the freedom of flight awaits - come soar with us
PG1 & PG2
Feb - April
Full course to become a solo pilot
- The best months to learn in Nelson
- Two experienced instructors
- Beautiful sites in Nelson/Tasman, Golden Bay, Marlborough
- PG1 + PG2 + New Wing & Harness package from $8,500
- PG1 + PG2 + 2nd hand Wing & Harness from $4,700
- Course + hire purchase options available from 52 weekly instalments of $105
- Please do not purchase your gear before contacting us!
- We have had a number of students turn up with gear that is of poor quality and unsuitable for them to learn on
MOUNT MURCHISON
XC CAMPS
1-31st Dec
- Duration: 5 to 7-day blocks
- Special Rate: $230/day (Inaugural season discount $200 p/day)
- Scheduling: Dates locked in based on group interest
- Coaching Ratio: Strict Max 4:1
- Locations: St Arnaud, Murchison, but we will shift regions to chase flyable days
- Teaching: In air coaching, detailed debriefs using multiple advance analytics, & classes on planning and forecasting
- Additional Costs: Accom, food & 4x4 fuel (split evenly)
Southern Lakes
XC CAMPS
2-23rd Jan
- Duration: 5 to 7-day blocks
- Special Rate: $230/day (Inaugural season discount $200 p/day)
- Scheduling: Dates locked in based on group interest
- Coaching Ratio: Strict Max 4:1
- Locations: Wanaka & Queenstown, but we will shift regions to chase flyable days
- Teaching: In air coaching, detailed debriefs using multiple advance analytics, & classes on planning and forecasting
- Additional Costs: Accom, food & 4x4 fuel (split evenly)
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 - $350 *For 2026/27 our focus is on PG1-PG2 students however some limited spaces may be available for Intro from Nov 20th
This is designed to give beginners a hands-on experience with the basics of paragliding. Usually completed within a day, depending on conditions.
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.