Milford Sound looks unreal from the ground, but seeing it from the air first turns the whole place into pure magic. This small-group day starts with a scenic flight from Queenstown – window seat views over the Southern Alps, glacier-carved valleys and turquoise lakes that make the camera work overtime. You land right at Milford, step onto a comfortable boat and cruise the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea, gliding past thundering waterfalls, rainforest-clad cliffs and iconic Mitre Peak rising straight from the water. Seals bask on rocks, dolphins sometimes play in the wake. Then it’s back in the plane for the return flight, different route so you get fresh jaw-dropping alpine scenery all over again. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Queenstown, several departure times – the effortless way to experience one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking spots from sky and sea in one unforgettable day.
