Scenic Flight to Milford Sound Sampling New Zealand's Attractions

Milford Sound and (right) airfield ... fly for a bird's-eye view

By JULIE REGISTER

Kia Ora! (Maori greeting meaning Be well / Be healthy.)

I recently returned from a tour of New Zealand's spas. In between massages and facials, I had an opportunity to sample New Zealand's many other attractions.

One of them was flying with Milford Sound Scenic Flights from Queenstown to Milford Sound, cruising the Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea and back, and returning by air.

Glaciers and lakes

James Meldrum with Cessna 207

Pilot James Meldrum took me and four others in a Cessna 207 on the 35-minute flight to Milford Sound and back again.

We flew over three mountain ranges, Fiord National Park, and the Hollyford Valley. We saw glaciers, mountain lakes 5000 feet high, and Sutherland Falls.

I admit that this is the smallest plane I have ever been on, but James gave me confidence and the fantastic views held my attention. James makes up to six of these flights every day. However, he says that one-third of the year they can't fly because of the cloud base.

While James would also like to learn to pilot a helicopter, he has no interest in becoming a pilot for a large commercial company. He enjoys the quality of life Queenstown has to offer.

Flight options

Milford Sound Scenic Flights offers the following options:

• Fly-Cruise-Fly (That's what I did)
  Return scenic flight from Queenstown with a two-hour launch cruise on Milford Sound. Experience, close up, spectacular waterfalls and marine life.

• Scenic Shuttle
  The only regular shuttle service from Queenstown to Milford Sound and return. Departs: on the hour.

• Overhead Flight
  Spectacular one-hour scenic flight over Milford sound with an optional landing. Ideal for those short of time.

• Coach-Cruise-Fly
  Travel from Queenstown to Milford by luxury coach. Enjoy a launch cruise on Milford Sound then return to Queenstown by air.

• Fly-Cruise-Coach
  Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound and return by luxury coach.

Additional options include Mount Cook, Mt. Aspiring and Glaciers, Te Anau, Doubtful Sound, and Queenstown Flightseeing.

Milford Sound Scenic Flights
PO Box 767, Queenstown
Telephone: (03) 442 3065 Fax: (03) 442 3050
Toll Free 0800 101 767
Email milfordsound@queenstown.co.nz

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Photographs by Julie Register

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