Most visitors to Fiordland will soak up its wonders from the ground - by foot, car, bus or boat. But if you really want to take your Fiordland adventure to a whole new level, climb aboard a Southern Lakes helicopter for a starry-eyed survey of its knockout scenery.
Within seconds of
taking off you are spellbound by the elevated panorama - the township of Te Anau becomes like Toy Town and the size of the lake is quickly put into perspective.
The sheer height of the mountains and the denseness of the rainforest left me feeling like a very insignificant sliver of mortality. Even if you are slightly nervous about such a mode of transport, your fears will soon be forgotten, as your senses are whipped into captivation by the surreal scenery.
Flying around Doubtful Sound was really like being in a movie, as the mist rolled in and out on cue. Our pilot Richard is the owner of Southern Lakes Helicopters and, with more than 30,000 hours flying experience, we were certainly treated to his masterly skills, as we rubbed shoulders with waterfalls, lakes, mountain faces, as well as doing a remote landing on a mountain top - or "knob" as they call it.
Southern Lakes offers a huge range of excursions spanning all of the Fiords, or you can make a personalised itinerary, which they will be happy to facilitate. It is truly an indelible experience.
