Queenstown to Milford Helicopter

July 11, 2017 tarannosaurus

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Otago → Queenstown to Milford Helicopter

Location: Queenstown area, Otago, New Zealand

Time Required: ~3 hours (in flight); shorter and longer flight options available

Red Tape/Notes: The flight discussed here was $1300 per person; other options are available. If you’re subject to motion sickness, you may want to dose up to avoid diminished your joy.

What’s Nearby? Haast Pass, Queenstown, Kepler Track Day Walk, Lake Alta and the Remarkables, Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track, Mt. Aspiring Packrafting, Robinson Creek Canyon, Wilson Creek Canyon, Cross Creek Canyon, Bendigo Ghost Town

Helicopter flights can definitely be pricy, but if you have the money, they’re a wonderful experience. If you’re wondering about the cost before you waste your time reading this post, as of 2017 this particular flight will run around $1300 per person (we used Alpine Helicopters and had a wonderful time). Shorter options that last only around 20 minutes can be had for as little as $230 if you’re desperate for a helicopter flight but can’t stomach the price, but you won’t get to Milford Sound (although there is a cheaper Milford Sound option for $1000).

Since they start in such a scenic location (Queenstown), these flights are beautiful from the moment you leave the ground. You’ll have aerials views of Lake Wakatipu right away, and then the flight will take you north over beautiful mountains to Lake Wanaka, traversing Mount Aspiring National Park with stunning views of glaciers and alpine lakes before arriving at Milford Sound. You’ll land a few minute’s walk from the visitor center and the scenic walkway, where you’ll be allowed time to walk around and take some photos. The flight will take off again, giving you the best possible views of Stirling Falls and Mitre Peak as you fly over the sound. You’ll head back into the mountains for even better views of river valleys, rugged peaks, glaciers, lakes studded with icebergs, and waterfalls fueled by glacial melt. They’ll land in some idyllic location (the precise landing point depends on the weather conditions, but it’ll be somewhere alpine, near a glacier, or on the snow), when you’ll have the opportunity to get out and explore a bit before heading back to the helicopter for the return home.