thrilled to represent these outstanding wings, trusted and loved by our instructors throughout our courses. Whether for teaching or personal flying, DaVinci Gliders consistently deliver exceptional performance and reliability. We offer excellent deals on all DaVinci products and can typically arrange delivery much faster than many other manufacturers.
Founded in 2016 with a vision to create safer and more innovative paragliders, DaVinci Gliders has grown from a small company into a leading manufacturer of high-quality paragliders and related equipment. Known for their beginner-friendly and intermediate wings, DaVinci’s gliders are also a top choice in competitive paragliding. It’s no surprise to see the company’s founders, designers, and testers regularly standing on the podium at competitions.
See the full range in our Shop
About us
New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association licensed Paragliding Instructors.
The instructors are passionate about flying and love sharing the joy of free flight through teaching new students. They focus on safety, comprehensive instruction, and lots of practical practice. Every student is different, and they tailor their instruction accordingly, taking students from the absolute basics to becoming licensed, confident, unsupervised paragliding pilots.
Hamish has experience flying for 12 years in New Zealand, India, Korea, Western and Eastern Europe and elsewhere. He has helped many pilots learn and progress including assisting them in their first 10km to 70km cross country flights.
He is involved with safety in paragliding in New Zealand creating accident and incidents analysis reporting for the national association as well being part of a Safety Task Force, which included NZ’s top comp pilot and a flying psychologist, to take a deep dive into free flying safety. This culminated in the earning the team an international FAI (World Air Sports Federation) Air Sports Medal.
Steve is well known in the Nelson community as a cool-headed, experienced paragliding pilot who is generous with his time and a mentor to many intermediate-level pilots. He has many years of running and instructing at paragliding schools in Christchurch as well as flying commercial tandem flights in Queenstown.
He is currently the Paragliding Safety officer for the Tasman Club and helps keep flying safe by undertaking many warrant of fitness annual checks on paragliding wings & harnesses.