Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 62 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight worth booking?
Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight is a 1-hour experience in Queenstown, New Zealand, from $382 per person. It scores 64 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 62 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 64 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (62)
- Duration
- 1 hours
- From
- $382 per person
The only scenic flight company ex. Queenstown to showcase some of Mt Aspiring & Fiordland National Parks largest Glaciers. These include the Rob Roy, Bonar, Jura, Volta, Dart, Olivine, and Donne Glaciers among many others and of course, Milford Sound itself. Each tour with Air Milford is guaranteed to see at least five major glaciers.
What you get
About this experience
The only scenic flight company ex. Queenstown to showcase some of Mt Aspiring & Fiordland National Parks largest Glaciers. These include the Rob Roy, Bonar, Jura, Volta, Dart, Olivine, and Donne Glaciers among many others and of course, Milford Sound itself. Each tour with Air Milford is guaranteed to see at least five major glaciers.
What's included
Included
- Live pilot commentary on board
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
- Full pre-flight briefing with Air Milford pilot
Not included
- No landing in Milford Sound is included
- No cruise of Milford Sound is included
What you'll see and do
Air Milford
Begin your experience with a thorough pre-flight briefing with your pilots on the sights to be encountered during the 1hr Scenic flight.
15 minutes here
Coronet Peak Ski Area
After takeoff, view Coronet Peak, one of New Zealand's premiere ski fields.
Pass by without stopping
Fly over the Shotover river and Skippers canyon, this is where gold was discovered in the 1860's. This river became the world's 2nd highest gold bearing river in the world, next to the Klondike in Alaska.
Pass by without stopping
Mount Aspiring National Park
Head North out of the Wakatipu basin and into Mt Aspiring National park, with the larger mountains and glaciers emerging as you track north.
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Mount Aspiring
View Mount Aspiring, often known as the Matterhorn of the South, it sits at 10,000ft / 3,030meters and has six related glaciers, the largest being the Upper Volta Glacier.
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Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
Begin to head West, over the main divide of the Southern Alps and into Fiordland National park, before exiting Mt Aspiring National park fly down 'glacier alley' with the Olivine Ice Plateau, a unique glacial amphitheater. One of the first sights you will encounter on arrival in Fiordland National Park is Mt Tutoko, at over 8,900ft / 2,700meters it is Fiordland's highest peak. There are two main glaciers to view here the Donne and the Age.
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Milford Sound
Your scenic flight will then take you of an overhead of Milford Sound itself. Milford Sound is Fiordland's most northerly of 14 fiords and also it's most dramatic.
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Milford Sound
Experience the beauty of Milford Sound
Mitre Peak
View the highest peak in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak. It impressively rises directly out of the water of the fiord, to it's summit at 5,560ft / 1,690 meters, which is just over a mile of vertical gain!
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Lake Te Anau
The flight path then begins to track east over the Southern Alps and back towards Queenstown. New Zealand's second largest lake, lake Te Anau can be viewed stretching out to the south.
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Lake Wakatipu
After once again crossing the main divide of the Southern Alps, the route traverses the beech forest filled Greenstone valley, before emerging above Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's longest lake, with Queenstown nestled on it's shores.
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View the Remarkable mountain range and Queenstown, before landing back at the Air Milford base for your drop-off back to your accommodation by approximately 9.30am.
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After leaving Milford Sound the flight path tracks south, down the Arthur valley. At the head of this valley, the Sutherland falls can be viewed, this is New Zealand highest waterfall, falling impressively 1,900ft / 580 meters to the valley floor below.
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Queenstown
Please provide us with your accommodation details and we will advise accordingly.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 70 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Please provide us with your accommodation details and we will advise accordingly.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Air Milford
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date/time or full refund
- Do not forget to bring a jacket and your camera
- Infant 0 - 1 years of age fly free of charge, when the infant is sat on a parents lap, with an infant lap belt. If an infant requires their own seat, then a child ticket must be purchased
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 62 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Photo opportunities
6 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
62 verified traveler reviews for Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing experience and one of the best operator in town
A truly incredible experience! The 5 Glaciers and Milford Sound scenic flight with Air Milford was worth every single penny. The scenery over the glaciers and fjords was unreal, and the whole team made us feel completely safe and well looked after. Highly recommend booking with them!
via Tripadvisor
Amazing experience and stunning views of the glaciers
Amazing experience with Air Milford this morning. Stunning views of the glaciers and Milford Sound. Our pilot Emma was amazing and made the flight even more special. Highly recommend
via Tripadvisor
A great experience for the whole family!
What a great experience and guide. Five stars!!! Beautiful views and very informative throughout the flight. Our family will remember this experience for years to come!
Response from the operator: Kia ora, Five stars from the whole family, we love to hear it! ⭐️ There’s something pretty special about sharing these views with the people you love, and knowing this is an experience your family will talk about for years to come makes it all the more worthwhile. Our team are so glad you enjoyed the scenery and the stories along the way. Thank you for flying with us and letting us be a little part of your family’s memories! 💙✈️ All the best, The Air Miford team
via Tripadvisor
Awesome experience
I don’t think you can praise them enough. Total professionalism. I was initially booked on a flight and cruise to Milford Sound, it had to be cancelled as they were unable to land there due to the weather conditions. They tried every way to fly us to Te Anau and get us a coach from there, just didn’t come off. When I was in Te Anau a few days later I did the coach trip. On my return to Queenstown they took us up on the Milford Sound and five glacier flight instead which was awesome. I was refunded the difference in cost before I even got back to my accommodation. Thanks so much to the pilot Antony and all involved. Robert.
Response from the operator: Kia ora Robert, Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely review! It’s wonderful to hear that, even with the weather throwing a few curveballs, we could still give you a flight to remember. 💙 Mountain weather can certainly keep us on our toes, and while safety always comes first, our experienced team will do everything we can to find the best alternative for our guests. We are super thrilled that you got to experience the Milford Sound and five-glacier flight, what a spectacular way to see the Southern Alps! Antony and the whole team will really appreciate your kind words. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and for taking the time to share your experience with us, Robert. ✈️🏔️ All the best, The Air Milford Team
via Tripadvisor
Awesome lifetime experience
Well worth the time and expense, such an amazing visual experience that is hard to explain. The Flight just shows how beautiful and absolutely pristine this country is.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 1 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $382 to $655
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 22
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Air Milford, who run 5 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 69.9.
See everything Air Milford runsWhy this scores 64
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Queenstown.
How much does Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight cost?
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Prices start at $382 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Queenstown usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight take?
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Plan for about 1 hour from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Queenstown is not rushed.
Is Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 64 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 62 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Queenstown, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight?
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Around 22 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Queenstown can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Queenstown and add a light layer if any part of the 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Queenstown within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Queenstown?
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On Outty we rank every Queenstown experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown, Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown, Lord of the Rings Scenic Half Day Tour from Queenstown. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Queenstown?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Queenstown?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight?
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Included: Live pilot commentary on board; Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels); and Full pre-flight briefing with Air Milford pilot. Not included: No landing in Milford Sound is included; and No cruise of Milford Sound is included. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 93 listed pickup locations in and around Queenstown. Be ready about 70 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Transportation options are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight?
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Across 62 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include photo opportunities, value for money. The views and photo stops come up again and again.
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