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Milford Sound Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing and Cruise

Helicopter in, alpine landing, two-hour cruise, hotel pickup both ways.

A four hour helicopter day from Queenstown to Milford Sound with a remote alpine landing, a two hour cruise below Mitre Peak and hotel pickup and drop-off.

⭑ 5.0 24 TripAdvisor reviews 📍 New Zealand ⏱ 4 Hours 👥 Small group 🔥 Active

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5.0 from 24 TripAdvisor reviews

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Overview

The helicopter version of Milford Sound, and the only one on this list that sets you down on a mountain. You lift off from Queenstown and fly over alpine lakes, waterfalls and ancient glaciers with nothing between you and the view, then land somewhere high and remote in Fiordland for a few minutes on the snow or rock with the whole range around you.

From the alpine landing you drop into Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and board a two hour cruise under Mitre Peak, out past the waterfalls and fur seal colonies towards the Tasman Sea and back. Both the pilot and the skipper give commentary, so the geology, the rainfall and the rare birds all get explained. Then it is back into the helicopter for the flight home over the Southern Alps.

The experience itself is about four hours; allow five with check-in and the safety briefing. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Queenstown are included, and check-in is at the base near Queenstown Airport before the safety briefing. Each helicopter carries up to six passengers, so it is a shared flight. Bring warm clothing, sturdy covered shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen and a camera with a strap. Bags, selfie sticks, iPads and loose scarves stay behind, and flights, landing sites and routes depend on the weather and the pilot's call.

Why you'll love it

  1. 1

    Helicopter flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound

  2. 2

    Remote alpine landing in Fiordland

  3. 3

    Two hour cruise below Mitre Peak

  4. 4

    Alpine lakes, waterfalls and ancient glaciers from the air

  5. 5

    Pilot and skipper commentary

  6. 6

    Hotel pickup and drop-off in Queenstown

Itinerary at a glance

1 Check-in · Base near Queenstown Airport

Hotel pickup brings you to the base. Everyone is weighed and briefed, and a final weather check is made shortly before the flight.

1 Flight out · Over the Southern Alps to Fiordland

Alpine lakes, waterfalls and glaciers slide past the windows on the run west towards Milford, with the pilot pointing out the landmarks.

1 Alpine landing · Out on the mountain

The pilot picks a remote high landing site for the day's conditions. You step out for photos and a few minutes of silence before continuing to the fiord.

1 On the water · Two hour Mitre Peak cruise

From the Milford terminal you cruise beneath Mitre Peak and the big waterfalls, past fur seals towards the Tasman Sea and back, with the skipper's commentary.

1 Flight home · Back to Queenstown

The return flight recrosses the Alps to the base, where the shuttle returns you to your hotel. Allow about five hours all up.

What's included

✓ What's included

  • Scenic helicopter flight from Queenstown
  • Alpine landing
  • Two hour cruise on Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Pilot and skipper commentary
  • Safety briefing

✕ Not included

  • ✕Lunch and drinks
  • ✕Bags on board (not permitted)
  • ✕Travel insurance

Common questions about this trip

  • Where do I check in?
    At the operator's base near Queenstown Airport in Frankton; hotel pickup and drop-off in Queenstown are included, so you do not need to find it yourself. The flight needs a reconfirmation the day before and a final weather check shortly before departure, which we handle with you.

  • How long does it take?
    The flight, alpine landing and two hour cruise take about four hours. Allow five hours in total for check-in, the safety briefing and the hotel transfers.

  • Are there weight limits?
    Each helicopter carries up to six passengers or a maximum combined weight of 480kg, and everyone is weighed at check-in for the load sheet. Infants under 15kg sit on an adult's knee; over 15kg they need their own seat. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

  • What should I wear and bring?
    Warm clothing (it is colder at altitude and on the water), sturdy covered shoes for the alpine landing, sunglasses, sunscreen and your phone or camera on a strap. Bags, selfie sticks, iPads, loose clothing and scarves are not permitted on the aircraft.

  • What if the weather is bad?
    Flights, landing sites and routes are decided by the pilot on the day. If the operator cancels for weather you get a full refund or a rebooking on another date. Even on a flyable day the exact alpine landing spot changes with the conditions.

  • Is food included?
    No. There is no lunch or drinks included, so eat before pickup or after you are dropped back. The whole day is about five hours.

  • Is it a private flight?
    No, it is a shared helicopter carrying up to six passengers. Private charter is a separate product.

  • What's the cancellation policy?
    No refund is given for no-shows or changes made less than 24 hours before departure. If weather stops a flight at the booked location, the voucher can be used at another base for a flight of similar duration and price, or refunded if it cannot be rescheduled. 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.

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What travellers say

Reviews from real travellers

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

The operator's track record

5.0 on TripAdvisor · 24 reviews

Review excerpts below are from Tripadvisor.

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"The flight experience was awesome. Got to land on the snow and get out the helicopter for pics and to look around us."
F

F7521WAdeanc

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Multiple free pick up / drop off points across Queenstown, so you are pretty much covered even if you don't drive. Briefing and the tour was conducted professionally, and they even take effort to swap the passengers around for the return journey so everyone gets a front seat or window seat at some point."
P

Pramainc

Tripadvisor review

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
via Tripadvisor
"Absolutely fantastic!! I am afraid of heights, small planes and had never been on a helicopter. It was unbelievable experience and a lot less scary than I thought."
K

Kari V

Tripadvisor review

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

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