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Southland Air & helicopter tours

Our most recommended Southland Air & helicopter tours

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

1. From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

Combine a flight and a cruise on Milford Sound on this excursion from Queenstown. Take in the area's outstanding natural beauty as you savor the sights from both air and water. Enjoy a pickup and transfer to the air hanger in Queenstown. Listen to informative commentary in English and marvel at the stunning views of lakes, mountains, and waterfalls on the 40-minute flight. Upon landing, transfer to the Milford Sound Boat Terminal. Board in Milford Sound and experience 2 hours onboard an intimate vessel with English commentary by your skipper, and complimentary tea and coffee. Cruise to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, while enjoying views of waterfalls and marine life like fur seals, dolphins, and penguins. Next, board your scenic flight back to Queenstown. Take a different flight path from your outbound flight as you admire the spectacular views of Fiordland National Park. After the 40-minute journey back to Queenstown, enjoy complimentary transfer back to your accommodation.

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Boat Cruise

2. From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Boat Cruise

Enjoy an exclusive sightseeing tour to the very best locations in Queenstown and the South Island of New Zealand. Discover New Zealand’s magnificent fiords, native forests, and glaciers, as well as the island's stunning native birdlife, seals, penguins, and dolphins. Embark on a scenic flight and admire the views of the fiord below. Hear insightful commentary about the region and the wildlife that inhabit it from your pilot guide. Soar above the Southern Lakes, Tutoko Glacier, and the Milford Fiord. After, if time permits, take a bush walk with your pilot to the cruise departure point. Learn more about your surroundings as you pass through the dense forest. Continue your sightseeing adventure on a relaxing cruise and see the fiord from the water. After the cruise, make your way back to the plane. Take an alternative return route to see even more highlights, including the famous Southerland waterfalls, and New Zealand's longest lakes, Te Anau and Wakatipu.

Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise

3. Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise

Take flight a small luxury plane leaving Queenstown. Admire the awe-inspiring scenery from your very own window seat as you soar over Fiordland National Park, listening to the pilot's commentary. Landing at Milford Sound airport you will be escorted to the Cruise Terminal either by shuttle or 15 minute nature walk to meet your boat. Enjoy 2 hours of spectacular scenery and wildlife on the Gem of the Sound, learn all about the history of the area from the skipper as he skillfully pulls the boat underneath waterfalls and right up to the base of famous Mitre Peak. Your pilots will meet you off the cruise at the Terminal and take you back to the awaiting plane for your return to Queenstown. Your complimentary shuttle will drop you back to your hotel with plenty of time to enjoy the legendary dining scene.

Te Anau: 30-Minute Fiordland National Park Scenic Flight

4. Te Anau: 30-Minute Fiordland National Park Scenic Flight

Sample the grandeur of the Fiordland scenery. This scenic helicopter flight is a short adventure into the untamed Kepler Mountains. You can see what lies beyond the Te Anau horizon, with a Te Anau helicopter scenic flight a must-do experience when visiting the area. Views of both the Kepler Track Great Walk and the Hidden Lakes will be spread out before you. You can fly over the local's backyard of the lower Kepler mountains, and can also receive a bird's eye view of the rural basin of Te Anau from a helicopter. During your tour, you will also make a landing at a mountain tarn so you can enjoy the vista and ruggedness of the Main Divide and breathe the crisp pure air of Fiordland.

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip with Cruise & Flight

5. From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip with Cruise & Flight

The coach journey there Departing from Queenstown, you’ll travel to Milford Sound in a comfortable, modern Mercedes van with panoramic windows for superior viewing, as your driver shares their extensive knowledge of the area along the picturesque Milford Road. Along the drive you’ll see local points of beauty such as Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat and the famous Eglington Valley. This is followed by your 2-hour cruise of Milford Sound. The cruise Sit back and relax as your cruise makes its way out into Milford Sound past the iconic Mitre Peak. We’ll sail the length of the 16km fiord, out past St Annes Point Lighthouse, with informative commentary from our skipper who will highlight points of interest along the way including the mighty Lady Bowen Falls, Lion Mountain, Copper Point, Seal Rock and Stirling Falls. You’ll see towering peaks, sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls and lush rainforest. Feel the spray of Fairy Falls and listen to the sound of nature thriving in its habitat. We also take you out into the Tasman Sea so you can enjoy the unique opportunity of approaching the fiord just as the first sealers did way back in the 18th century. Be sure to keep an eye out for seals basking in the sun, pods of dolphins, or rare Fiordland Crested Penguins that can be found seasonally within the region. Keep warm with complimentary tea and coffee in the lounge and take in the scenery through expansive windows. Or venture onto the spacious outdoor viewing decks to breathe in the pristine alpine air. Either way, you will be inspired by the majesty of the region. The scenic flight back Complete your journey with an epic birds-eye view of this untouched region as you fly back. Scenic flights from Milford Sound are nothing short of spectacular! Fly over snowcapped mountain ranges, tumbling waterfalls and sparkling lakes including the breathtaking and incredibly blue Lake Wakatipu upon landing in Queenstown.

