Glass Roof, Small Group, Milford Sound Day Tour From Queenstown

My sister and I did this tour, and it was fantastic. It was a great ride going over, and what really made it fun was our driver Beanie. She was informative, friendly, and interesting to visit with. She gave us so many facts about New Zealand and Queenstown and what we were seeing on the way to Milford Sound. She even told us what side of the boat to sit on for the best views. Everyone on our tour flew back to Queenstown except for my sister and I, so we were the only ones on the coach for the return trip. We truly enjoyed visiting with Beanie. I felt like we got on the coach as strangers and off the coach as friends.

Overall an amazing experience. Our guide, Will, was great. Funny, knowledgeable, and handsome (he definitely didn’t tell us to say the last part). He made the long drive out to the sound go by quickly. Unfortunately the weather cancelled our flight back, but even still would definitely do it again.

Our guide is Malav. He is such an amazing guide. Firstly, we went to the largest lake in south island. Then, along the way to milford sound, we stop by some locations for taking photos. We even found kea, native alpine parrot. Malav is so incredible, he shared so many interesting details about nature, biodiversity, mountains, trails, environmental conservation, etc. i am bewildered by such enthusiastic guide. I was really satisfied with the great person he is. Last but not least, the milford sound was spectacular. We were blessed with clear skies(which was rare). We were able to see clear view, mountains, peaks, waterfall. It was amazing to wonders of nature. Especially the Fiordland National Park. All in all, this is a must try. Especially with guide Malav. 100% knows about nature.

We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Altitude Tours on our trip to Milford Sound. From start to finish, the day was one of the highlights of our time in New Zealand. We traveled in the glass-roof Mercedes van, which was such a great way to experience the incredible scenery along the route. While Milford Sound itself was spectacular, we honestly enjoyed the journey there just as much. The drive is breathtaking, and the numerous stops along the way gave us plenty of opportunities to get out, explore, take photos, and really appreciate the landscapes rather than simply rushing to the destination. Our guide, Ash, was incredible. He had such a relaxed and easygoing personality that made the entire day feel comfortable and unhurried, while also being extremely knowledgeable about the area. He shared plenty of interesting information throughout the drive without ever making it feel like a lecture, and his personality really added to the experience. We were also incredibly lucky with the weather and arrived at Milford Sound to beautiful sunshine and clear conditions. Seeing it like that was unforgettable. Altitude Tours did a wonderful job making the journey itself part of the experience, rather than treating the drive as simply transportation to Milford Sound. Between the beautiful Mercedes van, all the scenic stops, the spectacular scenery, and having Ash as our guide, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. Highly recommend!

An amazing trip, beautiful scenery all the way & then the sound. Take the early tours especially if its in peak time as you beat all the big coaches to all the stops. If you get travel sick make sure you take some medication as the road wind's around the lakes & mountains. Our tour guide Andy was fantastic, very experienced & very easy to interact with.

Our initial trip was cancelled and rescheduled for the following day because of an avalanche warning prompting a road closure. However, the next day, we were able to experience the drive to Milford Sound/Fjord and the cruise! We stopped in Te’Anu and Senchan, our guide/driver, recommended this great meat pie shop! He also made good recommendations for eateries around QT. In terms of the weather, I appreciated the rain, wind, natural landscape in all of its glory! We saw so much water but also so many rainbows! We also saw a small penguin. It was a gorgeous sunrise and the cruise was exhilarating. I was wiped out and slept for part of the way back.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Our driver/guide (James) was excellent, the scenery was stunning and the picnic lunch was very tasty. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Had an absolutely amazing day on the Milford Sound tour! The scenery is incredible from start to finish, and honestly the journey there is just as much a part of the experience as Milford itself. So many beautiful stops along the way through Fiordland, with plenty of time for photos and to take everything in. James/Jimmy our guide was fantastic — friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the national park and drive there. He kept the day relaxed but entertaining, shared loads of interesting stories and local knowledge, and made sure everyone was having a great time. The cruise through Milford Sound was epic, the waterfalls and mountains are even more impressive in person. Photos don’t do it justice. Even with the long drive, the whole day flew by. Definitely one of the best things we did in New Zealand and something I’d recommend to anyone visiting Queenstown. 10/10 experience!

