Top South Island In the Air - page 4

Be amazed by the views of the bays, beaches, and mountains of the Marlborough Sounds on this half-hour scenic flight. Many parts of the sounds are difficult to access any other way, so taking a scenic flight is the easiest way of seeing a lot in a short time. Starting in Picton, you’ll fly over Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds, and catch views of the outer sounds along the way.

Board the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship or the modern Spirit of Queenstown for an evening cruise on Lake Wakatipu. Sail to Walter Peak High Country Farm for a buffet dinner featuring local meats, salads, vegetables, and desserts, then watch farm demonstrations or relax in the bar. The cruise returns to the same central Queenstown location. The TSS Earnslaw undergoes winter maintenance, when the Spirit of Queenstown is available instead.

See the imposing Southern Alps on an aerial tour with a helicopter landing on the snowfields of Franz Josef Glacier. Your 40-minute helicopter flight soars above the stunning alpine landscapes of the South Island, narrated by the professional pilot. Enjoy prime views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and Tasman Glacier from above before descending toward the lush rainforests at the edge of the Tasman Sea.

Take in aerial views of the home of one of the world's largest marine mammals on this scenic helicopter flight in Kaikōura. Search for sperm whales, dolphins and have a better chance at seeing baleen whales. Get panoramic views of the South Island's rugged east coast. See whales feeding further offshore, away from the tourist boats.

Join this 55-minute Ski Plane scenic experience through the Mt Cook and Westland National Parks for a unique air tour like no other. Flight path goes right around Aoraki MT Cook and views over to the Fox, Franz Josef and Tasman Glaciers. The ultimate way to see the Southern Alps including a glacier landing! Bucket list item!

Visit "The Lord of the Rings" filming locations in and around Glenorchy, traveling by 4WD from Queenstown with a guide. This half-day tour includes stunning landscapes chosen by director Peter Jackson. See where famous scenes were filmed, the landscapes representing the Fortress of Isengard, Lothlórien, Ithilien Camp, and Forest of Amon Hen.

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.

Avoid the stress of self-driving through distractingly beautiful landscapes on a full-day tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Peer through the panoramic windows of a luxury coach as you travel through UNESCO World Heritage–listed Fiordland National Park with a guide, stopping at sites of interest en route. At Milford Sound, board a catamaran for a memorable sightseeing cruise past Mitre Peak and magnificent cliff-side waterfalls. Look out for wildlife, too.

This 30-minute helicopter flight with an expert alpine pilot takes you over the twin glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox, with a snow landing at the head of Fox Glacier. At the landing site above the icefalls, step out to marvel at the phenomenal glacial beauty of the crevasse-filled landscape below. Your helicopter will take you above the magnificent carved valleys of the Southern Alps, for phenomenal views.

A thrilling jet boat ride and a scenic helicopter tour are both must-do activities in New Zealand. Save yourself time and hassle by combining them in one easy trip. Departing from Christchurch, you’ll fly over the scenic Canterbury countryside, admiring the pristine braided rivers as you go. Soon you’ll be zipping over them in a jet boat navigated by an expert driver who will keep you safe while you’re having fun.

Soar over the alpine scenery around Queenstown during this 45-minute helicopter flight. Make a landing in pristine snow high above the town for spectacular views and photo ops. Pickup from select Queenstown hotels included.

Avoid the crowds and experience the grandeur of Milford Sound from the seat of a helicopter. This exclusive two-hour ride via helicopter will take you the full length of Milford Sound and, weather permitting, enjoy a glacier or alpine landing in Fiordland National Park. Listen to informative commentary from your skilled pilot during the trip and stop for a short walk and photo opportunity at Milford Sound.

Stewart Island is renowned for its beautiful beaches, Maori heritage, and diverse wildlife, and lies just off the coast of New Zealand’s South Island. With this round-trip flight, explore the island on a day trip from Queenstown, including hotel pickup and a scenic small plane flight to the island. Enjoy magnificent views of the island from above, then land on the island and spend the day exploring independently.

*Lord of the Rings* fans will feel like they're on Middle Earth during this air tour. Fly above beautiful Queenstown, and see the spots filmed for the fictional places of Isengard, Amon Hen, Lothlorien; then land on a glacier alongside the Misty Mountains and get a sense of what it might be like to cross The Redhorn Pass.

Twin Glacier Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier including snow landing (allow 30 minutes) This flight gives you the opportunity to discover the scenic wonders of both the Fox and Franz Josef Glacier's. With departures available from Franz Josef or Fox (separate schedules), you will be amazed by the wonderful blue ice of these two beauties as you soar across the snow covered pinnacles onto the snowfields of the Fox or Franz Josef glacier. These catchment areas, or Neve's, accumulate years of Winter snow which over time descends into the lower valley's as the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.

Fly over Christchurch and the Banks Peninsula on a 20-minute helicopter tour that takes in city sights. From an aerial view, you’ll appreciate the scale of Christchurch’s devastation and recovery following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Soar above the ruins of ChristChurch Cathedral and see the new sports stadium while the pilot comments on rebuilding efforts. See the suburbs of Sumner and Redcliffe, and view the port of Lyttelton.

Cruise Milford Sound and explore Fiordland on a full-day trip from Queenstown by luxury coach. See some of the South Island’s most dramatic scenery along the way. Then, cruise on Milford Sound past towering waterfalls and seal colonies to the Tasman Sea. The views are great, whatever the weather. Handy Queenstown transfers are included so you don’t get distracted driving yourself in this beautiful mountainous area.

See the Remarkables Mountain Range from the sky and take in expansive views of sparkling Lake Wakatipu on a half-hour helicopter tour, which includes an alpine landing for the ultimate photo ops. Upgrade your experience with a private charter exclusive to your group, with your choice of a Squirrel or a Eurocopter EC chopper.

Soar over Lake Te Anau via helicopter. Soak up views of the Hidden Lakes, the Main Divide and the remote Kepler Mountains before getting dropped off at the Luxmore Hut for your hike. Soak up the amazing views from Luxmore Summit, before descending by foot onto the shores of Lake Te Anau.

Take off from Kaikōura’s beachfront helipad for a scenic helicopter flight over the Hikurangi Marine Reserve. Look out for sperm whales, humpbacks, blue whales, orca, and dusky dolphins. After ocean views, soar into the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges for an alpine landing with panoramic views including Mt. Fyffe and, on clear days, even the North Island. Return along the Hapuku River, watching for wild deer, before landing back at the helipad.

If you want to see unmissable Milford Sound and the landscapes of Fiordland but can’t spend a full day sitting on a bus, enjoy a scenic flight from Queenstown instead. Admire sweeping views of fjords, valleys, waterfalls, and mountains from the seat of a small plane. A small-group flight ensures an intimate, peaceful experience as you soar above this UNESCO World Heritage–listed landscape.

Enjoy unrivalled views over the South Island from the air on a 40-minute Aoraki/Mt. Cook helicopter flight from Fox Glacier township. Admire aerial views of Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, and the Southern Alps with a pilot, and gaze out as far as the coast, where the Tasman Sea rolls in. Land on Aoraki/Mt. Cook to photograph the scenery, then return to base.

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.