Milford Sound Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

You land twice: once on a mountain only helicopters reach, then at sea level inside the fjord itself.

A 4-hour tour from Queenstown combines a scenic helicopter flight over the Southern Alps with two landings (one on a remote alpine location and one at Milford Sound) followed by a cruise down the fjord past rainforest slopes and waterfalls. Your pilot acts as guide throughout, and hotel pickup is included. The experience pairs aerial views of the landscape with a water-level perspective of the same terrain.

Options for this experience

3 options

From NZ$ 2,145 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Share With Others 09:45 Priced per seat on the aircraft

Private Squirrel AS350 09:45 Private use of the Squirrel helicopter

Private Eurocopter EC130B4 09:45 Private use of the Eurocopter EC 130 B4 helicopter

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Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter flight and Milford Sound cruise

• Depart from Queenstown helicopter base
• Fly over Southern Alps to Milford Sound
• Land and shut down helicopter at Milford Sound
• Board cruise boat for Milford Sound journey
• Return to Milford Sound helicopter landing
• Fly to remote alpine location for landing
• Take photographs at alpine location
• Return flight to Queenstown

What’s included

• Scenic helicopter flight over the Southern Alps.
• two landings (alpine location and Milford Sound).
• cruise down Milford Sound with rainforest slopes and waterfalls.
• all landing and facility fees.
• National Park fees.
• Bose noise-cancelling headsets.
• professional pilot guide.
• complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off from Queenstown.

Times

• Every day 09:45

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Before you book

Group Up to 2 1 private ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 1d before

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Pets welcome Public transport nearby

Operated by Over the Top Limited

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Traveler reviews

4.95 ★★★★★ Exceptional 19 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts with a helicopter flight from Queenstown over the snow-capped Southern Alps. Your pilot, who guides you throughout, flies you down to Milford Sound and lands at the airport there. You then board a cruise boat for the main event: a journey down Milford Sound at sea level, where you see rainforest-covered slopes and waterfalls from the water. The cruise is the centerpiece: the moment the landscape shifts from something you fly over to something you float through.

On the return to Milford airport, you board the helicopter again for the second half of the flight. This leg includes a landing on a remote alpine location accessible only by helicopter, where you can photograph the quiet mountain setting with the helicopter shut down. The contrast between the two landings (one high and isolated, one at sea level inside the sound) frames the full geography of the region in a single morning.

The tour runs 4 hours total and includes all landing and facility fees, National Park fees, and Bose noise-cancelling headsets so you hear the pilot's commentary clearly over the rotor noise. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Queenstown are included. You'll walk on uneven terrain at the alpine landing, so comfortable shoes and a warm layer are worth bringing. The flight is subject to weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you can reschedule or get a full refund. You'll be contacted the day before or the day of your booking to confirm based on the forecast.

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I book this tour as a private flight, or does it have to be shared?

You can choose: fly shared with other travelers, or book a private helicopter. Either the Eurocopter EC130B4 or the Squirrel AS350. Pricing differs by option, and you pick which one suits your group at checkout.

What exactly happens at the alpine landing?

The alpine landing is on a remote mountain location accessible only by helicopter. The helicopter shuts down so you can step out, take photographs, and experience the quiet of the high altitude before the flight resumes for the return to Queenstown.

Is the cruise boat included, or do I pay separately?

The cruise down Milford Sound is included in the tour price. You board the boat at Milford after the helicopter lands, and it is part of the 4-hour experience.

What if the weather is bad on my booking date?

The tour is subject to favorable weather conditions. If poor weather forces a cancellation after you've booked, you'll be offered an alternative date or a full refund. You'll be contacted the day before or the day of your tour to confirm based on the forecast.

Does the pilot stay with me the whole time?

Your pilot acts as your personal guide throughout the day: both on the helicopter flights and when you board the cruise boat at Milford Sound, so you have consistent commentary on the landscape from someone who knows it.