We had the best time on this tour!!! Our guide, Sinchan was simply amazing. There were 16 people from 5 different countries and he ensured each one of us not only had a lot of fun but also learned so much about the history, culture and geographical features of the Fiordland National Park. The boat tour on Milford Sound was awesome with a very knowledgeable captain. The scenery and beauty of the Fiord was breathtaking. One of the best tours we have been on. The only way to experience Milford Sound is in a small group and make sure it’s with Sinchan. 5 out of 5 from us. J&J, Syd 🇦🇺

Fantastic small tour group, well run with plenty of optional stops for photos. Erik was so knowledgeable and we loved the Māori focus. I learnt so much more than I expected and the beautiful scenery was a bonus too. Just wished we’d booked the packed lunch option as looked yummy.

Tour size should be capped at 50% of the transport capacity to take into account passengers who occupy additional seats when boarded first. My husband and I endured a rather uncomfortable 4h ride which especially during the winding roads. As we were the last 2 passengers to be picked up (from Te Anau), the remaining seats in the 16-seater van was in the last row for 4 where another couple has already occupied 2. All other passengers were picked up from QT hence most seats were already taken up, including individuals occupying double seats (1 seat to place their belongings) and even a couple who sat apart i.e 1 on double seat with belongings and 1 on single seat, understandably for more personal space. The last row was definitely not fit to sit 4 adults and we were beyond relieved to get off at Te Anau. One could also count this as unfortunate luck.

Left from Te Anau on the mini bus which was a very comfortable 2 hr trip to the Sound. Rich our driver was very entertaining and full of fun facts and “dad” jokes. He really has the gift to make your trip very enjoyable!! Thanks Rich!

The commentary and views and size of boat. Good value any weather. Saw alot in a short time. Good for families

This is a great tour for Milford Sound. Along the way to Milford Sound you’ll stop by a few easy sites where you can see some highlights of the National Park. Pros - Great tour guide (shoutout to Podge) that was very friendly and knowledgeable - Great transportation to Milford Sound (a Mercedes mini bus) - Seamlessly got us onto the Milford Sound cruise, which was great (we got to see the area along with seals and dolphins) Cons - None to speak of

The guide was very knowledgeable and scenery brilliant, Andy gave us a great insight into the landscape on route to milford and the van and size of the group made for a great day

Picked this tour up in Te Anau. Everyone else on the bus was from Queenstown. I think it may be better to do it yourself from Te Anau. You can stop where you want then. Milford sound was amazing. We stopped at 3 places for a few minutes on the way to the boat, and raced back on the way back. No stops.

The tour was well organized and our driver/guide was very knowledgeable, passing on lots of information during the drive. Being in a small group was definitely a big bonus compared to traveling in the big tour buses. The cruise was great, despite the weather. The whole experience was great. We were picked up and dropped off at Te Anuo so our drive time was a lot shorter than from Queenstown which was great especially on the way back

Wonderful day trip out to Milford Sound with Andy. Very comfortable coach, the lunch was generous and tasty and Andy in particular was an excellent guide, very friendly, very knowledgeable, and extremely helpful.

Had an amazing day exploring our beautiful country! Our guide, Mick, was super knowledgeable and friendly with our full bus of people. We were the first two to be picked up and call me old school, but he was super early/on time - love it. The rest of the trip, I’m guessing will be memorable (Thanks to DJ Big D and Her partner in crime, Sweet T and also Nick lol). We stopped of at many locations since we were on time and the views were breathtaking! We opted to include the lunch in our package which is super handy! There is a cafe stop in Te Anau, so if you feel like snacking, get something there, otherwise pack your lunch - it’s a long trip there and back but he makes you feel super safe with constant stops to take pics, toilet breaks and his driving is so safe! If you’re from NZ, please do this tour! We are lucky to live in such a beautiful country. Definitely planning on exploring more of NZ. Have posted some pics 🙂

What an outstanding day trip to Milford Sound and Tania our guide was brilliant. Made the day for us. Fantastic van and great service all the way. Boat trip was spectacular and staff so helpful. Well done altitude tours.

We had an awesome time on our tour and our guide Tanya made it even more fun. We would highly recommend using Altitude for a more intimate small group experience. Thanks so much Tanya & Altitude :)

Amazing experience. Beau was a fantastic guide, and we had a beautiful day. Stunning scenery, lots of great stops for photos, excellent lunch.

