Milford Sound Scenic Flight with Landing from Queenstown

5.0 (27 reviews) 5 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

27 reviews

5.0

Milford Sound Scenic Flight with Landing from Queenstown — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Milford Sound Scenic Flight with Landing from Queenstown, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Don’t miss out on a spectacular scenic flight with Air Milford to Milford Sound and back. This tour is perfect for those who have already done a cruise in Milford Sound and want to experience the spectacular region from the air and land.

This 4.5-hour trip includes a landing in Milford Sound with up to 2 hours on the ground to take a self-guided walk along the shore line, soak up the surroundings, take pictures or have delicious coffee and cake at the cafe (at own expense) before your return scenic flight to Queenstown.

Day Trips Nature and Wildlife Tours Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Air Tours Walking Tours Nature Walks Small Group

At a glance

Duration: 5 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: English
Operated by: Air Milford

Ages: Infants (0–1 years) · Children (2–12 years) · Adults (13–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Live pilot commentary on board
Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
Included: Up to 2 hours on the ground in Milford Sound for self-guided walk
Included: Full pre-flight briefing with Air Milford pilot

Not included

Not included: Milford Sound Cruise
Not included: Food and drinks

Itinerary

Stop 1

15 min

On arrival that the Air Milford base you will meet your pilot, for a full pre-flight briefing, before embarking on your 35 minuet scenic flight over the Southern Alps, 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.
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

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!
Milford Sound

2 hours

After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will point out the way to the short walk along the shoreline and to the Milford Sound Cafe. Your pilot will give you a time to meet back at the airport and then you can enjoy exploring Milford at your own pace.

Spend the next two hours self-guided, exploring the shoreline of the fiord, or head to the cafe, for a coffee and snack.
Bowen Falls

Passing by

From the shore, view the Bowen Falls, it is one of Milford Sound's two permanent waterfalls and at 530ft / 162 meter is it's highest.
Stop 11

Passing by

Meet your pilot back at the airport to commence your scenic flight back to Queenstown. The flight time is a further 35 minuets and traverses a different route.
Stop 12

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.
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.
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 16

Passing by

View the Walter Peak high country station, which is one of New Zealand's largest merino sheep farms.
Stop 17

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.

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

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
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
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Infant rates apply for 0 - 1 years of age, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt