Top Queenstown Air Tours

Take in the vast scale of Milford Sound from the air and water with a half-day trip that includes round-trip flights and a catamaran cruise. You’ll board a small plane that accommodates up to 13 passengers, lift off above the ridges and lakes of Fiordland National Park, then cruise Milford Sound all the way to the Tasman Sea. Watch for fur seals and penguins, and pass through the mists of Stirling Falls before meeting the pilot for the return trip to Queenstown.

Round-trip flights between Queenstown and Milford Sound save you hours of road-travel time in Fiordland National Park. Following a scenic flight with views of snow-covered peaks, remote valleys, and waterfalls, touch down for a cruise on Milford Sound. Traveling by both air and water takes you to dramatic places you'd miss by sticking to the road. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected central Queenstown accommodations.

Take a window seat for a scenic round-trip flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and see the splendor of Fiordland National Park from the air and sea on this small-group excursion. Board a cruise and pass dramatic waterfalls and Mitre Peak as you travel to the Tasman Sea. Then soar over the Southern Alps on your return.

The deep waters, soaring cliffs, and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound are spectacular from all angles, and this half-day tour by air and boat takes in all the highlights. Enjoy thrilling aerial views of the Fiordland National Park on a round-trip flight from Queenstown, and marvel at Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, and Mount Pembroke on a scenic Milford Sound cruise. Hotel pickup and drop-off, and lunch are included for a truly seamless experience.

Travel from Queenstown to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Milford Sound on an easy day trip. Enjoy live commentary along the way, and many scenic photo stops. At Milford Sound, don’t worry about waiting in lines as tickets are included. Admire views of waterfalls and Mitre Peak from your cruise. Refuel with a tasty picnic lunch in a scenic location. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from listed locations for added convenience.

Witness the majesty of the Southern Alps from both the ground and the air on this full-day, small-group combination bus, helicopter, and ski plane tour. Most travelers miss the opportunity to see the area from so many different vantage points. Heading out from Queenstown, see the azure waters of Lake Dunstan and Lake Pukaki before spotting Mount Cook’s (Aoraki’s) snow-capped peaks cresting the horizon. Then, hop aboard your aircraft for a flight through the mountains, including a landing at Tasman Glacier.

Milford Sound is an unmissable destination in the South Island, but self-driving can be risky and the return road trip from Queenstown is long. Simplify your visit on this small-group tour from Queenstown. Travel there in a luxury bus with panoramic scenic windows, allowing unobstructed views. Take a relaxing cruise on Milford Sound, beautiful in all weather, then return to Queenstown by air, saving time and maximizing the views.

Soar above the clouds and majestic mountain peaks of Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland national parks for a truly bird’s-eye perspective of New Zealand’s celebrated alpine scenery. On this compact scenic flight from Queenstown, enjoy views of at least five major glaciers, each lesser-known than the heavily visited Fox and Franz Josef glaciers further north. This flight also showcases the deep, densely forested fiords of Milford Sound.

When soaring in a fixed-wing plane from Queenstown to Franz Josef or Tasman Glacier, you may think the one-hour scenic flight is the highlight of this tour. But the best is yet to come. Switch to a helicopter and fly up to a landing point high on the glacier, where you’ll embark on a hike on the snow and ice. Wearing crampons, you’ll explore caves and see remarkable landscapes inaccessible any other way.

See the sheer cliffs of Milford Sound from the air and water on this half-day tour from Queenstown by sightseeing plane and catamaran. Fly over Fiordland National Park, part of a UNESCO-listed landscape, then touch down at Milford Sound for a nature cruise. This tour is perfect for photography and wildlife watching, and hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Queenstown hotels is included.

The UNESCO World Heritage–listed landscapes of Milford Sound are even more spectacular from above. Take to the skies on a round-trip flight from Queenstown; spot natural wonders such as Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls from the air and enjoy unbeatable aerial views of the mountains, lakes, sounds, and fjords of Fiordland National Park.

Milford Sound lies in a remote corner of New Zealand’s South Island and, although remarkably scenic, the route from Queenstown is long. On this tour, reach Milford Sound by premium low-emission coach and spot native wildlife and gushing waterfalls during a nature cruise with specialist commentary. When it’s time to return home, take to the skies and return effortlessly to Queenstown—with unrivaled views over the wilderness landscapes from the air.

The cliffs, fjords, and waterfalls of Milford Sound are among the most impressive natural wonders of New Zealand’s South Island. This tour is ideal for those short on time, including round-trip flights from Queenstown and up to two hours of free time at Milford Sound. Enjoy spectacular aerial views over the Fiordland National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park, and Lake Wakatipu; then touchdown to hike around the Sound with views of Mitre Peak and Lady Bowen Falls.

The Franz Josef Glacier near Queenstown is a frozen spectacle with deep icy crevasses, crashing waterfalls, and mountainous snowy scenery. Witness the Franz Josef from the sky with a helicopter ride above the glacier on this full-day small-group tour, before setting down for a hike to explore wondrous caves and chilling icefalls.

Located in the heart of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. Explore the stunning fiord in a way few tourists will—by air and water during a half-day excursion. The exhilarating, round-trip helicopter flight from Queenstown includes a glacier or alpine landing. Perhaps spot dolphins, seals, and penguins during an unforgettable cruise.

Take your South Island adventure to new heights during a 50-minute helicopter flight with a glacier landing. Soar above the spectacular scenery of Mt. Aspiring National Park, gliding above turquoise ice formations, hidden alpine lakes, and towering mountains, before landing atop an alpine glacier for photos. Scenic highlights include the Earnslaw Burn valley, which is usually only accessible on foot.

Take to the skies on a 50-minute Queenstown helicopter flight that includes a snow landing on Jura Glacier. Soar above Lake Wakatipu’s northern shores and discover unparalleled views of New Zealand’s Southern Alps from an aerial perspective. After your pilot lands atop the glacier, snap photos of surrounding alpine peaks, such as Mt Aspiring, before the return helicopter ride over glacier-fed lakes and the Rees and Dart River valleys.

There are many great places to enjoy the mountain views in Queenstown, but the best are undoubtedly from the air. Catch views of the Remarkables you can’t get any other way on a scenic helicopter flight. The pilot selects the route on the day. Hover close to peaks and land high above Lake Wakatipu, with unparalleled views of the Southern Alps. The package includes hotel transfers for your convenience.

Be amazed by the beautiful aerial views of Aoraki Mount Cook on a scenic flight from Queenstown. As well as taking in the beautiful sights of the mountains and glaciers, you’ll land at Mount Cook Village and have several hours to explore. Grab some food or even walk the Hooker Valley Track, one of New Zealand’s most beautiful short walks.

Discover the very best of New Zealand with a fully flexible private custom tour designed entirely around your interests. Your preferences are understood, tailored recommendations are provided, and a balanced itinerary blending travel, exploration, and relaxation is crafted. Enjoy the comfort of a private tour with a dedicated guide driver and exclusive vehicle, starting from Christchurch and finishing anywhere in New Zealand as preferred. Explore iconic destinations anywhere across the country, from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island, based on your chosen number of travel days. Add optional activities that entirely match your interests, from scenic trains to adrenaline skydiving. All logistics including routes, timing, domestic flight or ferry, accommodation bookings, and optional activity bookings are taken care of. No planning stress, no coordination hassle, and no long self driving days. Just relax and enjoy a seamless journey while everything is managed in background.

As New Zealand's only fixed-wing Sunrise Flight Company we know just the path to take for the best sunbreak and views Watch the sun break from behind Mt. Aspiring, New Zealand’s highest mountain outside the Aoraki/Mt. Cook Region Take in the spectacular view of the Passchendaele Icefall, the Bonar Glacier, and the Olivine Ice Plateau Travel above places frozen in time that still look as they did 15,000 years ago Discover nature untouched as you fly over Mt. Aspiring National Park and see its hidden gems such as the Barrier Range and the head of the Arawhata River Experience the overwhelming sense of calm that comes with watching the start of a new day and walk away with memories that will last a lifetime

This signature 9-day, 8-night tour offers a perfect blend of daily travel, covering the majority of top attractions in both South Island (Milford Sound to Christchurch) and North Island (Rotorua to Auckland). The tour includes convenient transfer flight ticket, and optional must-do activities & luxury accommodations, ensuring you experience the best itinerary within your limited time in New Zealand without the hassles of planning endless things and driving long distances on your own. The itinerary is crafted to showcase the beauty of New Zealand in a relaxed style within an ideal number of days. Besides visiting and experiencing many of the top attractions in New Zealand, you may also opt for an unbelievably long list of renowned and carefully selected 14-16 activities, ensuring a diverse experience. Enjoy the luxury of a private tour, with a knowledgeable guide-driver and a vehicle exclusively for you. Start at Queenstown and finish at Auckland.

If you think Queenstown looks good from lake-level, you’ll be amazed at the views from this 20-minute scenic flight above the city, lake, and mountains. In a small group (max. 12) you’ll soar about the Wakatipu Basin while listening to your pilot’s live commentary, highlighting landmarks and points of interest. Spot ski fields, pretty towns like Arrowtown, and get a sense of Lake Wakatipu’s meandering shape from the air.