A flight with Southern Lakes Helicopters is the ultimate experience and without any doubt the best way to see the Fiordlands area. I have been to New Zealand a few times and this is my favourite excursion of all.
We had superb weather for our flight which departed from Te Anau and followed the lake and mountains down towards the coast and Milford Sound. We landed at a remote lake high in the mountains for our picnic, I forget the name of it but the views were breathtaking! And a picnic in such remote beauty is a top 10 life experience to remember!...The food was also very tasty!
Our flight then continued on to Milford. You get a much larger perspective of this region from the air, it is EPIC! The mountains, the lakes, valleys, there is so much more to it than you can imagine, or experience from travelling the Milford road and cruising the sound.
We had another alpine landing above the lake that fed Sutherland falls. Our pilot, Matt was superb! Very knowledgeable, he did tell us the name of the lake, but again I forget! Or it may have been the excitment of being joined by a cheaky Kea that I just didn't hear!
If you are visiting the Fiordlands area I strongly recommend a trip with Southern Lakes Heli's. The staff are very welcoming and friendly and they really know how to show off the jawdroppingly beautiful scenery that is on offer.