Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown

4.9 (213 reviews) 5 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

213 reviews

4.9

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Air Milford hosts you on an intimate experience, combining two incredible scenic flights into Fiordland National Park with a Nature Cruise through the fiord itself. Enjoy reserved seating for Air Milford passengers aboard the cruise and commentary from the passionate skippers while exploring the nooks and crannies along the edge of the fiord, nudging into sheer rock faces to examine flora and fauna in detail. Enjoy return flights to Milford Sound so you can experience its beauty from all angles.

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At a glance

Duration: 5 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 50 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: Tea and coffee: Coffee and/or Tea
Included: Reserved Seating aboard the Nature Cruise

Not included

Not included: Lunch

Itinerary

Air Milford

15 min

Each tour begins with a complimentary pick-up from your centrally located Queenstown accommodation. After check-in completion, your pilot will give a thorough pre-flight briefing on the route and scenic highlights likely to be encountered, before embarking on your Scenic Flight to Milford Sound. The flight time to Milford Sound is 35 minuets.
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.
Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

Passing by

Fly over the small settlement of Glenorchy, located at the head of Lake Wakatipu. Here you enjoy wonderful views of two braided river mouths joining the lake. The two rivers are the Dart and the Rees, both glacial fed, display wonderful colors as they mix with the lake.
Routeburn Track

Passing by

Fly over the dense beech forest of the Routeburn and Hollyford. valleys. One of new Zealand 'great walks' traverses the Routeburn valley, its a 3-day hike through the valley and over an alpine pass into Fiordland National Park.
Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

Passing by

Fly over the main divide of the Southern Alps and into Fiordland National park. 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

Fly the full length of the fiord, right out to the Tasman sea where you will turn and descend, before coming into land. This part of the flight really makes you appreciate the sheer size of the towering cliffs of the fiord, which rise over a mile high in some parts!
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!
Milford Sound

Fly from Queenstown to magnificent Milford Sound
Stop 10

5 min

After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will escort you to the boat docks to board your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
Bowen Falls

5 min

During your cruise, view the Bowen Falls, it is one of Milford Sound's two permanent waterfalls and at 530ft / 162 meter is it's highest. After rainfall, there are hundreds of waterfalls to be viewed in the fiord!
Stop 12

5 min

When your cruise returns, your pilot will meet you and escort you back to the airport. If time allows, the pilot will take you on a short bush walk through the native beech forest. The flight time back to Queenstown is 35 minuets.
Stop 13

Passing by

After taking off in Milford Sound the flight path first takes in another view of the fiord, before tracing south, down the Arthur valley. At the head of this valley, the Sutherland Falls can be viewed, this is New Zealand's highest waterfall, falling impressively 1,900ft / 580 meters to the valley floor below.
Stop 14

1 h 45 min Admission included

On your cruise, numbers are capped at 150 passengers and on this intimate experience, nature guides offer a personal commentary. The boat explores nooks and crannies along the edge of the fiord, nudging into sheer rock faces to examine flora and fauna in detail. The boat traverses the full length of the fiord, right out to the Tasman Sea, allowing guests to relax and take in the stunning scenery. when the boat returns your pilot will meet you for your return flight.
Greenstone and Caples Tracks

Passing by

After once again crossing the main divide of the Southern Alps, taking in stunning views of small alpine lakes and jagged snow capped mountains, the route then traverses the densely forested Greenstone and Caples valleys.
Lake Wakatipu

Passing by

After emerging from the Greenstone valley, fly over Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's longest lake at 46 miles / 75 kms, it is also incredibly deep, up to 1,250ft / 380 meters at some points!

Queenstown is nestled on the lake's shores, so some great views of the town are enjoyed before landing.
Stop 17

Passing by

View the Walter Peak high country station, which is one of New Zealand's largest merino sheep farms.
Stop 18

15 min

View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation.
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.

Meeting point and pickup

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

Meeting point

Air Milford have free parking out the front of our base.

End point

Air Milford have free parking out the front of our base.

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 a 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 or full refund
Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Infant rates apply for 0 - 1 years of age, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt
Children must be accompanied by an adult