Take off into clear blue skies for a unique perspective on New Zealand’s breathtaking mountain, glacier, fiord, lake and river scenery.

Aerial sightseeing is one of our most popular visitor attractions and people often say that a scenic flight has been the highlight of their New Zealand holiday.

Most of our tourist resort towns have scenic flight operators based at the local airport, offering rides on helicopters, light aircraft, floatplanes or ski planes. Usually you can arrange for a scenic flight at short notice as the planes are constantly shuttling to and fro with flight durations ranging from 20-90 minutes. It’s a wonderful way to see the incredible contrasts in landscape that are packed into our islands.

The Mt Cook and Westland National Parks are the focus of attention in the South Island. Scenic flights originate in Mt Cook, Twizel, Wanaka, Queenstown, Fox and Franz Josef, circling the towering snow-capped peaks of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman and crossing the neve of huge glaciers on a Grand Tour.

Milford Sound excursions operate from Queenstown and Te Anau, sometimes in combination with a boat cruise and coach journey. Others are coupled with jet boating, rafting, skiing or snow landings. Kaikoura has the notable ‘Wings Over Whales’ whale watch flights to observe the great sperm whales. The North Island has spectacular ‘Volcanic Air Safaris’ over Mt Tarawera and the steaming ruins of White Island.

Scenic flights are a ‘must do’ activity on any New Zealand holiday. It’s the best way to surround yourself with majestic grandeur in high places and enjoy dramatic sights and scenes that you will never forget.