Southern Alps Air
Fixed-wing scenic flights from Wānaka over Mount Aspiring, the glaciers and Milford Sound.
Southern Alps Air flies from Wānaka over Mount Aspiring National Park and the glaciers, with longer runs across to Fiordland. The shortest option is an hour over Mount Aspiring and the glaciers. The Milford Sound trips add a landing, or a cruise on the sound before flying back. Flights are weather dependent, so it pays to keep a spare day in the plan.
Highlights
- One hour flight over Mount Aspiring and the glaciers
- Milford Sound options with a landing or a cruise
- Two national parks in one flight
- Departs from Wānaka, not Queenstown
Good to know
- Location
- Wānaka Airport
- Start point
- Wānaka
- Duration
- Mount Aspiring and glaciers 1 hour; Milford Sound flight with landing and glaciers 2.5 hours; Milford Sound fly cruise fly with glaciers 4 hours
- Cost
- See venue for current pricing
- Family-friendly
- Yes
Visiting from Sundale
Flights leave from Wānaka Airport, a short drive from the park, so there is no Queenstown transfer to factor into the day. The shortest run is an hour over Mount Aspiring and the glaciers. The Milford Sound options take two and a half hours with a landing, or four hours with a cruise on the sound.
Flights are weather dependent, so keep a spare day in the plan and book for the earlier part of your stay if you can. Take sunglasses and a warm layer, and go easy on breakfast if you are unsure about small aircraft. See the operator for current pricing on each route.
An hour-long flight leaves most of the day intact, which is time enough for the five minutes' walk down to the Lake Wānaka foreshore. A four-hour Milford trip takes the whole day, so plan a simple evening in the communal kitchen when you get back.
Stay nearby
Questions
How long are the flights?
One hour over Mount Aspiring and the glaciers, two and a half hours for the Milford Sound flight with a landing, or four hours for the fly, cruise and fly option.
Do the flights leave from Queenstown?
No. They depart from Wānaka, a short drive from the park.
What happens if the weather closes in?
Flights are weather dependent. Leave a spare day in your plan and talk to the operator about rebooking.
Sources
- Flights depart Wānaka; Mount Aspiring and glaciers 1 hour ; Milford Sound flight, landing and glaciers 2.5 hours ; Milford Sound fly cruise fly plus glaciers 4 hours ; Siberia Experience and Mt Cook options listed — source
Nearby
More things to do.
Lakeland Wānaka
Jet boat rides, self-drive boat hire and jet skis leaving from the Wānaka lakefront.
Jet boat ride 60 minutes; boat hire 1, 2 or 4 hours
Skydive Wānaka
Tandem skydiving from up to 15,000 feet over the lakes and the Southern Alps.
About 25 seconds freefall at 9,000ft, 45 seconds at 12,000ft, 60 seconds at 15,000ft
Wānaka River Journeys
A half day jet boat run up the Matukituki River paired with a guided walk in native forest.
Half day, allow 4 hours
Your Wānaka basecamp
Make Sundale your base.
Cabins, studios, motels and soft-grass camping, five minutes from the water and close to everything above.