Milford Sound is one of the top destinations for adventurers in New Zealand, boasting some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.
Undoubtedly the best way to take the dramatic scenery is by soaring high up in the air over the lush rainforests, surging waterfalls, imposing mountains, and much more.
However, there are many different tours out there, so it’s important to select one with experienced pilots who know the area like the back of their hand.
I’ve gone ahead and detailed the 5 top Milford Sound scenic flight tours out there, so you don’t have to worry about anything! Let’s jump right in!
Best Scenic Flight Tours of Milford Sound
| Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly from Queenstown by Glenorchy Air | Half-Day Milford Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown | Milford Sound Tour by Plane from Queenstown, Including Cruise | |
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| Location: | Queenstown Airport, Terminal Building Sir Henry Wigley Drive, Frankton | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Building 8 Suite 1B/12 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton, Queenstown 9300 |
| Start: | 9:30, 11:30 AM or 1:45 PM | 11:30 AM | 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM |
| Duration: | 4.5 hours | 5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Includes: | Scenic Flight to Milford Sound, baby earmuffs on request, catamaran cruise, complimentary tea and coffee | Live pilot commentary on board, reserved seating aboard Nature Cruise of Milford Sound, coffee and/or tea | Scenic Flight to Milford Sound, 2-hour Cruise of Milford Sound Fjord, Air-conditioned shuttle |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Milford Sound Scenic Flights For 2024
- Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly from Queenstown by Glenorchy Air
- Half-Day Milford Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown
- Milford Sound Tour by Plane from Queenstown, Including Cruise
- Half-Day Milford Sound Nature Cruise and Flight from Queenstown
- Milford Sound Scenic Flight and Nature Cruise
Milford Sound Scenic Flight Reviews
1. Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly from Queenstown by Glenorchy Air
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Departure: Queenstown Airport, Terminal Building Sir Henry Wigley Drive, Frankton
- Departure Time: 9:30, 11:30 AM or 1:45 PM
- Includes: Child booster seats on request, baby earmuffs on request, skilled local pilot and guide, complimentary tea and coffee
If you have a few hours in the day free, I can’t think of a better way to spend it than on a flying experience and catamaran cruise!
You’ll get to take in the natural beauty from all angles with the Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly from Queenstown by Glenorchy Air Tour! Trust me – this will be one of the best (if not the best) viewing tour you’ve ever been on in Milford Sound!
You do have the option of either driving or taking a plane to the boat terminal, though I strongly recommend the latter! If you do decide on the plane, you’ll get to enjoy a round-trip flight where every step of the way is taken care of for you.
Simply board the plane at the Queenstown Airport, where you’ll receive a safety briefing and the guide will answer any questions you may have.
The plane ride was breathtaking, with window seats that allowed us to enjoy expansive views over the Fiordland National Park, from the towering ridges to crystal-like lakes.
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As the plane only allowed for about 13 passengers, it was a very intimate experience that felt like a friend was taking us out for a fun and educational ride! We then arrived at Milford Sound, where our pilot accompanied us all the way to the boat terminal for our cruise.
The cruise was the perfect complement to the high-in-the-sky adventure, where we stepped onboard a relaxing boat for around an hour and 45 minutes out to the Tasman Sea.
Seeing those incredible waterfalls, mountains, and even some sea creatures was pretty amazing! What a wonderful day in the wilderness, exploring some of the most majestic scenery this world has to offer!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Half-Day Milford Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown
- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 11:30 AM
- Includes: Live pilot commentary on board, reserved seating aboard Nature Cruise of Milford Sound, coffee and/or tea
New Zealand has so many natural wonders, but it can frankly be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing or don’t go with an experienced guide.
Take the worry away by signing up for a reputable experience like the Half-Day Milford Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown tour! Surprisingly, I’d even say that it’s ideal for people of all ages and backgrounds, so the entire family can tag along for the ride!
Rather than having to drive all the 5 or so hours all the way out to Milford Sound, we saved tons of time by flying out there, instead! Not to mention, it’s a million times more scenic, and you can just relax and enjoy the view rather than focus on the road!
After being picked up from our hotel by our guide, we headed out to the airport while receiving a safety briefing and asking any questions we had.
We all boarded the small aircraft, strapped in, enjoying the magnificent vistas while listening to our guide’s educational commentary about the surrounding sites as we passed overhead.
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It’s crazy to see some of the legendary filming locations of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit right there in personal, from such impressive viewpoints! After we landed, our pilot then accompanied us all to the boat docks where we got ready to cruise around the famous Milford Sound.
The cruise was very serene, as we were able to just relax and soak in the dramatic landscapes around us, along with the local animals, like fur seals, dolphins, and penguins!
Seeing the towering Bowen Falls, the Sinbad Gully, and Mitre Peak where spectacular, and I made sure to take plenty of photos and videos!
All of the crew and pilot were all so professional and made sure we were safe throughout the entire time, which allowed for us to simply enjoy everything in the moment.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Milford Sound Tour by Plane from Queenstown, Including Cruise
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Departure: Building 8 Suite 1B/12 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton, Queenstown 9300
- Departure Time: 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM
- Includes: Scenic Flight to Milford Sound, 2-hour Cruise of Milford Sound Fjord, Air-conditioned shuttle
Tucked right into the middle of New Zealand’s South Island lies a hidden gem that calls adventurous spirits from all over the planet: Milford Sound. This place is truly unique, with thrills and awe-inspiring vistas at every turn!
