Day Trips

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Scenic Flyover & Cruise

Name: From Queenstown: Milford Sound Scenic Flyover & Cruise
Start: 2024-11-20T14:30:00
End: 2024-11-20T18:30:00
Location: Queenstown

People getting ready to board a Scenic Flight to Milford Sound

Plane flying over a lake during a scenic flight to Milford Sound

Milford Sound Cruise ship heading to the dock

Women enjoying the Milford Sound cruise with a waterfall in the background

Discover a hidden paradise of valleys, peaks, and glaciers on the Queenstown to Milford Sound flight or coach ride. Then sail past iconic spots like the Mitre Peak, Bowen and Stirling Falls, and more.

Highlights

Enjoy a day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown, either by scenic flight or coach. Visit Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, and Homer Tunnel if traveling by coach.
Choose a flight over the fiord, enjoying views of Earnslaw Burn Glacier, Mitre Peak, and Olivine Ice Plateau, with pilot commentary and guaranteed window seats.
Experience a Milford Sound cruise, viewing Stirling Falls from the open-air deck. Savor complimentary tea and coffee onboard.
Fly back to Queenstown, capturing aerial photos of Lake Quill and Sutherland Falls, or enjoy a road trip back to Queenstown, with stops for photo ops.
Fun fact: The water in Milford Sound is often a deep, inky black. This is due to the tannin-stained freshwater that flows from the surrounding forests.

Inclusions

Full-day or half-day tour of Milford Sound from Queenstown (based on option selected)
Small-group experience
Round-trip flight transfers from Queenstown (if option selected)
One-way coach to Milford Sound (if option selected)
Return flight transfer to Queenstown (if option selected)
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Live commentary
2-hour Milford Sound cruise
Complimentary tea, coffee, & water on cruise

Exclusions

Food and drinks (available for purchase onboard)

Itinerary

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.4

29 ratings

5/5

4/5

3/5

2/5

1/5

Rob

5/5

Nov, 2024

Amazing experience, one of our favorite from the trip so far. We had perfect weather for the flight and boat trip and were able to see fur seals, penguins and get up close to the waterfalls.

Maurice

5/5

May, 2024

Loved everything about the experience. The flight was fantastic, great pilot. The cruise was amazing. The scenery was almost a religious experience.

Olivier

4/5

Feb, 2024

We really enjoyed this plane and boat package at Milford Sound. The pilot was very friendly, guided us well, and took the time to speak not too quickly. He explained the landscapes we were flying over, which we were not familiar with. We recommend this activity. It would be interesting to offer a package that allows us to stay the day at Milford Sound, such as arriving in the morning and leaving in the evening, thus allowing, in addition to the cruise, to walk around Milford Sound. ------------------------------------------------- Nous avons beaucoup apprécié ce package avion et bateau à Milford Sound. Le pilote a été très sympathique, nous a bien guider et a pris le temps de parler pas trop rapidement. Il nous a bien expliqué les paysages que nous survolions et que nous ne connaissions pas. Nous recommandons cette activité. Il serait intéressant de proposer un package qui nous permette de rester la journée à Milford Sound, comme par exemple arriver le matin et partir le soir, permettant ainsi, en plus de la croisière de se promener à Milford Sound.

Dominic

5/5

Mar, 2024

The entire trip was well ogranized, friendly staff, super courtious and just lovely.

John

5/5

Mar, 2024

Thrilling and very scenic plane ride. The pilot was very informative. Cruise was amazing.

Show all reviews

Your experience

Queenstown departure

Begin your day with a hotel pickup in Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand heading to the airport for your scenic flight to Milford Sound. Board a comfortable vehicle that will take you to the airport, where a scenic 1 hour 20 minute flight to Milford Sound awaits.

Soar above Milford Sound

Departing from the airport, marvel at the South Island's vistas, including Central Otago's rugged peaks and the gleaming Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand's longest lake. Admire the contrasting colors where glacial rivers meet the lake. Your flight takes you over Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, showcasing snow-capped mountains, alpine lakes, glaciers, and waterfalls. Catch a glimpse of the renowned Milford Track, a testament to the area's pristine wilderness.

Cruise along the fiord

Touch down at Milford Sound, ready for an enchanting cruise through this natural marvel. Cruise 16 kilometers along the fiord to the Tasman Sea, marveling at Milford Sound's splendor, often hailed as the eighth wonder of the world. Witness the towering Mitre Peak and the stunning Bowen and Stirling Falls. At Seal Point, you might catch sight of fur seals. Learn about the area's rich history, geology, and wildlife from your guide while enjoying a complimentary beverage. Keep an eye out for dolphins, penguins, and other marine life as you near the roaring waves of the open sea.

Return flight & Queenstown drop-off

Post-cruise, head back to the airport for your return flight to Queenstown. Soar over the Southern Alps, the Remarkables, Crown Range, and Shotover River, enjoying a fresh perspective of these magnificent landscapes against the dynamic sky. The day ends with a hotel drop-off in Queenstown, leaving you with a newfound admiration for New Zealand's beauty.

Know before you go

What to bring

Bring essential medication, sunglasses, a sunhat, sunscreen, a camera, a rain jacket, non-slip shoes, and a water bottle.
Wear warm layered clothing and comfortable footwear to stay warm during the trip.
Bring cash or an EFTPOS/credit card onboard for meals, souvenirs, and extra delights not covered by the ticket.

Accessibility

This activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Additional note

Your flyover from Queenstown over Milford Sound and back to Queenstown is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Your experience may be subject to change due to weather conditions.
The cruising altitude is weather-dependent and ranges between 5,000 to 10,000 feet.
The company now provides Junior earmuffs for younger travelers. These earmuffs offer a significant noise reduction of 22db and meet Global Safety Standards.
All seats on the aircraft are window seats. Passenger seat allocation however is at the Pilots’ discretion due to the weight and balance of the plane.
For operational and safety considerations, passenger weights are required at the time of booking. This is to comply with aircraft weight limits and balance regulations.
Passengers weighing 140kg (308lb) or more should make a note during booking. For helicopter activities, there is a weight limit of 116kg (255lb).
A discrepancy exceeding 15kg (33lb) from the declared weight at check-in may lead to rescheduling, depending on availability.
Child/booster seats and baby earmuffs are available on request.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Please display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID during the pick-up.

Hotel transfers

This ticket includes hotel pickups and drop-offs.
In the next step of booking, please select your pick-up location.
On the day of your tour, please report at your hotel lobby 10-15 min prior to your scheduled departure.
If your hotel does not have a lobby, please wait at the entrance of the hotel.