Milford Sound Helicopter Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

Overview

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Allow 4 hours

2 landings: Milford Sound & Alpine landing

Over The Top Helicopters are pleased to offer a personal scenic helicopter flight to Milford Sound with a cruise. Your pilot, acting as your personal guide, will fly you down to Milford, over the breath-taking snow-capped Southern Alps, where we will land and shut down the helicopter. You will board the cruise boat to take one of the most memorable journeys you can imagine down Milford Sound, taking in the rainforest covered slopes and the majestic waterfalls. On return to Milford you will again board the helicopter for yet more amazing scenery from the air, together with a landing on an alpine location allowing you to take more photographs of an amazing experience.

Additional Info

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Pricing is based either per person or per helicopter at one rate

Subject to favourable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Minimum passenger numbers apply for Shared flights

There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements on shared flights. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund

Comfortable shoes are recommended as you will be walking in uneven terrain

A warm layer is recommended to bring with you or wear

You will be contacted either the day prior or the day of your booking to confirm based on weather conditions

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Applicable landing and facility fees

Scenic Helicopter tour

National Park fees

Professional pilot / guide

Alpine Landing

Complimentary pickup and drop-off

Bose noise cancelling headsets to hear the guide clearly

Food & Beverage

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Milford Sound

Experience Milford Sound from the air and sea. Over The Top Helicopters are pleased to offer a scenic helicopter flight to Milford Sound to join a cruise boat. Escorted throughout the journey by your pilot, together you will board the cruise boat to take one of the most memorable journeys you can imagine down Milford Sound, taking in the rainforest covered slopes and the majestic waterfalls from sea level. On return to Milford airport, board the helicopter for yet more amazing scenery from the air, together with a landing on a remote alpine location, accessible only by helicopter. With the helicopter shut down, take in the serenity of the quiet location for some photographs before starting up again for the return journey back to Queenstown

2 hours • Admission Included

Over The Top - The Helicopter Company

This is our helicopter base and departure lounge

4 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Private Squirrel AS350

Exclusive in the Squirrel Helicopter

Share With Others

Pay per seat in an aircraft

Private Eurocopter EC130B4

Exclusive in the Eurocopter EC 130 B4 helicopter

Reviews

4.94

18 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Flight only offered
James F,
Mar 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Did not get to Milford Sound due to bad weather but helicopter experience was great. Experienced pilot/guide was exceptional. Overall disappointed at not seeing Milford Sound but happy with alternative offered
Superb experience!
Ruslan K,
Dec 6, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing views, superb service, very good pilot we felt safe throughout with. Landing in glacier was the icing on the cake!
A spectacular experience
Meander50275458597,
Jul 17, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My partner and I were visiting Australia and New Zealand for the first time and Queenstown came highly recommended. We were also strongly encouraged to take a helicopter ride out to Milford Sound by our travel organizer and we are so glad we went with Over the Top! Right from when we were picked up at our hotel and transported to the airport, through check-in and boarding, we could tell Over the Top was carefully crafting an experience. I’ve forgotten the name of our pilot now, but he was great (and the back of his head is in one of the photos I’ve posted here!). Our pilot was not only a great pilot, but also a great aerial tour guide and photographer (very welcome when you’re standing on a glacier and need help capturing the moment). I expect all Over the Top pilots are of similar excellent caliber. The views were breathtaking and photos simply do not do it justice. I recall thinking as I took the photos that the photos were simply not capturing the sheer scale of southern New Zealand’s mountain range. It’s a must see. The Milford Sound cruise was also amazing with similarly breathtaking views, I think because of the contrast of earlier being above the mountains and then later sailing between them. The only advice I’d give here is to make sure you pre-pay for the cruise buffet, as you’ll be hungry by the time you arrive at the boat and the cash-only sandwiches they sell for those who did not pre-pay for a meal do not compare to the feast you could be having. The cruise is offered by a different company, so make sure to confirm with Over the Top that food is included in your package when booking. Also, I was very glad to have brought sunglasses as the glare from the snow capped mountains and the pristine Milford Sound waters would be blinding otherwise. Overall, a truly unforgettable experience. I’m writing this review almost a year after our experience and I still remember so many details. Over the Top strives for excellence and it is clear from the moment you arrive at their helicopter pad that your money was very well spent. When my partner and I return to Queenstown we’ll be planning to take another trip with Over the Top!
Unforgettable and worth it
Natalia K,
Jun 29, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Very kind and friendly pilot/tour guide, beautiful place that only can be reached by helicopter, unforgettable memory, worth it.
Worth every penny
546kend,
May 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I’ve been to 175 countries and major territories; the Milford Sound helicopter flight and cruise rates as one of my very best experiences!
Fun, caring, skilled guide…best yet!
w h,
Apr 25, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our pilot, Ben, was both fun and skillful and shared interesting points of fact, stories, gorgeous vistas, and strategic landings. He was professional and knew how to make the experience the best it could possibly be for everyone on board…a true captain of his “ship”. Highly recommend.
A must do in New Zealand. Beautiful, comfortable helicopters with talented pilots.
Barclay25,
Apr 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had excellent weather to start. We felt extremely safe flying with Hamish who flew over spectacular heights with outstanding views. The glacier stop with a beautiful calm and stunning beauty then an awesome fly over New Zealand's steep mountain face thrilled us all. The cruise gave us a calm 2 hours viewing the majestic beauty of the fjord and mountains at water level. Seals and birds added to the excellent commentary as we learned about the area.
The best compay
Nexusnc,
Apr 6, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This company was perfect with us. Special mention to Catherine ;-) We had a splendid weather ans my niece saw the snow for her first time
Highlight of a highlight-packed month in NZ
789DavidW,
Feb 24, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
One of the highlights of a highlight-packed month in New Zealand. Hamish was a friendly, calm, and competent pilot who took us over spectacular scenery, accompanied us on the Milford Sound cruise, and then landed on an alpine lake on the way back to Queenstown. We have seen a lot of beautiful vistas from the hiking trails and enjoyed seeing them from the air We were novice helicopter riders so we didn’t know what to expect. Now we’re ready to do it again!
Woweee!
pennyl381,
Jan 15, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This company lives up to its name. Everything was totally over the top! Friendly staff, state of art choppers, and a genuine desire to make the experience unforgettable. The scenery is stupendous. We LOVED our pilot, Dave, who, as a native of Queenstown, knew so much about the area. He was skilled, knowledgeable, and lots of FUN! Highly recommend this tour & flying with Dave!