✅ What’s Included
• Fully guided small group tour from Queenstown (max 16 guests)
• Mitre Peak Milford Sound cruise
• Scenic flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown
• Lunch, snacks and bottled water
• Hotel pick-ups and drop-offs (select Queenstown locations)
• Modern air-conditioned minibus with charging ports
• All national park entry fees

🚫 What’s Not Included
• Flights to/from Queenstown
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Personal items and additional purchases
• Dinner after return to Queenstown

Fiordland weather is famously changeable year-round.
Summer (Dec–Feb) • Typical daytime: 15–22 °C • Conditions: long daylight, possible showers • Practical note: layers and rain jacket essential
Autumn (Mar–May) • Typical daytime: 12–18 °C • Conditions: crisp air, beautiful light • Practical note: warm layers for flight and cruise
Winter (Jun–Aug) • Typical daytime: 5–12 °C • Conditions: snow on peaks, dramatic waterfalls • Practical note: warm clothing and waterproof jacket
Spring (Sep–Nov) • Typical daytime: 10–18 °C • Conditions: wildflowers and fresh snow • Practical note: comfortable walking shoes

Documents & Essentials
• Photo ID and booking confirmation
• Travel insurance documents

Clothing (layered for Fiordland conditions)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Warm layers, waterproof jacket and hat
• Sunglasses and sunscreen

Toiletries & First Aid
• Personal medications and basic first-aid items
• Insect repellent (seasonal)

Electronics
• Charged phone and camera
• Portable power bank

Accessories & Nice-to-Haves
• Small daypack
• Reusable water bottle

Fiordland National Park is part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area and one of the most pristine wilderness regions on Earth.

Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is a fjord carved by glaciers with some of the highest sea cliffs in the world.

Mitre Peak rises dramatically 1,692 metres straight from the sea and is the iconic symbol of the sound.

New Zealand fur seals are commonly seen on the rocks during the cruise.

Kea – the world’s only alpine parrot – are often spotted near the Homer Tunnel.

Homer Tunnel was hand-carved through solid rock and remains an engineering marvel.

The scenic flight offers unparalleled views of the Southern Alps and remote valleys few people ever see.

Local guides share stories of Māori history and early European explorers who first navigated these waters.

Carbon Footprint & Offset Report: Milford Sound Fly Back Experience: Cruise & Scenic Flight

Quick Snapshot

Estimated CO₂e footprint per participant: 420 kg CO₂e
(higher-end conservative estimate – covers all on-tour impacts plus average local travel to/from Queenstown pickup points)

Our 200% offset commitment per booking: 840 kg CO₂e
Funded through genuine landscape restoration in climate-vulnerable developing regions (reforestation, mangroves, soil regeneration, etc.). This creates real net-positive impact beyond neutrality.

Tour summary

• 10-hour full-day tour
• Small group – max 16 guests
• Starts and ends with hotel pickup/drop-off from Queenstown accommodations
• Modern air-conditioned minibus + boutique Milford Sound cruise + scenic flight return
• No accommodation included
• Meals: Lunch with mountain views, snacks & bottled water
• Highlights: Scenic drive through Fiordland with photo stops (Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, Homer Tunnel), intimate Mitre Peak small boat cruise, scenic flight back over the Southern Alps, wildlife spotting (seals, kea), expert local guide commentary

Overview

This report estimates the carbon footprint for one individual participant on this tour using higher-end data from trusted sources. We intentionally choose upper-range figures to fully cover every impact – including hard-to-measure parts like supply chains and indirect effects.

We then double it (200%) and fund genuine landscape restoration projects in developing and climate-affected regions worldwide. This goes beyond standard offsetting to deliver real, lasting benefits for ecosystems and communities.

All figures in kg CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent – the standard measure that includes all greenhouse gases).

Tour Details

• Duration: 10 hours
• Key locations: Queenstown hotel pickups, Milford Road (Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, Homer Tunnel), Milford Sound (small boat cruise), scenic flight return over Southern Alps
• Travel style: Premium small-group experience combining scenic drive, intimate cruise and scenic flight
• Assumptions: Average participant, standard behaviours, higher-impact choices where uncertain. Local travel to Queenstown hotel pickup points is factored into the higher-end footprint for completeness.

Calculation Approach

• Sources: UK DEFRA 2025 conversion factors, Australian National Greenhouse Accounts 2024, UNWTO tourism data, IPCC guidelines, and peer-reviewed studies.
• Higher-end scale: Upper-range emission factors everywhere, plus radiative forcing for the scenic flight, well-to-tank fuel effects, +20% uncertainty buffer, and conservative assumptions for minibus + marine cruise operations.
• Per person, full tour experience.
• Excludes only purely personal extras (e.g. souvenirs or additional purchases).

Detailed Emissions Breakdown (per participant)

Transportation – 320 kg CO₂e

• Average local travel to/from Queenstown pickup points (higher-end mix of car, taxi or short transfers): 30 kg
• On-tour minibus (~480 km round trip, shared small group) + boutique cruise + scenic flight return: 290 kg – higher-end diesel + marine + aviation factor with low-occupancy buffer

Accommodation – 0 kg CO₂e

• Day tour only – no overnight stay

Meals & Food – 60 kg CO₂e

• Included lunch with mountain views + snacks & bottled water (tourism-level portions and waste): 60 kg – higher-impact estimate

Activities & Excursions – 40 kg CO₂e

• Guided cruise, scenic flight, photo stops, wildlife viewing and expert commentary

TOTAL ESTIMATED FOOTPRINT PER PERSON: 420 kg CO₂e

Our 200% Offset Commitment

• Amount we will offset: 2 × 420 kg = 840 kg CO₂e per individual booking
• How: Direct funding of landscape restoration projects – reforestation, mangrove protection, regenerative agriculture, wetland and soil carbon restoration
• Where: Developing countries and regions most affected by climate change (e.g. Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America) for maximum global benefit and community co-benefits
• Why 200% and higher-end estimates: To guarantee coverage despite any measurement discrepancies and to create genuine extra positive impact

Important Notes

• Numbers are deliberately conservative (higher) so we over-deliver on restoration – real footprint may be lower
• The tour already has strong sustainability practices (small group, low-impact visitation in World Heritage area); our independent higher-end analysis adds extra certainty
• Carbon accounting has natural uncertainties – doubling it is the responsible way
• This directly supports long-term carbon-sequestering landscapes and local communities

How many people are in the group?
Maximum 16 guests for a personal small group experience.

Is the flight weather dependent?
Yes – flights are always on request and confirmed with the airline. Alternative arrangements may be made if needed.

What is included in the lunch?
A delicious picnic lunch with local produce (dietary requirements can be accommodated).

Are hotel pick-ups included?
Yes – from select Queenstown locations. Exact times provided at booking.

What should I wear?
Layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Weather can change quickly in Fiordland.

Can I bring my camera?
Absolutely – plenty of time for photos at stops and during the cruise and flight.

Is this suitable for all ages?
Yes – the tour is family-friendly with easy activity levels.

What happens if the flight is cancelled?
The guide will arrange a comfortable return by road while still delivering a great experience.