Home > Queenstown > Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Queenstown including Helicopter Flight
USD $694.00
Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Queenstown including Helicopter Flight
Queenstown, New Zealand
Treat yourself to the ultimate Milford Sound experience on this day trip from Queenstown that allows you to see this world-famous fiord region by land, sea and air. Enjoy a scenic drive through the alpine landscapes of the ‘Milford Road’; take a 2-hour cruise along the full length of Milford Sound to see its legendary natural scenery and wildlife; and end the day with a thrilling helicopter flight over the sound, Mt Tutoko and Lake Wakatipu. You’ll also learn about the area from a driver/guide.
After pickup from centrally located Queenstown hotels, your Milford Sound adventure starts with a 5-hour scenic drive by luxury coach, equipped with reclining seats and a glass roof so you can take in the amazing views.
Listen to commentary from your driver as you travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the rolling countryside to Te Anau, where you’ll take a break for morning tea (own expense). Then continue along Highway 94 — the ‘Milford Road’ — and admire its stunning alpine scenery, stopping along the way for photo ops and a short walk.
When you arrive at Milford Sound, board your 2-hour nature cruise — either the Milford Mariner or Milford Wanderer — which takes you along the whole length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea. Learn about the region's history, natural features and native wildlife as you are wowed by the sound’s famous beauty. See rainforest waterfalls, towering peaks and marine life like seals, dolphins and penguins, depending on the season. Sip provided tea and coffee, and purchase lunch at the onboard cafe when you get hungry (own expense).
After your cruise, hop on a shuttle bus for the short drive from the wharf to the airstrip, where the final and most exciting leg of your tour begins — a 40-minute helicopter flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown. As you soar over Milford Sound — one of the most breathtaking experiences you’re sure to ever have — marvel at the aerial views of glaciers, rivers, lakes and rainforest. Fly over the fiord along Harrison Valley, over Mount Tutoko and on to the Wakatipu Basin. If the weather cooperates on the day of your tour, you may even get to enjoy a snow landing on Donne Glacier.
Upon your landing in Queenstown, your day trip ends with hotel drop-off.
Unfortunately a rainy and windy day at Milford Sound. Activity is weather dependent. Still enjoyed the scenery: greenery, cliffs, waterfalls, ocean! Our trip back was great. Thanks to Phil, our helicopter pilot, for the extra stop for pictures of Lake Wakatipu - awesome view, great pictures sunny day on the summit. If you can afford the helicopter flight back, it is well worth the cost.
Review by: Amelia, November 2017
scenic view and the best experience ever.
Review by: Michael J H, January 2017
If your idea of a fun day is 8 hours on a bus then this trip is for you. It was awful. We were supposed to travel by bus there and take a helicopter back. After the boat trip we arrived back at the bus to be told the weather was too bad and that the helicopters werent flying, almost literally as one flew over. So a bus ride back. I would never have taken this trip had I really thought we wouldnt fly back one way or another. A horrible day that actually put a damper on our 3 days in Queensland. I absolutely would not recommend this trip to anyone.
Review by: Christine O, January 2017
I enjoyed the bus trip to Queenstown and the spectacular views from the boat._br/_ We were to get a helicopter back to Queenstown but the weather was not kind to us and this part of the trip was cancelled._br/_ We then had a 4 hour bus trip back._br/_
Review by: Danielle V, August 2016
a perfect combination first see the surroundings and the mirror lake, make a boat trip and instead of making the long journey back taking the helicopter with a glacier landing
Review by: Michael C, March 2015
Absolutely Amazing!! Helicopter flight was cancelled but flew back on fixed wing plane instead. We worth the cost of the tour.
Review by: David M, December 2014
Very good trip , only spoilt a bit by rain (snow at high altitude) on the way to Milford Sound and when I was there._br/_
The bus journey there is over 5 hours and so I was so happy that I had booked to return by helicopter - which took 45 minutes including sightseeing and a high altitude snow landing which was great. _br/_
Still, overall, I was lucky , as 2 days later the one road in was blocked by an avalanche. All tours cancelled !!
