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Otago Glacier exploration

Our most recommended Otago Glacier exploration

Milford Sound Fiord Cruise & Helicopter Glacier Landing

1. Milford Sound Fiord Cruise & Helicopter Glacier Landing

Discover Milford Sound's stunning fjord from high in the air and on the water. Land in Milford and join an unforgettable fjord cruise past sheer cliffs and gushing waterfalls.Try to spot dolphins, seals, and adorable penguins. Then enjoy an exhilarating flight past spectacular rivers, valleys, and mountains with blue-green ice falls, and experience a glacier or mountain landing in the heart of Fiordland National Park. Today, many of the local landscapes can be recognized because of their use as film locations. You can even fly over where movies were filmed! The pilots regularly work with film production crews and are happy to share plenty of stories of life on the film set. Finally, for the photo opportunity of a lifetime, alight on a glacier and enjoy panoramic views. These highly experienced, well-known local pilots can’t wait to share with you their extensive knowledge and history of the area while showing you the best of New Zealand's amazing scenery. Please note that there may not be snow on the day of your flight depending on the season, especially during summer.

Glacier Explorer Helicopter Flight from Queenstown

2. Glacier Explorer Helicopter Flight from Queenstown

Head west over the Queenstown basin and Paradise Valley into Mt. Aspiring National Park during this exhilirating glacier explorer helicopter flight from Queenstown. Enjoy an exhilarating flight past spectacular mountains and blue-green icefalls before landing on one of the many glaciers within the Forbes Mountains. Spend time taking photos before heading back toward Queenstown past hidden alpine lakes and the rich gold mining history of Skippers Canyon. Fly through landscapes that contain many stories of the natural and human history of New Zealand and the Southern Lakes. See how glaciers and the movement of the earth's crust formed the area's unique mountains and valleys.  Benefit from the service of the most experienced team of helicopter pilots in Queenstown. Learn from your highly experienced, well-known local pilots as they share their extensive knowledge of the area with you while showing you the best of New Zealand's amazing scenery.

Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer

3. Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer

Enjoy this incomparable Milford Sound experience, which includes a helicopter flight and a luxury cruise. Take off from Queenstown to spend the day experiencing the incredible Fiordland National Park from the sky, land, and water. After getting picked up from your hotel in Queenstown, head to Queenstown Helicopter Base, where you’ll meet the team and join a safety briefing before boarding your helicopter. Afterward, take to the skies and start your scenic flight from Queenstown. Learn about the area through an in-flight commentary from your pilot as you glide over alpine lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers, before arriving for your cruise on Milford Sound. Look out for local wildlife on your journey through Fiordland National Park. Before heading back to Queenstown, a remote alpine landing tops off this up-close exploration of UNESCO World Heritage wilderness.

Milford Sound: Fly | Cruise | Fly

4. Milford Sound: Fly | Cruise | Fly

Gaze down at the mountains and glaciers of Milford Sound as you take the flight of a lifetime onboard a fixed-wing aircraft. Savor the awe-inspiring scenery from your window seat as you enjoy an informative commentary from a knowledgeable local pilot. Soar over incredible features of the surrounding landscape, such as Coronet Peak skifield and Skippers Canyon. Absorb panoramic views over the Shotover River, the second-richest gold-bearing river in the world. Marvel at the sight of shimmering Lake Wakatipu below, as you fly along the Dart River Valley into World-Heritage-listed Mount Aspiring National Park. Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you jet across snow-clad peaks, the Olivine Ice Plateau, Mount Tutoko, and the Tutoko Glacier. Take in the breath-taking scenery of Fiordland National Park, the rugged West Coast, and the Tasman Sea, before descending into Milford Sound. Be amazed by the dramatic cliff faces and aerial views of cascading Stirling Falls, as you are led on a walk through beech forest and onboard a 1hr 45min cruise through the natural wonders of Milford Sound. Get the camera ready to snap the iconic Mitre Peak, standing 1692 meters above sea level. Look out for seal colonies, penguins, and dolphins from the open-air viewing deck, as you travel the full length of the fiord. Soak in the stunning landscape as you are greeted by your pilot for another memorable flight back across a World-Heritage-listed area to Queenstown.

From Queenstown: Mount Cook Small Group Adventure

5. From Queenstown: Mount Cook Small Group Adventure

At 3724m, Aoraki/Mt Cook is by no means among the world’s tallest but with the nearby Mt Cook village just 750m above sea-level, the mountain can be viewed without any acclimatization whatsoever, and so this tour is perfect for people of all levels of fitness. The guided tour begins with pickups in Queenstown and Frankton, before you then travel through the stunning Kawarau gorge to Cromwell. After making a comfort stop in the quaint township of Omarama (where you have the option to taste one of the best creamy chicken pies in New Zealand), you climb your way through Lindis Pass, one of only 3 alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps. As you exit the Pass, you may catch glimpses of the mighty mountain itself; but before arriving there is much more to see, including what many consider one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Lake Pukaki is one of the bluest lakes you will ever see, and is framed by the backdrop of Aoraki and its brothers in the Southern Alps. The location of several scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Lake Pukaki is a destination in and of itself. You soon pass the delta where the mountain’s various rivers, creeks and streams converge to form the lake, and the mountain continues to grow steadily in stature and grandeur until the shear scale of the view makes you feel powerless. Arriving at the alpine village of Mt Cook and the Hermitage - home of the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre - you now have the freedom to explore in whatever way suits your energy levels and budget. Please select the activity you would like to include during the booking process, which are at an additional charge.

