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Milford Sound Scenic Flight with Landing from Queenstown

Offered by Air Milford

From

$656.42 per person

5.0 (25 reviews)

Confirmation: MANUAL

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

5 hours (approx.)Pickup Available Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: English

4.5-hour return flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound with up to two hours ashore, flying over Fiordland National Park, Mitre Peak and Sutherland Falls.

Tour Overview

This 4.5 hour Air Milford tour combines a scenic return flight from Queenstown with time on the ground in Milford Sound. After a pre flight briefing at the Air Milford base, you board a 35 minute flight across the Southern Alps to Milford Sound.

Soon after takeoff, the route passes Coronet Peak, then follows the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon, where gold was discovered in the 1860s. From there, you fly over Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu, with views of the Dart and Rees river mouths meeting the lake. The flight continues above the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys, across the main divide, and into Fiordland National Park, where Mt Tutoko, the Donne Glacier and the Age Glacier come into view. Approaching Milford Sound, you see Mitre Peak and fly the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea before landing.

You then have up to two hours to explore Milford Sound at your own pace. Walk along the shoreline, stop at the Milford Sound Cafe, and from the shore look across to Bowen Falls, the fiord’s highest permanent waterfall.

The return flight takes a different route, following the Arthur Valley to view Sutherland Falls, then crossing back over the Southern Alps, Lake Te Anau, the Greenstone and Caples valleys, Lake Wakatipu, Walter Peak, The Remarkables, and Queenstown.

What's Included

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

Not Included:

  • Milford Sound Cruise
  • Food and drinks

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Air Milford

    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.

    15 minutes

  2. 2

    Coronet Peak Ski Area

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

    Pass by without stopping

  3. 3

    Skippers Canyon

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  4. 4

    Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  5. 5

    Routeburn Track

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  6. 6

    Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  7. 7

    Mitre Peak

    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!

    Pass by without stopping

  8. 8

    Milford Sound

    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!

    Pass by without stopping

  9. 9

    Milford Sound

    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.

    2 hours

  10. 10

    Bowen Falls

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  11. 11

    Milford Sound Airport - NZMF

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  12. 12

    Sutherland Falls

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  13. 13

    Lake Te Anau

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  14. 14

    Greenstone and Caples Tracks

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  15. 15

    Lake Wakatipu

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  16. 16

    Walter Peak Station Wharf

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

    Pass by without stopping

  17. 17

    Air Milford

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

    15 minutes

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup available

If requesting pickup, please select your preferred location when booking through Viator.

Pickup details

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.

Or Meet At Meeting point

3 Tex Smith Lane

3 Tex Smith Lane, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

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

End Point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Important Information

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 info@airmilford.co.nz, 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.

Additional Info

  • 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

Cancellation Policy

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