Please choose one of the pickup locations listed
For the first 30min of the drive we will travel on the Devil's Staircase along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. We will stop for 10min to give you the opportunity to take a photo of this beautiful area.
Photo Stop
After more amazing mountain, river and farmland views we arrive in Te Anau, home to Lake Te Anau, New Zealand’s second largest lake. While in this idyllic town we will stop for a break and maybe meet some of the local animals or wildlife. Continuing along the lake we stop at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track, to hear the stories and admire the views.
Continuing along the lake we stop at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track, to hear the stories and admire the views.
Leaving Te Anau and entering Fiordland National Park we stop in Eglinton Valley. With views worthy of Lord of the Rings, this valley follows the path of an ancient glacier through Fiordland. One of the first major attractions as you enter the park, it really sets the scene for a journey that only get more impressive the deeper you get.
Our next stop on this epic adventure is Mirror Lakes for a short stroll to see the famous reflections of the Earl Mountains. Get the right day, take a good picture and no one with be able to tell which way is the right way up for the photo.
Continuing along the Milford Road we come across Lake Gunn. Named after a famous explorer and popular for fishing, often we will stop at Lake Gunn for some photos and to enjoy the peace.
Climbing in altitude we go deeper into the Darran Mountains and these views require another stop to admire and take photos. We are also entering the area where Kea (the world’s largest alpine parrot) like to live. Start keeping an eye out for these large, cheeky and colourful birds that never fail to thrill and entertain when found.
The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2 km (0.75 miles) long road tunnel in the Fiordland region of the South Island of New Zealand, opened in 1953. New Zealand State Highway 94 passes through the tunnel, linking Milford Sound to Te Anau and Queenstown, by piercing the Darran Mountains at the Homer Saddle.[1] It connects between the valley of the Hollyford River to the east and that of the Cleddau to the west.
Following the valleys to the sea we arrive at Milford Sound where you will board your Boutique Small Boat Cruise (the No. 1 Cruise operator in Milford Sound on TripAdvisor). The cruise has a duration of 1hr 45min and offers complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits
Explore Milford Sound
We will stop in Te Anau on the way home for 30min. Restrooms and food available at this stop.
Sadly we must start to head back to Queenstown but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip and many stops and breaks along the way.
After the cruise on the way back we pull over to admire the elevated amazing views of the divide in the Southern Alps, close to the start of the Routeburn Track. While here the guide will tell you the stories of ancient Maori explorers.
Could not rate this experience high enough. From the admission staff to the knowledgeable and humorous skipper and onboard staff, they ensured a bucket list experience that should not be missed. Would do it again in a heartbeat and will tell family and friends.
This tour was seriously, AMAZING!!! Danny was absolutely incredible, professional, funny, informative, helpful & a really good, safe driver. We couldn’t have picked a better guide to spend 13 hours with 😂 his music when approaching hotspots, was the BEST!! We had the perfect amount of people on our shuttle & cruise. Great value for money even though the views were priceless & we would happily go again (maybe on a rainy day).
We had an amazing experience with Milford Cruises, and our guide Sasha was truly the star of the day! She made the whole trip unforgettable with her stories, knowledge, and experience about the area. You could really feel her passion for Milford Sound, and it added so much to the experience. The small group made the tour feel intimate and relaxed, which we really appreciated. Both the van and the boat were very comfortable, everything was perfectly organized and punctual, and the lunch pack was surprisingly great. A special thank you as well for accommodating my partner’s food allergies so carefully and professionally — it made us feel very well looked after. Highly recommend Milford Cruises for anyone wanting a more personal and enjoyable Milford Sound experience!
Great day . Stephen collected us from our accommodation. Interesting commentary along the way. Plenty of photo stops,morning tea break. Provided with a lovely picnic lunch , beautiful lamb sandwich along with other treats. Milford cruise was amazing and had comfortable return journey to Te Anau. We highly recommend this tour
A wonderful way to visit Fiordland National Park. On our way to and from the park from Queenstown our guide Chris, an excellent driver, did an amazing job of amusing us and educating us about the history and our surroundings on the drive. In addition, he created an amazing well timed musical playlist to match the scenery and situation as we drove. Spectacular scenery through the park. In spite of somewhat dreary weather the cruise featured dramatic waterfalls and amazing scenery. A great experience.