Milford Sound: Fly | Cruise | Fly

6. Milford Sound: Fly | Cruise | Fly

Gaze down at the mountains and glaciers of Milford Sound as you take the flight of a lifetime onboard a fixed-wing aircraft. Savor the awe-inspiring scenery from your window seat as you enjoy an informative commentary from a knowledgeable local pilot. Soar over incredible features of the surrounding landscape, such as Coronet Peak skifield and Skippers Canyon. Absorb panoramic views over the Shotover River, the second-richest gold-bearing river in the world. Marvel at the sight of shimmering Lake Wakatipu below, as you fly along the Dart River Valley into World-Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park. Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you jet across snow-clad peaks, the Olivine Ice Plateau, Mount Tutoko, and the Tutoko Glacier. Take in the breath-taking scenery of Fiordland National Park, the rugged West Coast, and the Tasman Sea, before descending into Milford Sound. Be amazed by the dramatic cliff faces and aerial views of cascading Stirling Falls, as you are led on a walk through beech forest and onboard a 1hr 45min cruise through the natural wonders of Milford Sound. Get the camera ready to snap the iconic Mitre Peak, standing 1692 meters above sea level. Look out for seal colonies, penguins, and dolphins from the open-air viewing deck, as you travel the full length of the fiord. Soak in the stunning landscape as you are greeted by your pilot for another memorable flight back across a World-Heritage-listed area to Queenstown.

From Queenstown: Day Trip to Stewart Island by Plane

7. From Queenstown: Day Trip to Stewart Island by Plane

Take a trip by plane from Queenstown to New Zealand's southernmost island, Stewart Island, also known as Rakiura. Explore the island at your own leisure for the day, including its impressive national park, before being flown back to the mainland. Start in Queenstown, where you'll be picked up and taken to your flying location. From there, you'll fly south over the Oreti River, before enjoying views over Toetoes Bay on the southern coast. Pass over Dog Island and Ruapuki Island before reaching your destination. Once at Stewart Island, enjoy the flexibility to create your own itinerary for the day. Consider exploring Rakiura National Park, which makes up over 85% of the island and is a paradise for birdwatching and hiking. Look out for the Tokoeka (brown kiwi bird) native to the island. Plan your day with help from your local pilot. Choose from walks along the coastline, rainforest hikes, and the option to visit Ulva Island via water taxi. Stop for lunch at Kai Kart, famous for its fish and chips. At the end of your adventure, you'll be flown back to Queenstown and dropped off at your hotel.

Doubtful Sound: Scenic Flight with 2 Landings

8. Doubtful Sound: Scenic Flight with 2 Landings

Experience the stunning Fiordland National Park from the sky. Soar high above the Iris Burn Valley and Lake Manapouri, also known as the "Lake of Many Islands". Spot the infamous West Arm Power Station on Lake Manapouri before flying up and over the Wilmot Pass into Doubtful Sound. This long and winding fiord is one of Fiordland’s deepest and is home to a number of stunning waterfalls. Your helicopter will detour into magical Campbell’s Kingdom, a beautiful hanging valley encompassing a lake and a waterfall. This is the stuff of fairytales. From here, take a peek at Bradshaw Sound before soaring over the Main Divide of the Southern Alps for a second remote landing at scenic Mount Kidd. Make sure you have the camera or phone well charged for this flight — you’ll want to revisit the scenes and landscapes you visit over and over again.

Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer

9. Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer

Enjoy this incomparable Milford Sound experience, which includes a helicopter flight and a luxury cruise. Take off from Queenstown to spend the day experiencing the incredible Fiordland National Park from the sky, land, and water. After getting picked up from your hotel in Queenstown, head to Queenstown Helicopter Base, where you’ll meet the team and join a safety briefing before boarding your helicopter. Afterward, take to the skies and start your scenic flight from Queenstown. Learn about the area through an in-flight commentary from your pilot as you glide over alpine lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers, before arriving for your cruise on Milford Sound. Look out for local wildlife on your journey through Fiordland National Park. Before heading back to Queenstown, a remote alpine landing tops off this up-close exploration of UNESCO World Heritage wilderness.

Milford Sound: 1-Hour Scenic Flight from Queenstown

10. Milford Sound: 1-Hour Scenic Flight from Queenstown

Experience Milford Sound by air on this scenic flight from Queenstown. Fly above the rugged backcountry of Central Otago, before heading westward to where the glacial-fed rivers empty into Lake Wakatipu. As you cross over into the Fiordland National Park, you’ll discover an untouched world of peaks and valleys, where mountains reach into the sea – a landscape forged by the rapid retreat of glaciers. Soaring above Milford Sound you’ll get an aerial perspective of cascading waterfalls hidden amongst towering peaks, and the icy blue channel that flows into the Tasman Sea. From the luxuriant mosses and ferns clinging to sheer rock faces to immense peaks rising straight from the ocean depths, the entire experience is truly awe-inspiring. Fly across the mountain ranges and beech forests of the Southern Alps, above the famous Milford Track and over the Sutherland Falls before you reach the striking Lake Wakatipu and land at Queenstown Airport, rated one of the world’s most scenic landings.

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What people are saying about Southland

100% recommend this experience!! Extremely knowledgeable staff and a once in a lifetime experience! And not to mention the fact you’re saving a minimum of 9+ hours of driving time- absolute no brainer! Worth every cent, incredible experience, cannot recommend more highly! Everyone gets a window seat on the plane, it is just a small plane for around 12 people, and the pilot will take you a different way on the return flight, so you get to see a huge amount of different landscape. Thank you to our pilot, Andy, for a wonderful day!

WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Will, our private pilot was outstanding. We got engaged at the top of the Glacier. It was a very memorable occasion. It is a great way to view Queenstown and further afield. I would highly recommend this helicopter experience. I will be back with my family in years to come.

Fantastic experience - had a sunny and clear day and the scenic flight in particular was amazing! You fly so close to the Southern Alps. The Fiordland cruise was beautiful as well, plenty of outdoor decks to enjoy every angle.

This trip was worth every dollar! Spectacular views and great commentary from Garrett. Definitely beats sitting in a bus for hours.

Great flight with a knowledgable pilot Matt! The views are out of this world. Highly recommended!