Milford Sound Flight and Nature Cruise from Queenstown
by Air Milford
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.NZ$1,730.76Overview
Milford Sound is a fjord in Fiordland National Park, known for towering cliffs and waterfalls. This tour combines two scenic flights with a nature cruise in Milford Sound. The whole trip takes about five hours and departs from Queenstown. The tour begins with a hotel pickup from central Queenstown, followed by a pre-flight briefing. The flight to Milford Sound lasts about 35 minutes, flying over landmarks including Coronet Peak ski area, the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon, Glenorchy settlement with its braided rivers Dart and Rees, and the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys. The route crosses the Southern Alps, entering Fiordland National Park where Mt Tutoko, the highest peak at 2,700 meters, and glaciers like the Donne and Age can be seen. Upon arrival, the pilot escorts passengers to board the Nature Cruise. The boat accommodates up to 150 passengers but offers reserved seating for this group. The cruise lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes and explores the full length of Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea. Passengers view the 162-meter-high Bowen Falls and the towering cliffs, some rising over a mile high. The skipper provides commentary while navigating close to rock faces to observe local flora and fauna. After the cruise, the pilot meets passengers for the return flight. If time allows, there is a short walk through native beech forest before flying back over the Arthur Valley and Sutherland Falls, New Zealand's highest waterfall at 580 meters. The return flight crosses the Southern Alps again, with views of the Greenstone and Caples valleys, Lake Wakatipu - the country’s longest and deepest lake - and Lake Te Anau, New Zealand's second-largest lake. The flight ends back at Queenstown where passengers are dropped off at their hotels. Included in the tour are live pilot commentary, hotel pickup and drop-off from central locations, tea and coffee, and reserved seating on the cruise. Lunch is not included. The tour depends on good weather and may be rescheduled or refunded if canceled. Infants under 2 sit on a parent's lap with a lap belt, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Air Milford
The tour starts with pickup from centrally located Queenstown accommodations. After checking in, the pilot gives a detailed briefing on the flight route and scenic highlights before the 35-minute scenic flight to Milford Sound.
15 min
Coronet Peak Ski Area
Shortly after takeoff, the flight passes over Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's main ski fields.
Shotover River and Skippers Canyon
The flight passes over the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon, where gold was discovered in the 1860s. This river became the world’s second highest gold-bearing river after the Klondike in Alaska.
Glenorchy-Queenstown Road
Passengers fly over the small settlement of Glenorchy at Lake Wakatipu's head, viewing where the glacial Dart and Rees rivers join the lake with distinctive colors.
Routeburn Track
The flight passes above the dense beech forests of the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys. The Routeburn Track is a three-day hiking trail crossing an alpine pass into Fiordland National Park.
Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
The flight crosses the Southern Alps' main divide into Fiordland National Park. Mt Tutoko, at over 8,900 feet / 2,700 meters, is the park’s highest peak. The Donne and Age glaciers are also visible.
Milford Sound
The flight covers the full length of the fiord out to the Tasman Sea before descending to land. The towering cliffs, some over a mile high, become apparent on this approach.
Mitre Peak
View Mitre Peak, Milford Sound’s highest peak, rising directly from the water to 5,560 feet / 1,690 meters, which is just over a mile of vertical gain.
Milford Sound
The flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound includes these significant landmarks and natural features.
Milford Sound Boat Dock
After landing in Milford Sound, the pilot escorts passengers to the boat docks to board the Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
5 min
Bowen Falls
During the cruise, passengers view Bowen Falls, one of Milford Sound’s two permanent waterfalls and its highest at 530 feet / 162 meters. After rainfall, hundreds of waterfalls appear in the fiord.
5 min
Milford Sound Return Walk
When the cruise returns, the pilot meets passengers and escorts them back to the airport. If time allows, a short bush walk through native beech forest occurs before the 35-minute flight back to Queenstown.
5 min
Sutherland Falls and Arthur Valley
After taking off from Milford Sound, the flight path offers another view of the fiord before following the Arthur Valley south. At the valley’s head, Sutherland Falls, New Zealand’s highest waterfall, falls 1,900 feet / 580 meters to the valley floor.
Milford Sound Cruise
The cruise is limited to 150 passengers with personal commentary from nature guides. The boat explores close to the fiord’s edges, nudging into sheer rock faces to examine flora and fauna, and travels the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea.
105 min
Greenstone and Caples Tracks
Returning over the Southern Alps, the flight passes alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks, then crosses the forested Greenstone and Caples valleys.
Lake Wakatipu
The flight passes over Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s longest lake at 46 miles / 75 kilometers and up to 1,250 feet / 380 meters deep. Queenstown, located on the lake’s shores, is visible before landing.
Walter Peak Station
The flight passes over Walter Peak high country station, one of New Zealand’s largest merino sheep farms.
Remarkables and Queenstown
Views of the Remarkables mountain range and Queenstown are seen before landing back at the Air Milford base for drop-off to accommodation.
15 min
Lake Te Anau
The final leg heads east over the Southern Alps toward Queenstown, passing Lake Te Anau, the country’s second-largest lake.
