Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Air Milford, 3 Tex Smith Lane Queenstown Airport, Queenstown 9300 New Zealand
On arrival that the Air Milford base you will meet your pilot, for a full pre-flight briefing, before embarking on your 35 minuet scenic flight over the Southern Alps, to Milford Sound.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Coronet Peak Ski Resort, Queenstown New Zealand
After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's premiere ski fields.
Pass By: Skippers Canyon, Skippers Road, Queenstown 9371, New Zealand
Fly over the Shotover river and Skippers canyon, this is where gold was discovered in the 1860's. This river became the world's 2nd highest gold bearing river in the world, next to the Klondike in Alaska.
Pass By: Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, Mount Creighton New Zealand
Fly over the small settlement of Glenorchy, located at the head of Lake Wakatipu. Here you enjoy wonderful views of two braided river mouths joining the lake. The two rivers are the Dart and the Rees, both glacial fed, display wonderful colors as they mix with the lake.
Pass By: Routeburn Track, Routeburn Road, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Fly over the dense beech forest of the Routeburn and Hollyford. valleys. One of new Zealand 'great walks' traverses the Routeburn valley, its a 3-day hike through the valley and over an alpine pass into Fiordland National Park.
Pass By: Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu), Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Fly over the main divide of the Southern Alps and into Fiordland National park. One of the first sights you will encounter on arrival in Fiordland National Park is Mt Tutoko, at over 8,900ft / 2,700meters it is Fiordland's highest peak. There are two main glaciers to view here, the Donne and the Age.
Pass By: Milford Sound, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
Fly the full length of the fiord, right out to the Tasman sea where you will turn and descend, before coming into land. This part of the flight really makes you appreciate the sheer size of the towering cliffs of the fiord, which rise over a mile high in some parts!
Pass By: Mitre Peak, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
View the highest peak in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak. It impressively rises directly out of the water of the fiord, to it's summit at 5,560ft / 1,690 meters, which is just over a mile of vertical gain!
Pass By: Milford Sound, Milford Sound, Southland Region, South Island
Experience the overhead beauty of Milford Sound
Pass By: Milford Sound Airport, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
When your cruise returns, your pilot will meet you and escort you back to the airport. If time allows, the pilot will take you on a short bush walk through the native beech forest. The flight time back to Queenstown is 35 minuets.
Pass By: Milford Sound Airport, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will escort you to the boat docks to board your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
Stop At: Cruise Milford, 1 Milford Sound Highway, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
On your cruise, numbers are capped at 150 passengers and on this intimate experience, nature guides offer a personal commentary. The boat explores nooks and crannies along the edge of the fiord, nudging into sheer rock faces to examine flora and fauna in detail. The boat traverses the full length of the fiord, right out to the Tasman Sea, allowing guests to relax and take in the stunning scenery.
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Pass By: Sutherland Falls, Southland 9679, New Zealand
After taking off in Milford Sound the flight path first takes in another view of the fiord, before tracing south, down the Arthur valley. At the head of this valley, the Sutherland Falls can be viewed, this is New Zealand's highest waterfall, falling impressively 1,900ft / 580 meters to the valley floor below.
Stop At: Bowen Falls, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound 9679 New Zealand
During your cruise, view the Bowen Falls, it is one of Milford Sound's two permanent waterfalls and at 530ft / 162 meter is it's highest.
After rainfall, there are hundreds of waterfalls to be viewed in the fiord!
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Greenstone and Caples Tracks, Greenstone Station Road, Greenstone and Caples Conservation Area, Queenstown New Zealand
After once again crossing the main divide of the Southern Alps, taking in stunning views of small alpine lakes and jagged snow capped mountains, the route then traverses the densely forested Greenstone and Caples valleys.
Pass By: Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown New Zealand
After emerging from the Greenstone valley, fly over Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's longest lake at 46 miles / 75 kms, it is also incredibly deep, up to 1,250ft / 380 meters at some points!
Queenstown is nestled on the lake's shores, so some great views of the town are enjoyed before landing.
Pass By: Walter Peak Station Wharf, Beach Bay, Walter Peak 9793, New Zealand
View the Walter Peak high country station, which is one of New Zealand's largest merino sheep farms.
Stop At: Air Milford, 3 Tex Smith Lane, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Lake Te Anau, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
The flight path then begins to track east over the Southern Alps and back towards Queenstown. New Zealand's second largest lake, Lake Te Anau can be viewed, stretching out to the south.