Milford Sound Helicopter Tours
Hours, prices and access verified by the Milford Sound Tours team — last checked 2026-09-21.
Milford Sound helicopter tours fly you over Fiordland and set you down on snow or a glacier. You go from Queenstown with a cruise, or from the airstrip by the water.
Helicopter days and short flights
★★★★★ 5.0 (5 reviews · 45 minutes)
Helicopter flightStarts at the airstripMax 6 guestsLanding fees in the fare
A 45-minute flight from the airstrip at the fiord for six at most, with headsets, commentary and a snow landing when the weather allows. Landing fees are paid. It is not a private flight.
From $523 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
★★★★★ 4.9 (197 reviews · 4 hours)
Helicopter, glacier, cruiseStarts in QueenstownScenic cruise in the fare
Four hours from Queenstown: a helicopter flight with a glacier or alpine landing, a scenic cruise, and commentary in the air. A courtesy coach runs you to the helipad. The top of the price range.
From $801 per person
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Helicopter, glacier and cruise in four hours
From Queenstown by helicopter, with a glacier or alpine landing on the way, commentary in the air, and a scenic cruise. A courtesy coach collects you.
Check availability
What a Milford Sound helicopter tour is
A helicopter tour here is a flight over the mountains of Fiordland with a landing on snow, a
glacier or an alpine ridge. It comes in two shapes. One leaves Queenstown and folds the flight,
the landing and a cruise into four hours. The other leaves the airstrip at the fiord and lasts
45 minutes, for people who are already there.
The appeal is the landing. You step out onto snow among peaks that no road reaches, then
lift off and follow the fiord from above. On the Queenstown day you also go down to the water
for the cruise.
Fares run $523 to $801 a person.
Why choose a helicopter tour
You land where nothing else goes
No coach, van or plane here lands on a glacier. Daniel called the cruise great, but the
flights and the glacier landing the once-in-a-lifetime part.
You see the fiord in its setting
From the air the fiord is one arm of a whole range of peaks, ice and lakes. From the boat
you see its walls.
It takes hours, not a day
Four hours from Queenstown, against 12 or more by road. The flight from the airstrip adds
45 minutes to a cruise day.
The groups are small
The flight from the fiord carries six at most, with headsets so you can hear the pilot.
Helicopter tours vs fixed-wing flights
Both show you the mountains from above. The helicopter lands on snow; the plane lands on the
airstrip.
| A helicopter tour | A fixed-wing flight |
|---|
| Landing | Snow, a glacier or an alpine site, weather permitting | The airstrip at the fiord |
| Length | 45 minutes, or 4 hours with a cruise | 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours with a cruise |
| Seats | Six at most on the short flight | Window seats promised |
| Weight limit | 120 kg a passenger on the short flight | 140 to 150 kg a passenger |
| Cruise | On the Queenstown day | On both return flights |
| Fare, per person | $523 to $801 | $428 to $450 |
Check the helicopter day from $801
If the landing is the point, take the helicopter. If you want the view and the cruise for
less, compare Milford Sound scenic flights.
What you get, and what you don't
- In the fare: the flight, the pilot's commentary and the landing when the
weather allows. The short flight pays its landing and facility fees.
- On the Queenstown day: a courtesy coach from set pickup points and a
scenic cruise.
- Not in the fare: lunch. Bring food if you fly after a cruise.
- Not promised: the glacier. Cloud can move the landing somewhere lower, or
cancel the flight.
A 45-minute flight from the fiord
Six seats at most, headsets and commentary, and a snow landing when the weather allows. The landing fees are in the fare.
Check availability
Planning a helicopter tour
- Budget: $523 to $801 a person.
- Know your weight: the short flight sets 120 kg a passenger, and operators
ask for weights when you book.
- Keep a spare day: both depend on the weather. The Queenstown operator
writes that if an alternative is not suitable you get a full refund.
- Dress for snow: sturdy shoes and a jacket, even in summer.
- Fly early in a trip: it leaves room to rebook if cloud comes in.
Our guide to the best time to visit explains when the cloud is lowest and flights run most often.
Who should choose something else
- If price matters. A fly-cruise-fly day costs less than the Queenstown
helicopter day; see Milford Sound scenic flights.
- If you are nervous in small aircraft. A boat gets you under the falls; see
Milford Sound boat tours.
- If your dates cannot move. The weather decides whether you fly. A road day
almost always runs; see Milford Sound tours from Queenstown.
- If you weigh more than the limit. Ask the operator first, or take a
flight with a higher limit.
Our guide to choosing a tour compares flying with every other way in.
Frequently asked questions
Is a helicopter tour worth it?
It is if you want to land on snow or a glacier. Weight limits apply, and cloud can move or cancel the landing.
Which helicopter tour should I choose?
The Queenstown day, at $801, if you want the flight, a glacier and the cruise in four hours. The 45-minute flight from the fiord, at $523, if you are already there after a cruise.
Is there a weight limit on helicopter tours?
Yes. The flight from the airstrip sets 120 kg a passenger, and operators ask for weights when you book so they can balance the aircraft.
What happens if cloud covers the landing site?
The pilot lands somewhere else or not at all. On one flight from the airstrip, cloud ruled out the glacier, so the pilot set down at a remote lake and on a beach instead.
Can you fly to Milford Sound?
Yes. Fly-cruise-fly trips from Queenstown take 4 to 5 hours, with flights of about 40 minutes each way and a cruise in between. Cloud can stop a flight, so leave a spare day in your plans if you can.
Can I cancel a Milford Sound tour?
Most listings refund in full if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. Both overnight cruises are non-refundable and cannot be changed once booked, so check the line under each price.