Really great tour, the guide was really nice :) Saw dolphins in Milford sound and lots of beautiful sights along the way.

Once again the Altitude Tours team provided a sensational experience with this tour. This is a 12 hour day so prepare yourself! Pick up was from the front of our hotel and we travelled in a small comfortable bus with only 12 of us onboard. Beau, our guide was marvelous. His commentary throughout the day was fantastic. He spoke from the heart about a region that he clearly loves. There were plenty of comfort stops along the way and between Te Anau and Milford we were treated to various stops at vantage points and lookouts and were even lucky enough to meet a couple of Kea up close too. The cruise itself was fabulous. We hit the trifecta and managed to see a penguin, fur seals and a dolphin that put on a show riding the bow wave of the boat. Unfortunately our scenic flight was cancelled due to the weather, but Beau made great time on the trip home and had us back in Queenstown by 7.30pm. Would highly recommend!

So glad we chose to go with Altitude who connected with Mitre Peak Cruises. We enjoyed the small group size, much more friendly feel to the day. We were picked up in Te Anau and were immediately made to feel welcome by Graham our driver/guide. He had amazing knowledge which he shared along the way. Well worth going on the tour rather than self drive. We could relax and enjoy the stunning scenery while learning lots about this amazing place. Thank you Graham, you made it a fabulous day.

We chose to go with Altitude and it was definitely a great choice. Andy, our guide was extremely qualified , knowledgeable and informative. The information he gave us was really interesting and he was a really nice guy. The van was great with good vision in all seats, really handy having the glass roof. The views and scenery are outrageously beautiful, the stopovers great and finally Milford Sound is just mind blowing. We saw seals and Dolphins on our journey and numerous waterfalls. Truly a pleasure. Would highly recommend over a larger tour. The lunch was simple which was fine. Take cash with you as it is easier to purchase drinks or other products at the bar. All in all, a huge thumbs up. Worth every cent. Thanks Andy, and all the team at Altitude. Now to book the wine tour before I leave.

This was an amazing day. Incredible boat trip, fabulous driver who shared so much information with us as he drove, and all in all, an unforgettable experience. Not only was the day super, but we got stuck in Milford Sound when a car caught fire in the tunnel, and Altitude flew us out with a driver waiting at the other end, taking us straight to our hotel!!! Five star treatment and above and beyond expectations.

Chris our driver was brilliant. His mix of facts balanced with sarcastic humour was really good. The boat trip itself was sensational ... great weather ..good staff and commentary..food touched the spot...and we saw seals AND dolphins.. a really good day..!

Choosing a small group tour with a BBQ experience was worth the extra cost. Our tour operator picked us up in Te Anu, we enjoyed several stops on the way to Milford Sound and benefitted from the guides knowledge of NZ history.The cruise was fantastic, good food, good commentary: we happened to be the only tour on the boat which was an added bonus Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to Milford Sound annually. Pick a smaller tour and do not worry about the somewhat higher cost. You will not regret it!

Absolutely awesome experience travelling into and through Milford Sound with Andy! Travelled in style in the Mercedes Van, fully equipped with comfortable leather seats and informative and fun videos which gave an insight into the area, the beautiful landscape and animals living in it. Were really glad that we went with Altitude tours this way because the small size of the bus allowed for flexible stopping along the way and a more personalised experience overall. Andy was an amazing driver, provided quality commentary and entertainment, was extremely informative about the area, and catered to everyone’s needs while travelling to and from Milford. Couldn’t have asked for anyone better to show us the sights!! The BBQ was great quality, and having hot drinks available was a great way to warm up after we were brave enough to face the weather and the opportunity to be showered by the waterfall after the boat was taken right up beside it! Was such an exhilarating experience! Lots of room to move on the boat and it was not overcrowded which was also really great. Again the small tour experience proved to be the right way to go. Rain or shine this trip is amazing! We were lucky enough to see dolphins, fur seals, and a penguin all in their natural habitats which was really special. Overall we were extremely glad we chose to do the Milford experience with Altitude tours and the BBQ Bus! Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to go and see this beautiful part of New Zealand.

