Why choose this Queenstown tour ?
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.
Make the most of your Queenstown adventure
What makes Half-Day Milford Sound Nature Cruise and Flight from Queenstown a unique experience ?
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.
After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand’s premiere ski fields.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Fly from Queenstown to magnificent Milford Sound
After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will escort you to the boat docks to board your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- 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
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- 9.30am Departure
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Duration: 5 hours
Pickup included
Half-Day Milford Sound Nature Cruise and Flight from Queenstown Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Live pilot commentary on board
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
- Reserved Seating aboard the Nature Cruise
Trending Queenstown Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out
Special Instructions:
- This Tour is Provided by Air Milford.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at Pacific/Auckland.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 146 valid reviews on VIATOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
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.
