 What's New - Hokitika to Milford Sound - Scenic Flight

Recently I joined my brother for a winter scenic flight in a fixed wing Cessna. Leaving the clouds at Hokitika behind us we headed south for a glorious sunshine day in Milford Sound. Our pilot Murray Bowes of Wilderness Wings helped us identify the snowy peaks as we flew along the length of the Southern Alps and were reminded of our pioneering alpine heritage. Laden in new snow we could almost touch these beauties!
We glided up the sound to land at Milford airstrip and quickly boarded a bus to the wharf for our boat cruise out to the Tasman Sea. With a hot lunch on board we enjoyed the fresh winter salt sea air, the towering peaks and deep blue/green sea before heading back to land.
Milford was magnificent with low snow on the peaks and not a cloud in the sky. Few tourist meant that we virtually had the place to ourselves. The returning flight hugged the coastline so we could see at close range the meandering rivers, isolated fishermen’s huts and untouched remote beaches. Finally we buzzed low over Bold Head frightening Neil in the garden at Paramata Lodge before landing back at Hokitika airport 6 hours later.
It was the most fantastic day trip and I would recommend it to everyone as the best winter adventure you could have in NZ on one cloudy day in Hokitika. Kathy
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