Milford Sound scenic flight from Queenstown with landing

Fly the full length of Milford Sound and land to walk its shore

A scenic flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound with a landing and two hours on the ground for self-guided exploration. The 4.5-hour trip includes a 35-minute flight over the Southern Alps, Coronet Peak and the Routeburn valley, then a descent into Fiordland National Park to see Mitre Peak rising 5,560 feet straight out of the water. After landing, walk the shoreline, view Bowen Falls, and return by a different air route over Lake Te Anau and Lake Wakatipu.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic flight and Milford Sound visit

• Meet pilot at Air Milford base
• Pre-flight briefing
• Scenic flight over Southern Alps
• View Coronet Peak ski field
• Fly over Shotover river and Skippers canyon
• Fly over Glenorchy and braided rivers
• Fly over Routeburn and Hollyford valleys
• Fly over Southern Alps main divide
• View Mt Tutoko and glaciers
• View Mitre Peak in Milford Sound
• Fly full length of Milford Sound to Tasman Sea
• Land in Milford Sound
• Self-guided walk along shoreline
• Visit Milford Sound Cafe (optional)
• View Bowen Falls from shore
• Meet pilot at airport for return flight
• Scenic flight back via Arthur valley
• View Sutherland Falls
• Fly over Lake Te Anau
• Fly over Greenstone and Caples valleys
• Fly over Lake Wakatipu and Walter Peak station
• View Remarkables mountain range and Queenstown
• Land back at Air Milford base

The experience

The flight departs from Queenstown with hotel pickup included. Your pilot briefs you before takeoff, then flies the 35-minute route south over Coronet Peak (one of New Zealand's premier ski fields), and the Shotover River, where gold was discovered in the 1860s. The route crosses the beech forests of the Routeburn and Hollyford valleys, then climbs over the main divide of the Southern Alps into Fiordland National Park. Mt Tutoko, Fiordland's highest peak at over 8,900 feet, comes into view along with two main glaciers, the Donne and the Age.

As you descend toward Milford Sound, Mitre Peak dominates the landscape: a mile of vertical gain rising directly from the water to 5,560 feet. The flight traces the full length of the fiord out toward the Tasman Sea, where towering cliffs rise over a mile high in places. After landing, your pilot points out the shoreline walk and the Milford Sound Cafe, then gives you a meeting time. You have up to two hours to explore at your own pace: walk along the shore, photograph Bowen Falls (the fiord's highest permanent waterfall at 530 feet), or stop for coffee and cake at the cafe at your own expense.

The return flight takes a different route eastward over the Southern Alps. You'll see the Sutherland Falls, New Zealand's highest waterfall at 1,900 feet, in the Arthur Valley, then cross back toward Queenstown. Lake Te Anau stretches out to the south, New Zealand's second largest lake, and the flight passes over the forested Greenstone and Caples valleys before reaching Lake Wakatipu, the country's longest lake at 46 miles. Queenstown appears on the lake's shores before you land back at the Air Milford base for drop-off to your accommodation.

What’s included

• Live pilot commentary during the flight.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Queenstown accommodation.
• full pre-flight briefing with your Air Milford pilot.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree 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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Air Milford

Is this one for you?This is a shared flight with other passengers, so you travel with a group and hear the pilot's live commentary rather than a guide walking beside you. Choose this if you want to see Milford Sound from the air and have time on the ground to explore on your own, rather than staying aboard a cruise ship in the sound.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

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.

What's the flight time each way on this Milford Sound scenic flight?

Each leg is 35 minutes: 35 minutes from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and another 35 minutes on the return flight, with the return route taking a different path over the Southern Alps and lakes.

Can I walk around Milford Sound after we land?

Yes, you have up to two hours on the ground for a self-guided walk along the shoreline, where you can see Bowen Falls and explore at your own pace. The pilot shows you the route and the cafe before you go.

What mountains and peaks will I see from the air?

Coronet Peak, Mt Tutoko (Fiordland's highest at over 8,900 feet), Mitre Peak (5,560 feet, rising straight from the water), and the Sutherland Falls (New Zealand's highest waterfall at 1,900 feet) on the return flight.

Does the price include getting to and from my hotel?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located hotels in Queenstown are included in the tour price.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my flight?

The flight is subject to favorable weather conditions. If it's cancelled due to poor weather, you can choose an alternative date or receive a full refund.