Great experience, well run and lots of space on board which made it very enjoyable! Snacks and hot drinks were a nice touch 😊
A great day trip from Queenstown to the Milford. Danny was friendly and knowledgeable. Incredible scenery and wildlife.
This is a must do on your New Zealand south island experience. That said, it is a very long day. The sight of Milford Sound is the peak of the trip. Just remember, the journey there is part of the experience. Our driver, Joe, made the day and our experience more enjoyable. He spent time getting to know each person that traveled with him and also provided stories and knowledge about New Zealand. The small group size is pretty great too. We had a full van and no more than 15 people. We had great weather, but rain or shine, this is a trip not to be missed.
Fabulous cruise! Knowledgeable staff. Took time to view wildlife as well as waterfalls. Answered all our questions with a smile!
A great day trip from Queenstown to the Milford, expertly hosted by Amanda (tour driver / guide) who was knowledgeable, interesting and made the long trip easy to enjoy.
An excellent small group tour with great staff who have excellent local knowledge and a good sense of humour. Hot Tea and Coffee are available as well as complimentary cold water and biscuits. The boat was spotless and the scenery through the sound is absolutely breathtaking.
A long day a on a Mercedes bus to Milford sound to be part of the dramatic scenery. Our Driver Martin looked after us throughout the journey and although the drive was long, Martin kept us informed of all the sites whilst travelling.
A fantastic day trip from start to finish. Our guide Jeff was so warm, funny and interesting. Highly recommended activity. Great for families. Our teenagers scored it 10/10. Incredible scenery and wildlife.
We had an amazing experience with Inger as our guide. Pick-up was prompt and easy, and the van was comfortable enough to get in some naps before our first stop in Te Anau. Inger chatted with us about New Zealand nature and wildlife, and pointed out key things to see along the way. We had a few stops at beautiful lookouts and places to take photos and stretch our legs. Inger also spotted a kea bird hanging out by the road and pulled over so we could get a close-up look and take photos. The cruise around the sounds was absolutely breathtaking, getting to stand outside while the boat dipped under the waterfall was an amazing experience. We were lucky to have good weather with no rain, although it would have been cool to see all the other waterfalls that come and go. The boat had a nice deck to stand out on for great views, and Inger gave us the tip to sit on the left side of the boat for the best views of the waterfall coming back. The lunch provided was ok, don't expect anything amazing, but it was nice to have a bite on the boat as we took off. It was a long drive but got us back in time to enjoy the town for a bit before bed, I think driving ourselves would have been super exhausting and it was nice to be able to sit back and relax. Would highly recommend this tour!
Driver of the bus was so lovely and kind. Whole trip was very enjoyable, unforgettable memory! Thank you so much. This is must if anyone visiting NZ.
Great Cruise in small group. Great staff and expert crew. Simply nice despite the bad weather. Fully recommended. Thanks.
Stunning views and landscape both on the drive down and in Milford Sound. The entire day was spectacular. Our guide, Abi was a ball of positive energy from start to finish. He made sure we saw all the beautiful sights and still arrived on time at our destination. I think one of the best photos I took on our trip was at Mirror Lake. Overall, this is a must on your list!
Excellent tour as always! I've been on numerous outings with family and friends and this company always delivers a great experience. I like the fact that it's a small group so you get to visit with other travelers, there are stops along the way to take photos and the guides always have interesting information to share about the region and the national park. Highly recommended!
Wow….. what an amazing experience. Milford Sound (fiord) is absolutely stunning and well worth the trip to get there. Cruise Milford do such a fantastic job, booking was easy as was the check-in and boarding the boat. The captain gives a great guide and information about the area and history. We saw fur seals feeding and even saw seal pup up on the rocks. The waterfalls and scenery are just stunning. What made this experience so special was that it was a smaller boat which of course means a smaller number of passengers. Everyone had loads of space to move around and there was plenty of seating for all guests. It was lovely being uncrowded and small enough that guests interacted. I highly recommend Cruise Milford for a fantastic experience, they really are the best.
We had a fabulous day. Renee was fabulous and made the bus trip fun and informative. There lots of breaks that made the trip easier. Milford Sound is a destination not to be missed.
Fabulous experience !!! A once in a life time experience the staff were informative and offering to take photos of people … they offer tea and coffee which is a nice way to warm up .
Boat made stops at the 3 large waterfalls where we saw 2 cute little penguins, a seal and got showered. Very exciting and fun. Only thing we missed seeing is the tiny streams of waterfalls that we see in the pictures due to the sunny weather. Scenery would be very much more beautiful on a rainy day .
