Milford Heli Cruise & Earnslaw Burn with Heliworks
Highlights & inclusions
1. Select date
May 2026
2. Select participants
What you can expect
Embark on an exhilarating five-hour journey with Heliworks Queenstown, offering the ultimate Milford Sound heli-experience. This unforgettable adventure includes three scenic helicopter landings, one of which is at the incredible Earnslaw Burn, renowned for its pristine natural beauty and featured in "The Hobbit" movie.
Beginning your flight at the Heliworks Queenstown base in Queenstown, you will glide over the vast, untouched wilderness of Fiordland National Park. As you soar above remote valleys, dense rainforests, and alpine lakes, the helicopter ride to Milford Sound offers unparalleled views of the dramatic scenery.
Coming into your landing at Milford Sound, you will then board a scenic cruise. As you cruise through the sound, witness the mighty Mitre Peak, the Hanging Gardens, and the Fairy and Stirling Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including New Zealand fur seals and the elusive Fiordland crested penguin.
Your return trip includes a visit to the iconic Earnslaw Burn. Heliworks Queenstown is the only helicopter operator with landing rights here. Be one of the few who gets to experience the magic of this hidden gem, with its towering Earnslaw Glacier more than 1,000 meters above you and a landscape dotted with native flora and cascading waterfalls. This flight with Heliworks Queenstown provides up-close, intimate encounters with some of New Zealand’s most spectacular natural wonders.
Location
What you need to know
- Return helicopter flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound
- Complimentary transfers from central Queenstown
- 2 hour scenic cruise in Milford Sound
- Informative pilot commentary and nature guides
- 3 Scenic Landings, including the Earnslaw Burn
- Picnic lunch
- Allow 5 hours
- Departs at 9:30am
- Pick up from central Queenstown or meet at the Heliworks base in Frankton
- Operates daily all year
- Child (3-11yrs) & infant (0-2yrs) rates apply
- Please bring sunscreen, sunglasses, rain jacket, warm layers, camera and closed-toe shoes
- Minimum numbers apply for flights to go ahead
- Tea & coffee is available on the boat cruise
- If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather you can reschedule or contact us for a full refund
- We recommend booking this trip for one of your first available dates in Queenstown to allow flexibility for weather changes
- Flight paths and landings may vary due to weather at the pilot's discretion
- Please note that during the winter months, the Earnslaw Burn does not have as many fast flowing waterfalls as during spring, summer and autumn months, but it is still a spectacular location
Recent reviews
Unfortunately, the cruise portion was cancelled due to weather effecting the helicopter ride back. We also couldn’t reschedule for another day as we left town that afternoon. While we understand that weather is unpredictable, we don’t agree with the partial refund of $200 per ticket that was offered. The way I look at it, the $1295 covered 3 things: helicopter ride, alpine landing and the boat cruise. Because the boat cruise didn’t happen, I would expect to recieve a refund of 1/3 of the price(or about $431 per ticket). The current offer of $200 wasn’t acceptable. If one does the math, I would never pay $1000 just for a helicopter ride.
Review for Milford Sound Heli-Cruise-Helicopter Flight
Need help?
- Email us at plan@everythingnewzealand.com
- Product ID: 26281
- This experience is supplied by Heliworks Queenstown