New Zealand’s South Island is well-known for its cooler climes, snow days, and the Southern Alps stretching along much of its length. Perhaps nowhere in the South Island is more popular as a travel destination than Queenstown. It’s local to so many different amazing spots, making it an attractive option for travellers who want to explore the best of what the region has to offer, like visiting world-class glaciers

Franz Josef Glacier is one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders, nestled deep in New Zealand’s South Island. People from all around the globe visit Aotearoa just to get a glimpse of this glacier – among others – as it’s one of the most well-known features of the entire Southern Alps mountain range. Franz Josef is fairly unique as glaciers go. The ‘terminal face’ – better known as

The journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound is speckled with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. From the road, you’re treated to gorgeous green forest arcing up from the ground, views of mirrored lakes to the left and right, and snow-covered mountaintops stretching toward the sky. If you’re planning a trip to this stunning part of the world, you have the chance to see it in

When it comes to the South Island, there’s so much beauty to take in and often very little time to do it. One of the best ways to experience the majesty of this stunning New Zealand region is to do it from the air! In this comprehensive guide to South Island flights, the True South Flights team will explore everything you need to know about flying in this region.

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure exploring some of the many wonders of New Zealand’s South Island? If you’ve been eyeing a trip to the South Island, one of the best ways to experience its pristine landscapes, rugged mountains, dramatic coastlines, serene lakes, and much more is from the sky. There’s much to see and experience, but you want to make sure you’re visiting at the

If you’ve dreamed about exploring the picturesque town of Queenstown, take your trip to the next level by booking the experience of a lifetime with True South Flights. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the Southern Alps of the South Island, beautiful Queenstown offers many thrilling experiences and breathtaking views. Upon your arrival, you’ll find that the town is surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges, with the Remarkables

If unrivalled beauty is what you are looking for, the South Island is the place for you. Home to vast tussock-covered plains, tangled turquoise rivers, vibrant wildflowers, crystal-clear lakes, and towering mountains, it is a nature-lovers paradise. And while it is extraordinarily beautiful year-round, this is a location that comes to life in winter. If you have been considering a scenic flight excursion but are unsure when to fly,

Scenic flights are a breathtaking way to explore New Zealand’s natural beauty. Offering a unique perspective highlighting the vastness of the land below, passengers are provided with an unforgettable experience. If you are planning your next adventure and considering taking scenic flights New Zealand-wide, you may be curious about the safety protocols involved. At True South Flights, we consider ourselves leaders in the scenic flight industry. We uphold the

Deep in the heart of Canterbury sits Aoraki (Mount Cook), the crown jewel of the South Island. This extraordinary mountain is New Zealand’s tallest peak, towering over 3000 metres high. An adventure-lover’s dream, Aoraki is home to a wealth of outdoor activities, including popular hikes such as the Hooker Valley Track, ample ski slopes, and various mountaineering opportunities. For the bold at heart, scenic flights in Mt Cook are

With temperatures dropping around the country, it is clear that autumn is fast approaching. This is a terrific time of year to experience scenic flights New Zealand-wide, as the weather is still fine and popular destinations are typically less busy. Make the most of our country’s natural beauty with breathtaking scenic flights that New Zealand citizens and international tourists alike can enjoy. Read on for a summary of the

Thundering waterfalls, statuesque peaks, unique geological formations and an abundance of marine life are just some of the breathtaking elements found in and around Milford Sound. Unsurprisingly, this incredible natural wonder is the best-known fjord in Fiordland National Park, a protected area spanning 1.3 million hectares located in the southwest corner of the South Island. Along with Mt Aspiring National Park, Mt Cook National Park and Westland National Park,

New Zealand’s South Island offers a wealth of natural beauty, from crystal clear lakes and snowy mountains to emerald forests and silvery glaciers. With some of the most incredible landscapes in the world, this stunning scenery is not to be missed – and no trip to the South Island is complete without a visit to Mount Cook and the region’s gorgeous glaciers. This scenic paradise is also the perfect

Interested in exploring some of New Zealand’s most beautiful, dramatic scenery? Thinking of booking a flight to experience it from the air? There are plenty of stunning scenic flights NZ-wide, but the lower South Island is an area you won’t regret viewing from above. Featuring some of the most incredible scenery in Aotearoa and, we think, the world, this corner of the country is home to expansive grasslands, jade-green

Picture this: you are soaring high in the air over incredible snow-capped mountains, vast valleys, gleaming rivers, cobalt-blue lakes, and icy glaciers. You are seeing some of New Zealand’s most remarkable scenery up close and personal, from the completely unique perspective of the air. You are sharing this moment not with the masses but with just a few select people. It doesn’t get more special than that. There are

The Tasman Glacier. Stretching over twenty-three kilometres long, the Glacier begins in Mount Cook and terminates in the stunning Lake Tasman. Well-known as the longest glacier in New Zealand, this is a stunning demonstration of our country’s natural beauty. For many years, this part of the country was untouchable. Only the very best mountaineers could get close, and the view from the top of the glacier belonged to them

