Why You Should Get a Flight Into (or Out of) Queenstown Airport at Least Once

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Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Jon Algie

You don’t need to take a scenic flight over the Southern Alps to get the perfect view of this stunning chain of mountains — just make sure you fly into (or out of) Queenstown Airport and hope for clear skies and a window seat.

Flying Out of Queenstown Airport

We were seated on the left hand side of the plane on our recent trip from Queenstown to Auckland. The flight attendant informed us that there would be great views of the Remarkables (Queenstown’s most iconic set of mountains) from that side (and views over Queenstown from the other). It didn’t disappoint.

We had a clear (ish) day and it was amazing to get such sweeping views of the mountains near Queenstown. It didn’t stop there either. The Southern Alps mountain range stretches most of the way up the South Island, so we were treated to those incredible views for about half of the flight. We mostly saw ocean while flying over the North Island – I guess we were on the wrong side of the plane for that portion of the journey.

We flew back to Queenstown a few days later but the weather didn’t quite play its part. It was still a cool flight though, with mountains occasionally poking their heads out from the clouds. We’ve since flown this route a couple of times and it’s always fun to see the Southern Alps from above.

What to do when you land in Queenstown

Queenstown Airport is only a few kilometres from the town. Once settled into your hotel there is so much to explore. There are some stunning short hikes, historic areas and all the adventure activities you could ever want to try. You’ll want to spend at least a few days in and around Queenstown, and there are also some day trips you can do to places like Milford Sound and Glenorchy. Check out my Queenstown posts for more information on New Zealand’s most popular tourist town.

READ MORE: 15 of the Best Things to Do in Queenstown

Flying into or out of Queenstown Airport is one of the most scenic experiences you can have in New Zealand. Just hope you get a window seat and it’s a nice day!

Are you planning a trip to Queenstown? Check out our Queenstown Travel Guide!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.
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