Review by: Lisa J, January 2014
The bus tour was great, our bus driver was extremely knowledgeable and humorous. The nature boat tour was also enjoyable, the boat was great and commentary also informative and entertaining. We were thrilled to be able to take the helicopter ride home, but it was no where near 50 minutes, perhaps 35 minutes at best. It was awesomely beautiful but way too short for what we were promised and what we paid for.
Review by: Chad W, June 2013
How beautiful! Glad we chose the helicopter instead of plane. (Plane flights are cancelled more often due to weather conditions, which is a factor because it rains at Milford sound over 200 days out of the year.) The rain was interesting because it creates hundreds of waterfalls that cascade down the mountains!
Review by: Ryan B, November 2011
The tour was well organised, the coach driver was good fun and very knowledgeable and the scenery was incredible. It was a no stress trip with a lot of great experiences, especially the helicopter ride from Milford back to Queenstown.
Review by: CMC H, July 2011
Bus drive and driver very good, so was boat trip. Helicopter flight was cancelled last minute, due to too little booking passengers, disappointment.
Review by: CMC H, May 2011
Bus drive and driver very good, so was boat trip. Helicopter flight was cancelled last minute, due to too little booking passengers, disappointment.
Review by: Sidney H, February 2011
The bus was clean, the driver was humourous and knowledgeable, the boat tour and lunch were great. The helicopter and pilot were fantastic, landing on the ice-field and giving us a memory to last a lifetime!
Review by: Erik J, February 2011
Absolutely breathtaking. We were fortunate to have a beautiful clear day. While the drive to Milford Sound was long, it went by amazingly fast. The bus was very comfortable and the views were stunning. The bus even has windows across the top allowing you to see everything - top-to-bottom. The cruise was equally beautiful, albeit windy. We missed out on seeing penguins, but did see some seals sunning themselves. We also got up close and personal with a couple of waterfalls. The helicopter ride back was great and it was fun landing on a glacier and having a snowball fight. . I wish the helicopter ride was a little longer, but all-in-all this was truly a fabulous excursion. Quite frankly, Milford Sound has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet! Take this trip if you can! Erik from Rockford, IL USA
Review by: Erik J, January 2011
Absolutely breathtaking. We were fortunate to have a beautiful clear day. While the drive to Milford Sound was long, it went by amazingly fast. The bus was very comfortable and the views were stunning. The bus even has windows across the top allowing you to see everything - top-to-bottom. The cruise was equally beautiful, albeit windy. We missed out on seeing penguins, but did see some seals sunning themselves. We also got up close and personal with a couple of waterfalls. The helicopter ride back was great and it was fun landing on a glacier and having a snowball fight. . I wish the helicopter ride was a little longer, but all-in-all this was truly a fabulous excursion. Quite frankly, Milford Sound has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet! Take this trip if you can!
Erik from Rockford, IL USA
Review by: Eric J, December 2010
This tour was great but be prepared for a very possible rainy weather (75% chance as explained by our driver). Nevertheless, the area is fantastic!
Review by: Erik J, November 2010
Absolutely breathtaking. We were fortunate to have a beautiful clear day. While the drive to Milford Sound was long, it went by amazingly fast. The bus was very comfortable and the views were stunning. The bus even has windows across the top allowing you to see everything - top-to-bottom. The cruise was equally beautiful, albeit windy. We missed out on seeing penguins, but did see some seals sunning themselves. We also got up close and personal with a couple of waterfalls. The helicopter ride back was great and it was fun landing on a glacier and having a snowball fight. . I wish the helicopter ride was a little longer, but all-in-all this was truly a fabulous excursion. Quite frankly, Milford Sound has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet! Take this trip if you can!
Erik from Rockford, IL USA
Review by: Kirt H, July 2010
Excellent full day that continued to get better as the day went on. The helicopter ride was the ultimate experience of our entire trip to New Zealand. Don't pass up this opportunity.
Review by: Kirt H, March 2010
Excellent full day that continued to get better as the day went on. The helicopter ride was the ultimate experience of our entire trip to New Zealand. Don't pass up this opportunity.
RSS Feed