New Zealand · SCENIC FLIGHTS IN MILFORD SOUND

15 Scenic Flights in Milford Sound That Repay the Detour

23 tours  ·  from $280

The good ones go weeks ahead and the rest fill in behind them. Below: 15 scenic flights in Milford Sound, what each includes and where they genuinely differ.

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown (incl Lunch) - Routeburn, Hollyford, and the first view of Fiordland
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown (incl Lunch)

1.Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown (incl Lunch)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 672 reviews · from $518Our pick

Trade a long road journey for a 35 to 40-minute flight over the Southern Alps, followed by a 1-hour-45-minute Milford Sound cruise with lunch. Your pilot points out Coronet Peak, Skippers Canyon, glaciers, Fiordland, and Sutherland Falls. The small group has reserved cruise seats, hotel pickup, and a different flight route home.

“The flights in and out of Milford Sound by Air Milford were incredible. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Really words cannot describe the beauty. The cruise on the sound was beautiful and quite humbling as you come face to face with how small we are compared to these escarpments. I highly recommend the scenic flight and cruise offered by Air Milford. Also a special mention for our pilot Emma who gave excellent commentary and local knowledge insights on both flights.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight - Lake Te Anau: A Calm First Stop
Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews, Tours

Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight

2.Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 324 reviews · from $557

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a 16-seat Mercedes van with a local guide, stopping at Lake Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, Fiordland National Park, and Homer Tunnel. Cruise the fjord for two hours, then fly back to Queenstown in about 45 minutes when weather allows. A packed lunch, WiFi, and pickup are included.

“Amazing experience… going by road stopping in the most incredible places , tour by a boat in the fiord and the flight back was one of the must amazing experiences in my life. Tour guides were incredible friendly and helpful”

Check availability →Read our full review

Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise - Queenstown pickup and the start of the flight
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise

3.Milford Sound Flight and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 283 reviews · 4h 30m · from $403

Fly with Glenorchy Air from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu, Mount Aspiring National Park, glaciers, and Fiordland. Land at Milford Sound for a 1-hour-45-minute nature cruise, then return by a different route. Pilots such as Jim, Will, Annabel, and Joseph provide live commentary. Hotel pickup, window seats, transfers, and refreshments are included.

“It was beyond all expectations! Definitely a MUST do if you’re traveling to Queenstown!”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Nature Cruise - A 12-seat Cessna with unusually good viewing
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Nature Cruise

4.Milford Sound Flight and Nature Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 247 reviews · 4h 30m · from $373

Fly with Air Milford from Queenstown in a 12-seat Cessna, crossing Skippers Canyon, glaciers, and Lord of the Rings country. After a 1-hour-45-minute small-boat cruise past Stirling Falls, seals, dolphins, and penguins, return by a different scenic route. Pilots such as Tom, Emma, and Corey provide live commentary.

“Fantastic experience. We were so glad we took this trip rather than face a 13 hour coach tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Premium Milford Sound Tour Including Cruise, Flight & Lunch - Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lakes set the tone
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Luxury Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews, Tours

Premium Milford Sound Tour Including Cruise, Flight & Lunch

5.Premium Milford Sound Tour Including Cruise, Flight & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 200 reviews · from $511

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a small group of up to 15, stopping at Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn, the Darran Mountains, and more. Cruise the fiord, then fly back over Fiordland to Queenstown. Guides such as Hannah, Kristine, Danny, and Chris provide local stories and nature notes. Lunch, snacks, and water are included.

“Milford Sound is always listed as a “must do” NZ activity, and I can absolutely see why. This was an incredible tour from start to finish! Our driver and guide for the bus portion, Hannah, was lovely. Knowledgeable, kind, fun, and cheerful. She pRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown - Crossing Glenorchy, Routeburn, and the Southern Alps
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown

6.Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 177 reviews · from $490

Fly with Air Milford from Queenstown over Coronet Peak, Glenorchy, the Southern Alps, and Fiordland before landing at Milford Sound. A smaller catamaran cruise lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes, with reserved seating, live commentary, and chances to see seals, dolphins, birds, and penguins. Pilots may include Tom Watson, Emma, or Hank.