Queenstown: Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike

6. Queenstown: Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike

Fly over the Southern Alps, home to over 3000 small glaciers. Visit Franz Josef Glacier on the western face of Aoraki/ Mt Cook or the Tasman Glacier on the east side. Enjoy the flexibility of seeing either glacier in case of poor weather conditions on your tour of choice. Check in on arrival at either the Franz Josef Glacier tour or Tasman Glacier tour and get to your helicopter. Have a safety briefing as your equipment is handed out. Go out to a deep part of the glacier via a scenic helicopter flight. Pass over the deep crevasses of the icefalls and waterfalls to land at the upper Franz Josef Icefall. Alternatively, take a scenic helicopter flight over the Tasman Terminal Lake to the Tasman Glacier. Be fitted with crampons for your trek out onto the glacier, exploring ices caves, and seeing the natural, ever-changing wonders of the South Island’s glaciers.

Queenstown: Return Scenic Flight to Mount Cook

7. Queenstown: Return Scenic Flight to Mount Cook

Embark on a breathtaking scenic flight from Queenstown landing at Mount Cook where you can choose how you'd like to spend your day. Admire the scenic views during the flight, make Start with pickup from selected pickup points in Queenstown. Board the plane at the airfield and enjoy uninterrupted views from your window seat of a fixed-wing aircraft as you fly around the summit ridge of Mount Cook; New Zealand's highest mountain standing at 3,724 meters in height. Marvel at the remarkable Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers on the west coast and the Tasman Glacier within Aoraki Mount Cook National Park; the largest glacier in New Zealand. Fly over the center of the South Island, with panoramic views of Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, and Lake Pukaki. After landing at Aoraki/Mount Cook Airport on the outskirts of Mount Cook village, you will have up to 4 hours on the ground to explore. Enjoy lunch at The Hermitage Hotel, check out the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre, or walk the Hooker Valley Track. After your time exploring the wonderful surroundings, hop back on the plane for another scenic flight back to Queenstown, with drop-off back at your accommodation.

Wanaka: Scenic Flight with Glacier Landing

8. Wanaka: Scenic Flight with Glacier Landing

To begin your helicopter adventure, take the scenic drive out of Wanaka to the Matukituki Valley. Check-in at the hangar located on Cattle Flat Station, a fully operational working high-country farm. Before you set off into the sky, you’ll receive a safety briefing prior from your expert pilot. All helicopters are fitted with two-way headsets to ensure you can interact with your pilot, as well as enjoy their entertaining commentary during this 35-minute experience. Soaring into the sky, fly over the tussock-covered hills of the farm and into the alps over remote mountain peaks, covered with deep, glacial-carved valleys. Gaze at the otherworldly landscape, with its deep blue chasms and stunning glacial caps. Landing high on a glacier overlooking the Alps, you’ll enjoy a photo stop with guaranteed snow year round prior to returning to the hangar. Marvel at the panoramic views over the braided Matukituki River, flowing towards Lake Wanaka, before you gracefully float back down to the landing strip.

Queenstown: Mount Cook Premium Guided Day Tour

9. Queenstown: Mount Cook Premium Guided Day Tour

The day begins with early morning pickup from your accommodation in Queenstown and heads through the heart of the South Island towards New Zealand’s tallest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook. Along the way, soak up unforgettable scenic views and stop at the Cromwell Fruit Bowl, Lindis Pass, Omarama, and Lake Pukaki. As you travel, listen to your guide’s fascinating commentary about the local scenery, history, and culture. Arrive at Mount Cook Village and spend 3.5 hours exploring. Choose to take a walk to the impressive Lake Mueller for a close-up look at Mount Sefton’s glaciers, or experience the incredible activities on offer at Mount Cook. On the return journey to Queenstown, enjoy a stop at the Twizel Salmon Farm, before arriving back to the city in the early evening.

From Queenstown: Mount Cook and Hooker Valley Day Trip

10. From Queenstown: Mount Cook and Hooker Valley Day Trip

Visit breathtaking locations in Queenstown as you make your way to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Travel with a reliable tour guide who will share stories and rich background knowledge on Queenstown and the Mount Cook area. Start your tour in the stunning city of Queenstown. Drive through the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and marvel at the scenery the Kawarau Gorge has to offer. Stop at the Roaring Meg Lookout to take photos of your stunning view. Then, enter the region of Cromwell, famous for fruits and wine and where you can see huge fields of vines. Next, traverse the majestic Lindis Pass which lies between two valleys against a backdrop of a bright blue sky. This stretch of highway is one of the only three Alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps. After taking photos at the top of the pass, drive through the Mackenzie District and visit the township of Omarama. Turning west, you'll enter Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, and Lake Pukaki will emerge in front of you. Proceed to the start of the Hooker Valley Track and depart on a 3-hour self-guided hike with amazing views of Hooker Lake, Hooker Glacier, and Mount Cook. Finish your tour by visiting High Country Salmon as you make your way back to Queenstown.

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What people are saying about Otago

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 23 reviews

The flights (both single engine plane to Mt Cook and then help to glacier) were as much fun as the hike itself. Great pilots (Laura and Nigel respectively) gave a wonderful overview of all we were flying over as well as some of the history and geography, etc Hike was such a unique experience and the blue glaciers were stunning. Too bad that recent rains had reduced caves, nets

We had a great experience flying into and cruising around Milford Sound. We had some of the best views from the flight and it saved us a 5hr bus ride in. The cruise was beautiful, relaxing and the Captain shared interesting facts about the area. Highly recommend!

In linea con le aspettative

True South flights and the pilot Peter was excellent. Informative on the flight to and from Franz Josef. Walking in the glacier was a once in a lifetime experience and amazing

The best way to see Milford Sound is to fly there if you can….. it is worth saving for!! Landscape is AWESOME and like nothing you could imagine

An amazing experience with efficient and friendly staff, a definite highlight of the trip