There’s nothing like experiencing the beauty of the Southern Alps from a snowfield nestled in its grandeur. Glittering towers of ice, pure snow, and the raw, untouched view of the surrounding landscape. That’s exactly what you get when you opt for our glacier helicopter landing tours. At True South Flights, we fly hundreds of visitors to these glaciers every year. No trip to the South Island is complete without

If you’ve been in Aotearoa long enough, then you’ve definitely heard of Milford Sound. Spanning a sizable portion of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is iconic around the world for its stunning vista from land, sea, and sky. For many, a trip to Milford Sound is a defining experience. It’s an incredible display of natural beauty, and the journey through Fiordland is worth travelling from anywhere in the country

Twelve kilometres long, the Franz Josef Glacier stretches across the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. This is one of the most unique glaciers in the world, moving faster than many but offering a relatively temperate climate at the same time.  These factors, combined with the low altitude of this iconic ice formation, mean that adventurous travellers from here and abroad are able to visit with a Franz

If you are not typically an intrepid mountaineer, you may feel like you are missing out on some adventures that require a high skill level when it comes to scaling the snowy peaks or travelling to some of the most magical places on earth – glaciers.  New Zealand has some of the best alpine features in the world, and if you have the skills and resources required to indulge

If you are fortunate enough to be heading into New Zealand’s South Island to take in some sights or enjoy the many adventure tourism activities on offer, there are a couple of things you should be putting on your ‘must-do’ list. Perhaps you are looking for an adrenaline rush, or maybe you are keen to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife. Whatever you decide, you won’t be disappointed by

New Zealand boasts some stunning natural features, with vast tracts of native forest, glassy lakes, and ancient peaks that produce black sand beaches composed of titanium and iron along the West Coast; this country has so much to offer the stargazer, the uphill wanderer and the powder hound. So what should you put at the top of your list when you set out to explore this great country? If

If you love wild sweeping surf beaches, breathtaking natural parks that include tracts of fragrant native bush and the most incredible bird life, unbeaten vistas from ancient volcanic mountains, and white water rafting adventures, New Zealand has it all – without predators, snakes, or poisonous spiders! When planning your trip, there is one place that needs to go at the top of your list, the Franz Josef Glacier, a

Some of our planes are great for taking large tour groups on scenic flights over Milford Sound while others are better for whisking a few people (and all their bells and whistles) up to Mount Cook for a once-in-a-lifetime heli-hike. All of the planes we acquire are thoroughly researched and tested and we only choose models that are comfortable and reliable with excellent safety records. Cessna Grand Caravan Our

Choose the right aircraft In the world of aerial photography, not all aircraft are created equal! If there is one thing you need to snag a great photo from the air, it’s a clear, uninterrupted view. All True South aircraft that embark on scenic flights have been carefully selected with exactly this in mind, with large windows and guaranteed window seats for all passengers. Our Airvans have bubble windows and can

The Tasman Glacier is an impressive, expansive ice formation that runs down the Eastern side of Mount Cook. At 23.5km in length it’s New Zealand’s longest glacier, running south east down the Southern Alps towards the Mackenzie Basin. Because of its position on the Eastern side of the Alps, the Tasman Glacier is thought to experience more pleasant weather than it’s Western neighbours. This means more sunshine hours, less wind

Well, if you’re looking for the gift of all gifts—the one that will spark surprise, delight and excitement and earn you serious brownie points—stop searching, because we have the ‘mother’ of all gift ideas right here! Give your mother, grandmother, mother-in-law or the mother of your children something to look forward to with the gift of one of our incredible True South scenic flight experiences. Scenic flight over Milford

So where exactly are the best spots for skiing? Whether you’re a beginner or a budding Olympian, a parent or a penny-pincher, we have a spot for you. We’ve even thrown in the spot with the best views and the best South Island heli-skiing experience to leave you counting down the days until you can hit the slopes.​ Best for families Our pick of the South Island ski fields

Read on to learn some amazing facts that will make your Milford Sound scenic flight all the more fascinating.   Milford Sound is not actually a sound You might’ve heard this one before, but Milford Sound is not actually a sound—it is a fiord. What’s the difference? Well, a sound is formed when a river valley is flooded by the sea, whereas a fiord (or fjord) is typically created when a

With so many beautiful sights to experience in the world, we’ve lined up the best ones to see from above. The Grand Canyon, United States of America The best way—some would say the ONLY way—to experience the Grand Canyon is through a scenic flight. At 446 kilometres long, 29 kilometres wide and 1,800 meters deep, its immense size is best appreciated from above. Grand Canyon scenic flights can take

Others suffer from claustrophobia and struggle with being in a confined place for a set amount of time. Occasionally, we have somebody who can sit on a major flight between cities without batting an eyelid—but has a specific fear of small planes. These fears and anxieties are not uncommon, so we’ve put together some tips for nervous flyers to help you cope if you’re feeling a little on edge. We want

It’s a magical time of year, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re visiting on your own, as a couple or as a group. You’ll never be bored in Queenstown! Visiting Queenstown in winter? Here are just a few things to do that might tempt you… Snow snow snow! Of course, Queenstown is probably best known for skiing and snowboarding in winter. Snow bunnies from all over the globe come