Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight

4.9 (60 reviews) one hour Free cancellation

out of 5

60 reviews

4.9

Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

The only scenic flight company ex. Queenstown to showcase some of Mt Aspiring & Fiordland National Parks largest Glaciers. These include the Rob Roy, Bonar, Jura, Volta, Dart, Olivine, and Donne Glaciers among many others and of course, Milford Sound itself. Each tour with Air Milford is guaranteed to see at least five major glaciers.

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At a glance

Duration: one hour
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Air Milford

Ages: Infants (0–1 years) · Children (2–12 years) · Adults (13–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Live pilot commentary on board
Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
Included: Full pre-flight briefing with Air Milford pilot

Not included

Not included: No landing in Milford Sound is included
Not included: No cruise of Milford Sound is included

Itinerary

Air Milford

15 min

Begin your experience with a thorough pre-flight briefing with your pilots on the sights to be encountered during the 1hr Scenic flight.
Coronet Peak Ski Area

Passing by

After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's premiere ski fields.
Stop 3

Passing by

Fly over the Shotover river and Skippers canyon, this is where gold was discovered in the 1860's. This river became the world's 2nd highest gold bearing river in the world, next to the Klondike in Alaska.
Mount Aspiring National Park

Passing by

Head North out of the Wakatipu basin and into Mt Aspiring National park, with the larger mountains and glaciers emerging as you track north.
Mount Aspiring

Passing by

View Mount Aspiring, often known as the Matterhorn of the South, it sits at 10,000ft / 3,030meters and has six related glaciers, the largest being the Upper Volta Glacier.
Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

Passing by

Begin to head West, over the main divide of the Southern Alps and into Fiordland National park, before exiting Mt Aspiring National park fly down 'glacier alley' with the Olivine Ice Plateau, a unique glacial amphitheater. One of the first sights you will encounter on arrival in Fiordland National Park is Mt Tutoko, at over 8,900ft / 2,700meters it is Fiordland's highest peak. There are two main glaciers to view here the Donne and the Age.
Milford Sound

Passing by

Your scenic flight will then take you of an overhead of Milford Sound itself. Milford Sound is Fiordland's most northerly of 14 fiords and also it's most dramatic.
Milford Sound

Experience the beauty of Milford Sound
Mitre Peak

Passing by

View the highest peak in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak. It impressively rises directly out of the water of the fiord, to it's summit at 5,560ft / 1,690 meters, which is just over a mile of vertical gain!
Lake Te Anau

Passing by

The flight path then begins to track east over the Southern Alps and back towards Queenstown. New Zealand's second largest lake, lake Te Anau can be viewed stretching out to the south.
Lake Wakatipu

Passing by

After once again crossing the main divide of the Southern Alps, the route traverses the beech forest filled Greenstone valley, before emerging above Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's longest lake, with Queenstown nestled on it's shores.
Stop 12

Passing by

View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation by approximately 9.30am.
Stop 13

Passing by

After leaving Milford Sound the flight path tracks south, down the Arthur valley. At the head of this valley, the Sutherland falls can be viewed, this is New Zealand highest waterfall, falling impressively 1,900ft / 580 meters to the valley floor below.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

Please provide us with your accommodation details and we will advise accordingly.

End point

Please provide us with your accommodation details and we will advise accordingly.

Pickup points

Hurley's of Queenstown
The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, A Naumi Chapter
Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel
Whistler Holiday Apartments
Bella Vista Queenstown
voco Queenstown by IHG
Alexis Motels and Apartments
Stay of Queenstown
Queenstown House Lakeside Luxury Apartments
Avani Queenstown Hotel
Swiss-belsuites Pounamu Queenstown
Q Box Motorhome Park

and 79 more pickup points

We provide our complimentary pick-up/drop-off service from all centrally located Queenstown accommodation, please update us with your details. If your accommodation is not centrally located, please let us know and we will send through parking directions.

Using your ticket

Please call us on arrival to Queenstown to discuss the latest weather forecast for your excursion and to confirm timings, minimum numbers and transportation.

On the day of your flight, you are required to call us 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to departure for a final weather check and flight confirmation. Pick-ups will begin 1 hour and 10 minutes prior to flight departure. If you are driving to us, we ask that you arrive to our base for check-in 45 minutes prior to departure. We are located at #3 Tex Smith Lane, Frankton.

You can reach us by email at [email protected], on our New Zealand free phone number 0800 462 252 or our international number +64 3 442 2351.

Please note that our flights require a minimum number of passengers to confirm the departure. We will aim to combine your excursion with one of our other flights if we do not meet minimum numbers.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date/time or full refund
Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
Infant 0 - 1 years of age fly free of charge, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt. If an infant requires their own seat, then a child ticket must be purchased
Children must be accompanied by an adult