Queenstown’s rugged backcountry opens up from the air as you fly over Central Otago’s dramatic landscapes and glacial rivers feeding into brilliant Lake Wakatipu. The route crosses two stunning national parks – Mt Aspiring and UNESCO-listed Fiordland – before touching down at Milford Sound. There you board a comfortable small boat for a relaxed two-hour cruise through the fiord’s sheer cliffs and waterfalls, gliding past iconic Mitre Peak, mighty Bowen and Stirling Falls, Seal Rock and Lion Mountain while the skipper points out highlights. Keep watch for seals, dolphins or the rare Fiordland crested penguin (seasonal). The return flight gives a bird’s-eye sweep over untouched wilderness and the Southern Alps before landing back beside the impossibly blue Lake Wakatipu. The perfect way to experience Milford’s world-famous beauty with maximum views and minimum hassle.