“No Boat only view of the sound and surrounding area. Pilot could have gone closer down in the Milford sound”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half-Day Milford Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown - Arriving above Milford Sound
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Helicopter Tours, Helicopter Tours in Milford Sound, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Half-Day Milford Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

7.Half-Day Milford Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 173 reviews · from $887

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, cruise the fiord for about an hour, then return by helicopter with a glacier or alpine landing in Fiordland. The flight lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes within a four-hour outing, with hotel transfers and pilots such as Luke, Will, Jeremy, Alfie, and Jack.

“That you land after the cruise on top of a mountain. We were lucky enough for there to be snow in summer in January 2026”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, Scenic Flight - Starting early in Queenstown
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, Scenic Flight

8.Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, Scenic Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 113 reviews · 9 hours · from $465

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound by Southern Discoveries coach, stopping at Mirror Lakes, Monkey Creek, the Homer Tunnel, and The Chasm. Cruise the fiord with lunch, then fly back to Queenstown with Glenorchy Air, enjoying a guaranteed window seat over glaciers, mountains, Lake Quill, and Sutherland Falls.

“Once in a lifetime experience!! AMAZING! Our bus guide was very informative-facts/history/and folklore—commentary was excellently timed as well with breaks and one longer break. His stories and quick whit were professional, funny and kept you wanting to hear more! The cruise was terrific with great weather and an informative captain~saw all the glories of the area from waterfalls to sea lions. The flight home had some turbulence but our pilot was skilled and calm. His commentary was also very informative and appreciated. The views from the plane made you feel like you were on top of the world!! Just a completely magical day and worth every penny!!! Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise - Queenstown pickup and the start of the flight
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise

9.Milford Sound Flight and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 111 reviews · 4 hours · from $445

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a small aircraft with a guaranteed window seat, then cruise for about two hours beneath waterfalls and beside Mitre Peak. Pilots such as Andrew, Jason, Laura, and Hamish provide commentary along the way. Hotel pickup, return flights, and cruise transport are included.

“Oh my, what a wonderful experience! I am impressed at how accurate the GetYourGuide information and communications have been. I was skeptical about pricing and exchange rate and researched booking directly with this and other operators for the flight and cruise, but found no cost differences or penalties. The tour operator, True South Flights was absolutely top notch! They had to reschedule multiple times due to winds and bad weather, which meant safety was their top concern. Our pilot, Laura, was amazing, so skilled with her flying and perfect landings. The flights over the mountains to Milford Sound and back were incredible, and Laura narrated for us. The cruise was…”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound Glacier Flight & Cruise from Wanaka - Flying the full length of Milford Sound
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Glacier Tours, Glacier Tours in Milford Sound, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Milford Sound Glacier Flight & Cruise from Wanaka

10.Milford Sound Glacier Flight & Cruise from Wanaka

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · from $464

From Wanaka Airport, fly with Southern Alps Air over Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, glaciers, national parks, and the Southern Alps to Milford Sound. Cruise the fiord with tea, coffee, and commentary, then return by another flight path. Pilots such as Scott, Henry, Hamish, Ryan, and Winston are praised for smooth flying and clear explanations.

“The airplane ride was one of the best I have had! Our pilot, Scott, was very knowledgeable about the sights we saw and we had a very smooth flight.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Glacier Tours, Glacier Tours in Milford Sound, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Wanaka: Milford Sound Glacier Flight & Scenic Nature Cruise

11.Milford Sound Glacier Flight & Scenic Nature Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $392

From Wanaka, Southern Alps Air takes you over Mt Aspiring, more than 100 glaciers, and Fiordland before landing at Milford Sound. You cruise the full 16-kilometre fiord, then return by a different route via Glenorchy and the Dart Valley. Small groups, window seats, and English commentary are included.

