Scenic Flights in Te Anau

Scenic flights from Te Anau lift off from the lakefront or from Manapouri and reach fiords that have no road, including Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. Choose by flight length and landings: the shortest flight samples the Hidden Lakes, and the longest add two landings and a run over several fiords. Helicopter flights run Monday to Sunday and sit easily alongside the rest of things to do in Te Anau.

Helicopter flights from Te Anau by flight length

Most helicopter flights from Te Anau leave from the lakeside base at 79 Lakefront Drive and are available Monday to Sunday. The 30-minute scenic helicopter flight flies over the Hidden Lakes, Lake Manapouri and the Nor West Lakes, then lands beside a mountain tarn. It works as a sampler of Fiordland from above.

The 40-minute Mountain Magic flight goes deeper over the Kepler Mountains and the Main Divide, with an alpine landing at Mount Kidd. Beyond that, the flights turn to the fiords.

Doubtful Sound from the air

Doubtful Sound is reached by sea or air only. The 70-minute Doubtful Sound helicopter flight passes the West Arm Power Station and Bradshaw Sound, crosses the Main Divide and makes two remote alpine landings, one at Mount Kidd. The 105-minute Dusky Doubtful Sound flight flies over Lake Manapouri, detours into Campbell's Kingdom and takes in three more fiords, with two landings.

Beyond the helicopters, scenic flights from Te Anau include the 1-hour Doubtful Sound scenic flight. It departs from Te Anau Manapouri Airport on Aviation Drive, passes granite peaks near 2000 m high and touches down at a remote alpine site, with transfers from Te Anau or Manapouri included.

Fly from Te Anau to Milford Sound

The Milford Sound scenic helicopter flight from Te Anau is a 105-minute flight over the remote Wick Mountains, past Lake Iceberg and Mitre Peak, and lands at Lake Quill. The road to Milford Sound is about 120 km and a 3-hour drive each way, and a Milford Sound cruise puts you on the water, while the flight shows the same country from above.

Heli-hikes: fly in, walk out

Heli-hikes use the helicopter to skip the climb. The Fiordland heli-hike starts with a 25-minute flight over the Hidden Lakes, lands at a mountain tarn and joins the Kepler Track, as a half-day or full-day trip with a boat ride back to the town centre.

The 6.5-hour Luxmore Hut and Kepler Track helicopter hike adds two alpine landings, Luxmore Hut views, a guided walk through native forest, morning tea and a packed lunch, and a return cruise on Lake Te Anau. During the Great Walks season, landings at Luxmore Hut are only permitted between 10am and 3pm.

Where flights leave from and how to reach Te Anau

Te Anau Manapouri Airport is at Manapouri, about 20 km south of Te Anau. Queenstown Airport is the closest for domestic and international flights, and Queenstown to Te Anau is 170 km and a 2.5-hour drive.

Helicopter flights start on Lakefront Drive in town, and a flight pairs well with Milford Sound cruises from Te Anau on another day.

Frequently asked questions

Does Te Anau have an airport?

Te Anau Manapouri Airport serves the area from Manapouri, about 20 km south of town, and it is the departure point for the Doubtful Sound scenic flight. Queenstown Airport is the closest for domestic and international flights, a 2.5-hour drive of about 170 km.

Can you fly from Te Anau to Milford Sound?

Scenic helicopter flights from Te Anau fly over Milford Sound, Mitre Peak and the Wick Mountains and land at Lake Quill. It is a scenic flight with landings, so cruises on the sound itself are booked separately.

How long are scenic flights from Te Anau?

Scenic flights from Te Anau range from a 30-minute helicopter flight over the Hidden Lakes up to 105-minute flights over Doubtful Sound or Milford Sound. A 1-hour Doubtful Sound scenic flight sits in between.

Are there age limits on helicopter flights from Te Anau?

Helicopter flights from Te Anau have no age restrictions. Children under 4 travel free on a parent's lap with safety belts provided, and children over 4 legally need their own seat.

Do you need to give your weight for a Te Anau helicopter flight?

Every passenger on a Te Anau helicopter flight gives a full name and weight before boarding the aircraft.

Which Te Anau flights include landings?

The 30-minute flight lands beside a mountain tarn, the 40-minute flight lands at Mount Kidd, and the Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound helicopter flights make two landings. The 1-hour Doubtful Sound scenic flight includes an alpine landing.

Can you book a private helicopter flight from Te Anau?

Heli-hike bookings on Experience Oz are for a shared helicopter. If you want a private flight, tell the operator when you book and they will confirm the cost.

Scenic flights from Te Anau start with a 30-minute hop over the Hidden Lakes and run up to 105-minute flights over Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. Pick the fiord you want to see, then the flight length.