mountain surprise proposal queenstown kate craig brown photography

Couples

Planning the Perfect Surprise Proposal

Congratulations! You’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. They’re amazing; you’ve got the ring, and now it’s time to plan your surprise proposal.

But you don’t want it to be just any old proposal – you want it to be epic, unforgettable, and something you’ll look back on fondly for years to come. So how do you make sure your surprise proposal photoshoot is everything you’ve ever dreamed of?

First things first – choose an amazing location.

Queenstown New Zealand ticks all the boxes for romance, activities and incredible landscapes.

Now it’s time to start thinking about how you’re actually going to pull off the proposal itself. This is where things can start to get a little tricky – after all, you want it to be a complete surprise!

One way to make sure your partner doesn’t catch on is by enlisting our help to plan and document the whole thing without being too obvious about it. We will ensure you feel comfortable and will capture the moment perfectly. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments, so you want to make sure it’s captured just right!

Below are a few tips to help you make sure your proposal photos are absolutely perfect.

How does a surprise proposal work?

First, secure your chosen date by booking a surprise proposal package with us.

Then, decide whether you want to add a helicopter flight or drive to an epic ground location.

Lastly, decide whether you want to keep it a complete surprise or you could tell your partner you’ve booked a “couples photo session”, but keep the proposal part a secret (this is our recommended option if your location is a ground one).

A Mountaintop Helicopter Proposal

If you want the ultimate Queenstown proposal experience, it’s pretty hard to beat arriving by helicopter.

The vibe: Private, adventurous and seriously spectacular.

Why we love it: A helicopter opens up locations you simply can’t reach by road. Think remote mountain ridges, alpine lakes and huge views over Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains.

It also gives you far more privacy than many of Queenstown’s popular ground locations.

How it works: You’ll arrive at the helicopter base approximately 30 minutes before your flight for check-in and a safety briefing.

Your photographer will already be there, pretending to be another tourist booked onto the same scenic flight. The helicopter pilots and ground staff know us well and are A+ actors when it comes to keeping the surprise under wraps. Everyone will know exactly what’s about to happen — except your partner.

Once you land, the pilot will casually lead you towards the best spot for a few “photos.” Your photographer will hang back chatting with the pilot while you walk out together.

Then it’s over to you.

Once you drop to one knee, your photographer will capture the entire proposal from a distance before coming over to introduce themselves and photograph the celebrations.

You’ll then spend the rest of your landing exploring the mountain and having your first photos together as an engaged couple.

Helicopter proposal experiences start from $2,500 NZD.

Explore Queenstown Helicopter Proposals →

man and woman proposal among the clouds in cecil peak queenstown

man proposing to a woman at Cecil Peak in Queenstown

A Luxury Surprise Proposal Picnic

If you’d prefer something romantic and intimate without getting in a helicopter, a styled surprise picnic is such a beautiful option.

The vibe: Relaxed, romantic and completely personalised.

Your picnic can include rugs and cushions, a low table, florals, cake, bubbles and a grazing platter, all set up before you arrive.

Before your proposal, our stylist will send you a selection of beautiful Queenstown locations to choose from.

On the day, you simply walk towards the location together as though you’ve stumbled across the setup.

Your photographer will already be nearby pretending to photograph the landscape, take a walk or — yes, occasionally — hide behind a bush.

Once you reach the picnic, you propose.

Afterwards, you’ll have time to sit down together, open the bubbles, eat some cake and enjoy that “WE’RE ENGAGED!” feeling before heading off for a relaxed engagement shoot.

Explore Luxury Picnic Proposals →

man and woman at a picnic after surprise proposal in Jackspoint Queenstown New Zealand

surprise proposal picnic on top of a mountain in queenstown new zealand

Scenic Ground Locations

You definitely don’t need a helicopter or elaborate setup to have an incredible Queenstown proposal.

There are some beautiful locations accessible by car where you can have mountains, lakes and huge scenery as your backdrop.

The vibe: Simple, adventurous and relaxed.

Depending on the season, weather and the kind of scenery you love, we might recommend somewhere like Moke Lake, Jack’s Point, Coronet Peak, Kelvin Heights or one of the mountain passes surrounding Queenstown.

Before the day, we’ll send you exact Google Maps coordinates along with instructions for where to park and where to walk.

Your photographer will already be at the location pretending to photograph the landscape or simply looking like another person out enjoying Queenstown.

You walk to the agreed spot, propose, and they capture the whole thing without your partner ever knowing they were there.

After the surprise is revealed, we’ll head off for your engagement photos.

Explore Scenic Queenstown Proposal Locations →

man proposing to a woman lakeside at Lake Hayes in Queenstown New Zealand

man and woman embracing while looking out the views after surprise proposal at Kelvin Heights beach in New Zealand

Frequently Asked Questions

What should we wear?

Smart but casual
No overly bright colours, keep to neutrals.
Bring layers as it can be chilly in the mountains here, even in summer.
Flat shoes for walking on rocks/snow

Pro tip:

If you’re keeping the event a surprise and you haven’t told your loved one you’ve booked a photoshoot at all, it’s a good idea to pretend you’re taking them out to a nice lunch rather than a Heli flight, then they’ll wear something they like. But don’t forget to bring a jacket!

What if it’s raining?

Your photographer will message you the night before your proposal and if it looks as though there is a high chance of rain we’ll reschedule your booking for a different time or the day(s) after

We recommend having some flexibility on the day of your booking as well as some time available the day after.

Heliworks doesn’t make any decisions on the weather any earlier than 24 hours in advance as the forecast is extremely changeable here in Queenstown and in general, we get very little rain.

How do we pay for our flight?

You can pay via credit card, EFTPOS or cash on the day at the helicopter office. Please note AMEX is not accepted.

Can we add a video?

Yes. We offer video packages for surprise proposals. This is a great way to capture every second of that one-in-a-lifetime experience on video. Our surprise proposal video is $900 NZD

Overall, planning a surprise proposal with a New Zealand photographer is a great idea. It can be nerve-wracking to plan for such an important moment in your life, but it’s also so much fun.

man proposing to a women at Kelvin Heights beach in queenstown New Zealand

man and woman helicopter surprise proposal at the remarkables in queenstown

Ready to Plan Your Queenstown Proposal?

You bring the ring. We’ll help you pull off the rest.

After more than 500 surprise proposals in Queenstown, we know the locations, the helicopter teams, the best cover stories and all the little tricks that keep your plans completely under wraps until you’re down on one knee.

Whether you’re picturing a secluded mountaintop, a beautifully styled lakeside picnic or somewhere spectacular you can reach by car, we’ll help you choose the experience that feels right for the two of you — and make sure everything happens exactly where and when it should.

Tell us what you’re planning →