Wanaka scenic flight company Southern Alps Air operates out of Wanaka Airport and for the month of June offered a great “locals deal” for scenic flights to Milford.

Bannockburn winemaker Rosie Menzies joined a bunch of friends from Wanaka and took to the skies on one glorious winter morning recently on an epic flight above the rugged and dramatic scenery of the Southern Alps and spectacular national parks.

This is Rosie’s birds-eye view:

Living in Central Otago, the mountains dominate the landscape, giving a sense of permanence and majesty that gives perspective and grounding to a life lived amongst them. 

Like most people living here, any chance to get amongst them I jump at, which naturally happened when I was offered a chance to join a flight over Milford Sound. Certainly the special offer that Southern Alps Air is running till the end of June helped in that decision too. 

Nearing Milford via the West Coast a large slip caused by 550mm of rain in 24hours in February this year is clearly visible. 

So on Saturday we all met at the Wanaka airfield, there were seven of us, which filled the plane, alongside the pilot. 

It was a small fixed wing, single-engine aircraft and everyone had a seat next to a window. 

Lake Wānaka with the islands of Mou Tapu and Mou Wahu

We began our journey heading out towards Wanaka and over the peninsula, then continued along the Matukituki basin. 

The day was stunning with great visibility, and somewhere near the Rob Roy Glacier we were able to see Aoraki-Mt Cook. 

Related:

Backyard bliss: Ted and Derek’s excellent Edgewater adventure

Backyard Bliss: Toy story

Backyard Bliss: LandEscape set up for midwinter adventures

The names of the mountains, rivers, peaks and glaciers were pointed out to us as we made our way south along a chain of snow-capped peaks. 

Over Motatapu looking towards Lake Wakatipu.

Nearing Milford we flew along the coast and could see the Tasman Sea shimmering away into the horizon. 

Then Milford itself, in all its beauty and magnificence. Flying a loop around the head of the sound we returned to Wanaka this time over the Hollyford, Routeburn and Motatapu, with Queenstown just seen in the distance. 

The flight took around an hour and a half, but had a lasting effect for the whole day.

Southern Alps Air is Wanaka’s only locally owned and operated fixed wing scenic flight company which operates out of Wanaka and Makarora. It has been operating for more than 40 years flying scenic, charter and commercial flights and arranges packages such as the Milford’s glacier flight and cruise or the Makarora Fly, Walk and Jetboat option. 

 PHOTOS: Rosie Menzies