Milford Sound Cruise and Flight, Half Day From Queenstown
Start with pickup at your centrally located accommodation in Queenstown, then head to the airport for a scenic flight to Milford Sound. The pilot points out key landmarks and topographical features on the way, before you land at the head of the glacially carved fjord. Board a catamaran boat for a cruise on Milford Sound. The catamaran is smaller than many Milford Sound boats, so you can get closer to the cliff walls and waterfalls, including the spectacular Stirling Falls. Wilderness guides are available during the cruise, and you’re welcome to head to the bridge of the boat to get a captain’s view of the dramatic fjord. Keep your eyes on the water throughout the tour as it’s common to see fur seals, dolphins, and many kinds of birds along the way, plus the rare Fiordland crested penguin can be spotted in spring and autumn. Following the Milford Sound cruise, meet the pilot for the return flight to Queenstown, with spectacular views of the landscape in the constantly changing light. This tour concludes with drop-off at your Queenstown hotel.
Highlights
- ✓See native wildlife in a pristine environment
- ✓Avoid the discomfort of the long, winding road journey to Milford Sound
- ✓Reserved seating on the cruise ensures your comfort and a good view
- ✓Ideal if you're short on time in southern New Zealand
What you'll see & do
- ✓Each tour begins with a complimentary pick-up from your centrally located Queenstown accommodation. After check-in completion, your pilot will give a thorough pre-flight briefing on the route and scenic highlights likely to be encountered, before embarking on your Scenic Flight to Milford Sound. The flight time to Milford Sound is 35 minuets.
- ✓After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's premiere ski fields.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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!
- ✓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!
- ✓Fly from Queenstown to magnificent Milford Sound
- ✓After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will escort you to the boat docks to board your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
- ✓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!
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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. when the boat returns your pilot will meet you for your return flight.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓View the Walter Peak high country station, which is one of New Zealand's largest merino sheep farms.
- ✓View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation.
- ✓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.
What's included
- ✓Live pilot commentary on board
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
- ✓Tea and coffee
- ✓Reserved Seating aboard the Nature Cruise
What's not included
- ✓Lunch
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Infant rates apply for 0 - 1 years of age, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt
Children must be accompanied by an adult
We provide a pick-up/drop-off service from all centrally located Queenstown accommodation, please update us with your details. If your accommodation is not centrally located, please let us know and we will send through parking directions.
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Milford Sound Cruise and Flight, Half Day From Queenstown
Start with pickup at your centrally located accommodation in Queenstown, then head to the airport for a scenic flight to Milford Sound. The pilot points out key landmarks and topographical features on the way, before you land at the head of the glacially carved fjord. Board a catamaran boat for a cruise on Milford Sound. The catamaran is smaller than many Milford Sound boats, so you can get closer to the cliff walls and waterfalls, including the spectacular Stirling Falls. Wilderness guides are available during the cruise, and you’re welcome to head to the bridge of the boat to get a captain’s view of the dramatic fjord. Keep your eyes on the water throughout the tour as it’s common to see fur seals, dolphins, and many kinds of birds along the way, plus the rare Fiordland crested penguin can be spotted in spring and autumn. Following the Milford Sound cruise, meet the pilot for the return flight to Queenstown, with spectacular views of the landscape in the constantly changing light. This tour concludes with drop-off at your Queenstown hotel.
Highlights
- ✓See native wildlife in a pristine environment
- ✓Avoid the discomfort of the long, winding road journey to Milford Sound
- ✓Reserved seating on the cruise ensures your comfort and a good view
- ✓Ideal if you're short on time in southern New Zealand
What you'll see & do
- ✓Each tour begins with a complimentary pick-up from your centrally located Queenstown accommodation. After check-in completion, your pilot will give a thorough pre-flight briefing on the route and scenic highlights likely to be encountered, before embarking on your Scenic Flight to Milford Sound. The flight time to Milford Sound is 35 minuets.
- ✓After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's premiere ski fields.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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!
- ✓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!
- ✓Fly from Queenstown to magnificent Milford Sound
- ✓After landing in Milford Sound, your pilot will escort you to the boat docks to board your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
- ✓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!
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓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. when the boat returns your pilot will meet you for your return flight.
- ✓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.
- ✓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.
- ✓View the Walter Peak high country station, which is one of New Zealand's largest merino sheep farms.
- ✓View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation.
- ✓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.
What's included
- ✓Live pilot commentary on board
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
- ✓Tea and coffee
- ✓Reserved Seating aboard the Nature Cruise
What's not included
- ✓Lunch
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund
Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Infant rates apply for 0 - 1 years of age, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt
Children must be accompanied by an adult
We provide a pick-up/drop-off service from all centrally located Queenstown accommodation, please update us with your details. If your accommodation is not centrally located, please let us know and we will send through parking directions.
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.