Air Milford

Upon arrival at the Air Milford base, the passenger meets the pilot for a complete pre-flight briefing before starting the 35-minute scenic flight over the Southern Alps to Milford Sound.

15 min

Coronet Peak Ski Area

After takeoff, the flight passes over Coronet Peak, recognized as one of New Zealand's main ski areas.

Shotover River and Skippers Canyon

The flight continues over the Shotover River and Skippers Canyon, where gold was found in the 1860s, making this river the world's second highest gold-bearing river after the Klondike in Alaska.

Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

Fly over Glenorchy, a small settlement at the head of Lake Wakatipu, offering views of two braided rivers, the Dart and the Rees, both glacial-fed and showing distinct colors as they merge with the lake.

Routeburn Track

The flight passes over dense beech forests in the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys. The Routeburn valley features a 3-day hiking trail crossing an alpine pass into Fiordland National Park.

Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

Crossing the main divide of the Southern Alps into Fiordland National Park, the flight approaches Mt Tutoko, Fiordland's highest peak at over 8,900 feet / 2,700 meters, with views of the Donne and Age glaciers.

Milford Sound

The aircraft flies the entire length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea, then turns and descends for landing, highlighting the towering cliffs of the fiord that rise over a mile high in some areas.

Mitre Peak

View the highest peak in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak, which rises directly from the water to a height of 5,560 feet / 1,690 meters, just over a mile vertically.

Milford Sound

Experience an overhead perspective of Milford Sound during the flight.

Return Flight and Bush Walk Option

After the cruise returns, the pilot meets passengers and escorts them to the airport. If time permits, the pilot may lead a short bush walk through native beech forest. The return flight to Queenstown lasts 35 minutes.

Milford Sound Boat Boarding

Upon landing at Milford Sound, the pilot escorts passengers to the boat docks to board the Milford Sound Nature Cruise.

Cruise with 150 Passenger Limit

The cruise limits numbers to 150 passengers, providing a personal commentary by nature guides. The boat explores narrow areas along the fiord’s edge, approaching sheer rock faces to observe flora and fauna closely, and travels the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea.

105 min

Flight over Arthur Valley and Sutherland Falls

After departing Milford Sound, the flight path offers another view of the fiord before heading south down Arthur Valley, where Sutherland Falls, New Zealand's highest waterfall at 1,900 feet / 580 meters, can be seen dropping to the valley floor.

Bowen Falls

During the cruise, passengers view Bowen Falls, one of Milford Sound's two permanent waterfalls, standing 530 feet / 162 meters tall. After rainfall, numerous waterfalls appear throughout the fiord.

5 min

Greenstone and Caples Tracks

The flight crosses the main divide of the Southern Alps again, passing alpine lakes and jagged snow-capped mountains, then flies over the densely forested Greenstone and Caples valleys.

Lake Wakatipu

After leaving the Greenstone valley, the flight passes over Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand’s longest lake at 46 miles / 75 kilometers, with depths up to 1,250 feet / 380 meters. Queenstown is located on the lake’s shore, offering views of the town before landing.

Walter Peak Sheep Station

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

Remarkables Range and Queenstown

See the Remarkables mountain range and Queenstown before returning to the Air Milford base for passenger drop-off.

15 min

Lake Te Anau

The flight path heads east over the Southern Alps towards Queenstown, with views of Lake Te Anau, New Zealand's second largest lake, stretching south.