Appreciated the commentary by our guide Tommy-it was insightful and entertaining. He was always professional yet friendly and very thoughtful. He took care of all our needs before we asked. Made sure we saw everything. Staff that contacted us previous to tour were also very courteous and helpful. The tour to Milford Sound is a must do. I would absolutely recommend Altitude Tours. Wonderful experience.
Great drive down with Hannah. Lots of photo opportunities and stories told. Scenery of the mountains, farmland and rainforest was stunning. The boat trip was magical. Waterfalls, dolphins, seals and penguins. The service exceptional. Staff friendly and happy to answer all your questions. It’s a must do if you are in the area, well worth it!
Our guide Brian was awesome! Appreciated being picked up/dropped off, did not have to worry about anything for the day. Loved being with a small group and appreciated the variety of scenic stops we had along the way. Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound were spectacular and can’t wait to visit again.
Excellent day out of Te Anau to Milford Sound. Jonathan was a great driver/guide and very knowledgeable. He makes everyone comfortable. We had a full day programme, but no stress at all. The drive is magnificent, also thanks to the various stop and walks in the forests or at the lakes. The cruise was great, about 2 hours and very impressive. A highlight of our trip to NZ.
The staffs Krystal and Nicky were awesome and informative the whole experience. The trip went smooth and enjoyable.
Our guide, Sinchan, was quite knowledgeable and very engaging. Made the long road trip go by effortlessly. The extra bonus was a great weather day so both the Milford Sound cruise and nature stops were eye popping. Highly recommend!!
Excellent value for money and an incredible experience. Our tour guide Steve was a walking encyclopedia. Great trip.
Spectacular place. Well-organised tour. Make sure you take wet weather gear. Some of the commentary about the history of Aotearoa could do with revisioning/updating to be less eurocentric - times have changed...but overall - great.
Highly recommend this cruise to anyone especially Cruise Milford Guides were amazing and helpful Took photos for everyone and talked to people Always checking in if everyone was ok It’s these little things that make the experience even better Guides had great info but not over the top Also took us close to the waterfalls and seals so that was awesome Beautiful scenery and breathtaking views
This was the highlight of our trip to New Zealand. It's a long day but well worth it. Going into Milford Sound was just a breathtaking experience. The boat ride was lovely and you get so close to the waterfalls. When the Tasman Sea got a little rough a very kind crew member, Brooke, just talked me through what was happening. She has a very calm approach and was just a wealth of knowledge. She made what was a rocky experience for me (the rest of my family loved the small waves) just splendid. She was great!
Enjoyable cruise and knowledgeable guides. The staff was extremely friendly and even offered to take a photo of me steering the wheels! Will definitely come back one day in the winter or on a wet day.
Julia the captain and Marius the crew made the cruise totally enjoyable, relaxed, easy and informative. They invited my little girl behind the steering wheel, making it the highlight of her long day ❤️ cheers guys!
We had a wonderful time with Cruise Milford with a beautiful lady captain and an amazing crew that went above and beyond to cater for all passengers. Thank you for the wonderful service!
The cruise was a wonderful experience! Beautiful views, great commentary, and 100% worth it! Highly recommend
A great day - Shane our tour guide was brilliant; his local knowledge of plants, animals and stories of Maori and European history in the area made it even better. Funny and entertaining too ! The stops along the way were in really interesting places you may otherwise not know about; and the boat cruise was spectacular with the informative and humorous skipper. We highly recommend the tour, great value too.
It was a fantastic trip. We saw a lot more of Milford Sound than we would've if we had driven ourselves. Jono was a very informed and approachable guide.
Smaller boat but amazing trip. Super views and Super friendly crew. Thanks to Hope And Julia for the juice for the Girls and Chris for sharing some fascinating facts. Well worth the trip!
My partner and I did the Queenstown to Milford sounds small group tour. We had the best time thanks to our tour guide Callum. He was not only very knowledgeable and informative but he was very entertaining which made the van ride go fast. We would definitely recommend Callum & cheeky kiwi tours.