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.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Milford Sound Flight and Nature Cruise from Queenstown
by Air Milford
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.NZ$1,730.76Overview
Milford Sound is a fjord in Fiordland National Park, known for towering cliffs and waterfalls. This tour combines two scenic flights with a nature cruise in Milford Sound. The whole trip takes about five hours and departs from Queenstown. The tour begins with a hotel pickup from central Queenstown, followed by a pre-flight briefing. The flight to Milford Sound lasts about 35 minutes, flying over landmarks including Coronet Peak ski area, the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon, Glenorchy settlement with its braided rivers Dart and Rees, and the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys. The route crosses the Southern Alps, entering Fiordland National Park where Mt Tutoko, the highest peak at 2,700 meters, and glaciers like the Donne and Age can be seen. Upon arrival, the pilot escorts passengers to board the Nature Cruise. The boat accommodates up to 150 passengers but offers reserved seating for this group. The cruise lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes and explores the full length of Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea. Passengers view the 162-meter-high Bowen Falls and the towering cliffs, some rising over a mile high. The skipper provides commentary while navigating close to rock faces to observe local flora and fauna. After the cruise, the pilot meets passengers for the return flight. If time allows, there is a short walk through native beech forest before flying back over the Arthur Valley and Sutherland Falls, New Zealand's highest waterfall at 580 meters. The return flight crosses the Southern Alps again, with views of the Greenstone and Caples valleys, Lake Wakatipu - the country’s longest and deepest lake - and Lake Te Anau, New Zealand's second-largest lake. The flight ends back at Queenstown where passengers are dropped off at their hotels. Included in the tour are live pilot commentary, hotel pickup and drop-off from central locations, tea and coffee, and reserved seating on the cruise. Lunch is not included. The tour depends on good weather and may be rescheduled or refunded if canceled. Infants under 2 sit on a parent's lap with a lap belt, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Air Milford
The tour starts with pickup from centrally located Queenstown accommodations. After checking in, the pilot gives a detailed briefing on the flight route and scenic highlights before the 35-minute scenic flight to Milford Sound.
15 min
Coronet Peak Ski Area
Shortly after takeoff, the flight passes over Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's main ski fields.
Shotover River and Skippers Canyon
The flight passes over the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon, where gold was discovered in the 1860s. This river became the world’s second highest gold-bearing river after the Klondike in Alaska.
Glenorchy-Queenstown Road
Passengers fly over the small settlement of Glenorchy at Lake Wakatipu's head, viewing where the glacial Dart and Rees rivers join the lake with distinctive colors.
Routeburn Track
The flight passes above the dense beech forests of the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys. The Routeburn Track is a three-day hiking trail crossing an alpine pass into Fiordland National Park.
Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
The flight crosses the Southern Alps' main divide into Fiordland National Park. Mt Tutoko, at over 8,900 feet / 2,700 meters, is the park’s highest peak. The Donne and Age glaciers are also visible.
Milford Sound
The flight covers the full length of the fiord out to the Tasman Sea before descending to land. The towering cliffs, some over a mile high, become apparent on this approach.
Mitre Peak
View Mitre Peak, Milford Sound’s highest peak, rising directly from the water to 5,560 feet / 1,690 meters, which is just over a mile of vertical gain.
Milford Sound
The flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound includes these significant landmarks and natural features.
Milford Sound Boat Dock
After landing in Milford Sound, the pilot escorts passengers to the boat docks to board the Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
5 min
Bowen Falls
During the cruise, passengers view Bowen Falls, one of Milford Sound’s two permanent waterfalls and its highest at 530 feet / 162 meters. After rainfall, hundreds of waterfalls appear in the fiord.
5 min
Milford Sound Return Walk
When the cruise returns, the pilot meets passengers and escorts them back to the airport. If time allows, a short bush walk through native beech forest occurs before the 35-minute flight back to Queenstown.
5 min
Sutherland Falls and Arthur Valley
After taking off from Milford Sound, the flight path offers another view of the fiord before following the Arthur Valley south. At the valley’s head, Sutherland Falls, New Zealand’s highest waterfall, falls 1,900 feet / 580 meters to the valley floor.
Milford Sound Cruise
The cruise is limited to 150 passengers with personal commentary from nature guides. The boat explores close to the fiord’s edges, nudging into sheer rock faces to examine flora and fauna, and travels the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea.
105 min
Greenstone and Caples Tracks
Returning over the Southern Alps, the flight passes alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks, then crosses the forested Greenstone and Caples valleys.
Lake Wakatipu
The flight passes over Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s longest lake at 46 miles / 75 kilometers and up to 1,250 feet / 380 meters deep. Queenstown, located on the lake’s shores, is visible before landing.
Walter Peak Station
The flight passes over Walter Peak high country station, one of New Zealand’s largest merino sheep farms.
Remarkables and Queenstown
Views of the Remarkables mountain range and Queenstown are seen before landing back at the Air Milford base for drop-off to accommodation.
15 min
Lake Te Anau
The final leg heads east over the Southern Alps toward Queenstown, passing Lake Te Anau, the country’s second-largest lake.
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.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.