“Amazing!! Even though questionable weather moved in after we landed they were able to secure us bus transport back. So we got the best of both worlds. So many waterfalls on the drive back through fjordland. So glad i went from Wanaka instead of QT so we could see the glaciers. Planes and guides are top notch and service was excellent.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Scenic Flight Transfer to Queenstown from Milford Sound - Climbing above Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls
Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews, Transfers and Shuttles

Scenic Flight Transfer to Queenstown from Milford Sound

12.Scenic Flight Transfer to Queenstown from Milford Sound

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $357

Trade the long road to Queenstown for a 35-minute Air Milford flight from Milford Sound. Your pilot points out Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, Sutherland Falls, Lake Te Anau, the Southern Alps, and Lake Wakatipu. A small aircraft carries up to 12 people, followed by a complimentary drop-off at your central Queenstown hotel.

“Instead of flying from Queenstown to Milford Sound we flew Milford Sound to Queenstown after walking the Milford Track. Our flight with Air Milford was spectacular and the icing on the cake after our walk. Antony was fantastic and flew Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight - Entering Mt. Aspiring National Park
Glacier Tours, Glacier Tours in Milford Sound, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight

13.Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · from $343

From Queenstown, Air Milford takes you over Shotover Canyon, Mt. Aspiring, glacier country, and Milford Sound, with live pilot commentary and central hotel transfers. The route may include Rob Roy, Bonar, Jura, Volta, Dart, Olivine, and Donne glaciers. This is an aerial flight only, with no Milford Sound landing or cruise.

“It’s a good journey. The pilots are very friendly and professional and they are pretty knowledgeable about the geography and geology along the flight routes. The service staff are very communicative.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise with Lunch - Leaving Queenstown in a 12-seat Cessna
Boat Tours in Milford Sound, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise with Lunch

14.Milford Sound Flight and Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 44 reviews · 5 hours · from $397

Fly in a modern 12-seat Cessna from Queenstown over Skippers Canyon, glaciers, and Fiordland. After landing beneath Mitre Peak, join a 1-hour-45-minute small-boat cruise with lunch, tea, wildlife viewing, and a close pass by Stirling Falls. Pilots including Emma and Alex provide commentary, with a different scenic route on the return flight.

“We would highly recommend! Emma was our pilot. She was so courteous and a skilled pilot! We loved the scenic tour of the many mountain ranges and really loved getting an aerial and water tour of the Milford Sound!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound & Big 5 Glaciers Scenic Flight from Queenstown - A 12-seat Cessna built for views
Glacier Tours, Glacier Tours in Milford Sound, Milford Sound Tours, Scenic Flights, Scenic Flights in Milford Sound, Tour Reviews

Milford Sound & Big 5 Glaciers Scenic Flight from Queenstown

15.Milford Sound & Big 5 Glaciers Scenic Flight from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 43 reviews · 1h 30m · from $280Best value

Join Air Milford for a 90-minute Queenstown experience, including a one-hour flight over Milford Sound, Mt Aspiring, and at least five glaciers. A pilot provides English commentary from a modern 12-seat Cessna with panoramic windows. Central hotel pickup, a briefing, and drop-off are included, but there is no landing or cruise.

“Le vol a été fantastique ! Nous avons pu voir de beau paysages, le pilote a adapté son itinéraire de vol en fonction de la météo donc nous avons du le droit à un ciel bleu malgré le fait que le temps ne soit pas clément à Queenstown. Une expérience inoubliable que je recommande à n'importe qui sans hésiter.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Scenic Flights in Milford Sound

★ 5.0Milford Sound Grand Tour Helicopter Scenic Flight Departing from Milford SoundFrom $5554 reviews
★ 4.9Milford Sound Scenic Flight & Nature TourFrom $3283 reviews

Keep browsing

Cruises & Boat Tours267Wine Tours182Geothermal Tours74Scenic Flights128Maori Culture Tours82Walking Tours100
Scroll to Top

Explore New Zealand

Pick a coast, a crater or a cellar door.

On the water

Boat TripsWhale WatchingJet BoatsKayakingSailing Trips

Volcanic country

Geothermal ParksMaori ExperiencesHot PoolsGlowworm CavesRafting

The alps

Glacier ToursScenic FlightsHelicopter TripsStargazingGuided Walks

Food and wine

Wine TastingsFood ToursBreweriesGin DistilleriesDining