Should You Fly from Wanaka or Queenstown to Milford Sound?

Are you interested in a Milford Sound scenic flight? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. At Southern Alps Air, we are a family-owned and operated business with decades of experience under our belt. Offering excellent scenic flights to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, we are the go-to tours company for scenic flights of the Southern Alps – plus, every passenger gets their own window seat.  

A common question, however, is whether it’s better to fly from Wanaka or from Queenstown to Milford Sound. In this blog, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about flying from Wanaka or Queenstown. 

Let’s get started!

Queenstown

Queenstown is certainly an intriguing place to visit in New Zealand’s South Island, with a number of things to do and see in and around the area. From adventure sports to lush scenery, Queenstown should be added to any traveller’s New Zealand bucket list. 

Wanaka

On the southern end of Lake Wanaka sits the town of Wanaka, a bustling alpine town that, like Queenstown, is a hub for outdoor activities and adventures. Surrounded by the Southern Alps, it’s no wonder that many tourists and Kiwis alike flock to this charming town. 

Flying from Wanaka or Queenstown

If you plan to experience breathtaking views of Milford Sound, there are usually two areas that you can fly from: Wanaka and Queenstown. At Southern Alps Air, all of our scenic flights towards Milford Sound begin at Wanaka for many reasons. 

This includes:

• The chance to see more glaciers – over 100 glaciers can be seen when flying from Wanaka
• Longer flight time – spend more time admiring the views from your own window seat (approximately 30 minutes longer than flying from Queenstown)
• More opportunities for photos 
• View the peaks of Mt Aspiring/Tititea on this route

As you can see, flying from Wanaka offers a number of benefits that you can reap.

Flying from Wanaka with Southern Alps Air offers many more incredible things to see and witness on a Milford Sound scenic flight. With experienced and expert pilots to guide the way, providing insightful commentary, passengers will surely have a mesmerising experience that is unrivalled. If you’re looking for the perfect Wanaka excursion, Southern Alps Air and our scenic flights in NZ have got you covered.