The Milford Sound Tour by Plane from Queenstown, Including Cruise is the perfect way to take advantage of it, transporting you high above snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys, with the neverending waters of the sound stretched out below like a glittering gem.
You can either head to the meetup point or opt to have your guide pick you right up from your hotel accommodations! I prefer the latter, that way I can just store my things in our vehicle and don’t have to pay extra for separate transportation.
The staff are all fantastic, with natural, conversational commentary, amazing flying abilities, and lots of educational opportunities!
The highlight for me was flying around the Milford Sound, which is so massive that you simply wouldn’t be able to see all of the most impressive views, otherwise.
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With its razor-backed ridges, waterfalls, pristine waters, and towering mountains, the flight is one of the most amazing experiences you’ll have – seriously.
Soaring over the Southern Alps was unreal – it really was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that it was real!
We then landed at Milford, where we could either take the shuttle bus or a brief stroll through the foreshore to the cruise boat, depending on time.
Once we arrived to our vessel for the afternoon, we hopped on and took a relaxing cruise over the entire length of the fiord! Formed by eroding glaciers, this fiord was essential to the Maori people and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site – making it rich in every way.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Half-Day Milford Sound Nature Cruise and Flight from Queenstown
- Duration: 5 hours
- Departure: 3 Tex Smith Lane, Frankton, Queenstown 9300, (or hotel pickup and drop-off)
- Departure Time: 11:30 AM
- Includes: Live pilot commentary on board, reserved seating aboard Nature Cruise of Milford Sound, coffee and/or tea
This next tour is one of the most complete of its kind, so you can adventure without worrying about when you’ll eat next or if you have to book your own transportation.
The Half-Day Milford Sound Nature Cruise and Flight from Queenstown Tour is a 5-hour excursion that will take you from the sky to the sea to witness the local flora and fauna in its natural environment, in a way no one else can experience.
Whether you’re traveling by yourself, with a partner, or bringing the entire family along, I know you’ll love this tour as much as I did!
Often referred to as the “8th Wonder of the World”, there’s no better way to see this legendary sound with its glacier-carved valleys and pristine lakes.
Our guide first picked us right up from our hotel, which set the tone for how well the staff takes care of every detail along the way. We made our way to the airport, where we were given a comprehensive safety briefing and our pilot answered all of our questions.
The plane was understandably quite small, though we all got window seats that are prime for viewing the dramatic landscapes waiting at every turn.
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Our pilot did a great job at explaining the key landmarks in the area, as well as the history and importance of the Sound for food and trade. I took plenty of great photos and videos to share with our family and friends at home who weren’t able to make it, and wow, was it impressive.
After the plane ride, we boarded a comfortable catamaran boat with a 150-person capacity that made it ideal for sailing close to the cliff walls and amazing waterfalls.
We even got to see some sea creatures, like dolphins, before enjoying a delicious lunch complete with coffee, tea, soda, beer, and wine. This is one of the biggest highlights of my trip to New Zealand, and I can’t recommend it enough!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Milford Sound Scenic Flight and Nature Cruise
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 9:30 or 11:30 AM
- Includes: Round-trip scenic flight, 1 hour and 45-minute Nature cruise with 360-degree viewing decks, free tea and coffee, live commentary on board from a specialized Nature Guide, picnic lunch, all fees and taxes
If you’ve ever seen Lord of the Rings films, you’re probably like me and wondered, “Where is that incredible place?! Is it even real?”. It’s more than real, and many of those scenes were filmed in the rugged landscapes of Milford Sound in New Zealand.
If you’d like to experience this magical place for yourself, one of your best bets is to take advantage of the Milford Sound Scenic Flight and Nature Cruise Tour!
We were first picked up right from our hotel before setting off to the airport a short distance away for a check-in and safety briefing.
I felt very safe with our pilot, as he was not only friendly but clearly experienced and knowledgeable about how to handle a plane properly. The plane was quite small, which was fun and allowed for an intimate little trip to the Sound!
As we flew along, our pilot offered an educational, entertaining commentary about the natural wonders within the Fiordland National Park as we passed by each one.
The windows of the plane were surprisingly large, making it easy to take in the entire scenery – from the snow-covered peaks to the mirror-like water.
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We then landed in Milford Sound, heading out to our boat to enjoy a leisurely cruise down the length of the water.
Thanks to the expert naturalists on board, we learned about the fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and Fiordland-crested penuins, along with the geological wonders. I took tons of photos, including pics of the famed Mitre Peak, even getting to taste pure water from the Stirling Falls glacial melt!
We had the option to buy a meal or snack from the onboard cafe or pre-order a boxed lunch to be served during the cruise (I chose the latter and was not disappointed). However, complimentary tea and coffee is also available hot throughout the entire time!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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The Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly from Queenstown by Glenorchy Air is our Editors Choice for the best Milford Sound scenic flight tour
