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Milford Sound Fly Cruise Fly, 35 Minute Flight with Airport Landing

A 35 minute flight over glaciers, a landing at the foot of Mitre Peak, then a boat.

Fly 35 minutes from Queenstown over the Southern Alps, land at Milford Sound airport beneath Mitre Peak, and cruise out toward the Tasman Sea before flying back a different way.

📍 New Zealand ⏱ 5 to 5.5 Hours 🔥 Active

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$679 AUD

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Booked with Wanderlust, an Australian travel business based in Byron Bay (ABN 34 636 612 523). We handle your booking ourselves, before and after you travel.

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Overview

This one is about the flight. You get around 40 minutes in the air each way over glaciers and ranges, including the Olivine Ice Plateau, the Earnslaw Burn glacier and the Mt Tutoko glacier, before you touch down at Milford Sound airport at the foot of 1,692 metre Mitre Peak. Every seat is a window seat and the pilot talks you through what you are looking at.

At the fiord you board a nature cruise with an open top deck and full-height windows in the cabin, and head out towards the Tasman Sea past Copper Point and the big waterfalls, going right up into the spray of Stirling Falls, with fur seals, dolphins and penguins to look for. The cruise runs about an hour and three quarters. The return flight takes a different path over the Dart and Rees valleys and Mt Aspiring National Park, so the scenery is new both ways.

Flights depart Queenstown Airport at 9am, with a 1:30pm departure in season, and check-in is 30 minutes before inside the main terminal. Allow five to five and a half hours from check-in to landing back. Complimentary hotel transfers in Queenstown are available on request, tea, coffee and water are served on the cruise, and lunch can be added when you book. Bring warm layers for the open deck, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent and a charged camera.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Around 40 minutes in the air each way, window seat guaranteed

  2. 2

    Olivine Ice Plateau, Earnslaw Burn and Mt Tutoko glaciers

  3. 3

    Land at Milford Sound airport beneath Mitre Peak

  4. 4

    Nature cruise with open top deck past Stirling Falls

  5. 5

    Different flight path home via the Dart and Rees valleys

  6. 6

    Pilot commentary throughout

  7. 7

    Free Queenstown hotel transfers on request

Itinerary at a glance

1 Check-in · Queenstown Airport main terminal

Check in 30 minutes before departure at the desk opposite the domestic baggage claim. Hotel transfer passengers are collected beforehand.

1 Flight out · Glaciers of the Southern Alps

Around 40 minutes over the Olivine Ice Plateau, the Earnslaw Burn glacier and the Mt Tutoko glacier, with the pilot's commentary, descending to land beneath Mitre Peak.

1 On the water · Nature cruise towards the Tasman Sea

About an hour and three quarters on a boat with an open top deck and full-height cabin windows, past Copper Point and the waterfalls to the spray of Stirling Falls. Hot drinks included.

1 Flight home · Dart and Rees valleys

A different route back over Mt Aspiring National Park and the Dart and Rees valleys to Queenstown Airport, five to five and a half hours after check-in.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Return scenic flight from Queenstown Airport with landing at Milford Sound
  • Nature cruise on Milford Sound
  • Complimentary tea, coffee and water on the cruise
  • Guaranteed window seat
  • Pilot commentary
  • Complimentary Queenstown hotel transfers on request

✕ Not included

  • ✕Lunch (can be added when you book)
  • ✕Large luggage (small backpacks and personal items only)
  • ✕Travel insurance

Common questions about this trip

  • Where do I check in and how early?
    Inside the main terminal at Queenstown Airport, at the operator's desk directly across from the domestic baggage claim. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. Complimentary hotel transfers within Queenstown are available if you ask when booking.

  • What time does it leave and how long is it?
    There is a 9am departure year round and a 1:30pm departure that runs seasonally. Allow five to five and a half hours from check-in to landing back at Queenstown.

  • Are there weight limits?
    If you weigh 140kg or more, tell us when you book so the operator can plan the load. Passenger weights are checked on the day, and a discrepancy of more than 15kg against what was declared can mean a rescheduled flight. Infants are 0 to 2 years and 15kg or less and travel on an adult's lap; children are 3 to 14, and infants over 15kg need their own seat.

  • What happens in bad weather?
    Flights do not depart if a poor forecast is expected. If the operator cannot fly, they try to reschedule you; if that does not work you receive a 100 percent refund. In the rare case the return flight becomes impossible after you have reached Milford, a coach brings you back.

  • What should I bring?
    Warm layers for the open-air cruise deck, sensible footwear, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, any medication, a fully charged camera and a water bottle. Small backpacks and personal items are fine; the team will tell you about baggage limits before departure.

  • Is lunch included?
    No. Tea, coffee and water are complimentary on the cruise, and a lunch can be added to your booking as a paid extra.

  • Will I hear commentary?
    Yes. The pilot points out the glaciers, ranges and lakes throughout the flight, and the cruise has its own commentary on the fiord's wildlife and geology.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    Cancellation terms for this trip are set by the operator and confirmed on your booking voucher. Refunds mirror the operator's policy, if they can refund, so can we. Wanderlust handles the refund for you, refunds mirror the operator's terms 1:1 (including if the operator cancels) and we chase it on your behalf. Message us for the exact day-by-day terms before you book.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

Public reviews of the operator who runs this tour on the ground.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"What an incredibly professional and friendly team. From the time of pick up from our hotel until drop off,we had a blast. Both myself and my fiance were a bit scared of flighting in small aircraft. But through out the whole experience we both felt so safe and assured we were in Very good hands. The trip there was incredible and the Boat trip was a dream come true for us."
C

Curious563487

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"A most wonderful and memorable experience! Lucky to have a picture perfect day. … our pilot kept a running commentary on the beautiful and spectacular scenery we were treated to. The boat trip was most enjoyable & an exclusive reserved seating area was provided for us. Well organised & a must when visiting Queenstown."
J

Janet S

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Exceptional and friendly service! All the pilots were helpful and enthusiastic about the jobs."
T

Tim B

Tripadvisor review

Traveller reviews, source shown on each · shown as excerpts.

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