If you are going to book a trip to Milford please use these guys! Such a good experience, Jonno was astounding with the knowledge he could provide over the duration of the trip. We found it great in a smaller group as we could interact with all. We were shown some good points of interest and got to experience the cruise on a good rainy day! Definitely recommend going with Milford Cruises 😊
We had a great tour today with Cruise Milford. We were fortunate to have a very small number of people on our cruise so got a great personal experience. Saw dolphins and seals and while the weather wasn't the best we still got to see everything. Friendly staff from check in to disembarking. Easy to move around the ship and tea, coffee and biscuits all provided. Definitely recommend.
The trip there was as good as the cruise on the sound. Local Guide Jamie had heaps of knowledge of the area. Plenty of time to explore the nature on the way. So glad I picked this trip. Thanks for a great day😀
DATE OF TOUR: End of February 2020 BOOKED: directly through company TOUR: 5 stars - bucket list material TOUR GUIDES: 5 stars CONTACT WITH COMPANY PRIOR TO TOUR: 5 stars EASE OF BOOKING ONLINE: 5 stars TIPS: bring snacks and water if you are able (especially if being picked up from Queenstown), 1 bathroom break to/from Queenstown to Milford Sound (there is a bathroom on the bus, but at one point ours was out of order), it was very beneficial for us to have an international cell in order for them to contact us, i recommend a rain coat (I got a lite one off of Amazon and that was plenty) Milford Sound was high on my list when planning our trip to New Zealand. After experiencing it's wonder, I think this is something that should be on everyone's bucket list. Personally, I don't believe that the travel time to experience places should play that much of a role and I 100% feel that Milford Sound is worth it. Our time was just magical here. Out of all the Milford Sound tours, we chose Cruise Milford based on a review we saw saying that their cruises were smaller at meant you got more access to the scenery, etc. And that was true when you saw our Cruise compared to others. I received a call/text the day before from the company to make sure we were set, Because of flooding recently, food would not be available at Milford Sound and we were offered a package to add lunch. They were also very friendly at fielding our questions on food, snacks, bathroom breaks, etc (see below). Thank goodness, T-Mobile offers relatively cheap deals for international phone service. The morning of, our ride never showed. So, I called the lady that we spoke to the night before and by the time she called me back, she already had a Taxi ready to pick us up and bring us to the final bus stop (there was a mixup in the system). We booked our trip with transportation from our hotel in Queenstown. It is a 2-hour drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound, so it was honestly a great plan the day after getting in from our long flight as we slept most of the bus ride. From Queenstown there is a short stop to grab breakfast, coffee and use the bathroom and their grab/go pastries were DELICIOUS my husband and I went back for seconds before we got back on the bus. We stopped at the same stop on the way home and there wasn't much food left by the end of the day and hardly enough time to go to the other restaurants, so I HIGHLY recommend bringing snacks. There is a bathroom on the bus, but as I wrote above, ours was out of order halfway through the trip
EXCELLENT!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, Kreig was very accommodating. Sharing his knowledge about the places and his experience is interesting. I did the right choice of booking in a smaller group rather than driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound
Kreig was an excellent tour guide! The day I did this tour was right before Covid cancelled everything and it was a small group (only 5 of us). Our tour guide was amazing and made the experience memorable. I was at first planning on doing the drive solo from Queenstown, but the roads were closed and only were allowing organized tours. Although this was more expensive than just doing the cruise, in the end I was very pleased it worked out this way. The drive from Queenstown is long, and it's nice to just sit back and relax so you can enjoy all the views. We were also very lucky with having great weather! Cruise is stunning- definitely a must do. Highly recommend this company!!
Highly recommended small boat cruise that gets you up close to waterfalls with rainbows if you are as lucky as we were.
Look at the weather forecast before you go and try to pick a day when it will not be misty/foggy or lashing with rain! I would suggest doing a coach tour from Te Anau or Queenstown rather than driving to Milford Sound - the road is windy and goes through Homer Tunnel (single track) & coaches usually stop at Mirror Lakes, the Lupin Field & places to view the snow capped mountains on the way to Milford Sound. The company we went with owned the Cruise Ship we went on. The commentry and information on the bus journey down was great and we were fortunate to get up close at one of the stops to the inquisive Kea bird. The cruise ship was clean & tidy with free tea & coffee and helpful crew. The commentry was again good and there was plenty of freedom to stay inside with large windows or go out on deck. Take a waterproof/windproof coat as it can get cold on deck. From the start until we finished the cruise there were plenty of photo opportunities of mountains, waterfalls, seals etc. One of the 'must do' trips in New Zealand.
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