We had a great day with Andy - he was fantastic and very knowledgeable. Brilliant to have someone who have someone so passionate leading the tour. It is quite a long day but it didn’t feel like that as there was so much to see and engage with. The BBQ lunch was tasty and there was plenty to go round. We were lucky with the weather and the boat wasn’t too full so we could most of the cruise.

From the moment we stepped onto the bus, it was always going to be good. Graham was an absolute champion, extremely knowledgeable about the area, and being a dad, full of Dad jokes, I guess he’s earned that! Being a small group, we could have several stops along the way for Lord of the Rings stuff and a couple of waterfalls. We even got a visit from a Kea on one stop. The weather was poor, but that meant it was great for waterfalls, you can’t have one without the other. Lunch was onboard the boat which cruised all the way out to the Tasman Sea. The guide onboard the MV Sinbad was also extremely knowledgeable of the area. We were staying in Te Anau and were advised to go to the local cinema and watch the Fiordland film. Well worth it. Excellent day. Amazing scenery even with rough weather. Cheers!

Marty came and pick us up from our accommodation right on time. It’s shoulder season so we were pleased the already small group tour was only 6 of us that day. The bus was comfortable and the seats could recline. Marty was very friendly and knowledgeable and we simply could not have asked for more. The itinerary was perfect - with the right amount of photo stopping point, attractions, short walks and rest time. The highlight was definitely the Milford sound cruise which was included in the package. The bbq lunch is in deed a nice touch and it was just pleasant to have hot cooked meal on board especially it was chilly! All in all a great value tour, coupled with an amazing tour guide who is passionate about his job and conservation work. Not to be missed and highly recommended.

We were picked up by the BBQ Bus in Queens town by guide Graham who was very knowledgeable. He gave us great commentary throughout the ride, and made a lot of stops for sightseeing. My family is a big fan of Lord of the rings and we asked him to show us different places where the filming was done. We stopped for tea at Te Anau and then drove to Milford Sound. The tour was perfect as there were only 14 of us on the van and everyone was friendly. We stopped at Eglinton Valley where the battle scene of the LOTR - 1st part was filmed. We took pictures at mirror lakes and stopped at a camp ground- cascade creek where our guide made veggie pattis for us. They do have a vegetarian option for food. We then went to Milford sound for a cruise. It is an amazing experience , the water there looks so blue and beautiful. We were lucky that day as weather was just perfect. On the way back we had the option of flying back in a helicopter to the queens town . But with a party of 8, $200 each was a lot of money , so we did not go with that option. By the time we reached hotel, it was past 6 pm. It was a long day trip but worth every penny. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a small group and an unforgettable tour of Milford Sound!

Having spent some time researching our trip to Milford Sound from Te Anau we are so glad to have chosen the BBQ bus. The bus had a group of approx 12 people, most of the passengers having come from Queenstown. The driver Nigel was exceptional. He engaged everyone in conversation during the journey and kept us all entertained with information about the area and general banter. There were plenty of stops along the route for photo opportunities and a really tasty BBQ lunch prepared by Nigel with more than enough food for everyone. We arrived in good time at Milford Sound for an afternoon cruise, fortunately the early morning storm had cleared and we enjoyed pretty decent weather. The cruise boat was relatively small with plenty of seating inside and out - crew members chatted to us making it a really enjoyable experience. Milford Sound itself is breathtaking. The cruise was very leisurely and included a very close encounter with a tremendously powerful waterfall. The return trip also included stops at scenic points of interest. Without doubt this was one of the highlights of our New Zealand holiday. The tour is fantastic value for money and is ideal for anyone who prefers a more personal experience compared to the large tour companies. Thoroughly recommended

A tour guide can make or break a vacation adventure. My wife and I have encountered those at both ends of the spectrum during our 2-months' stay in New Zealand. Nigel, our pilot on our Milford Sound Cruise/BBQ lunch outing was the best of the lot, 5-Stars all the way. There were, I believe, 16 people in our group, and within minutes Nigel had memorized all our first names and was soon calling on each of us to answer questions or engage with him in his banter. Seeing all the wonderful sights en route to the Sound and the cruise itself are top shelf Memories-Are-Made-of-This vintage, but, honestly, what my wife and I will most remember about this tour was the wall-to-wall repartee that passed between us as we travelled from site to site. Nigel clearly loves what he is doing and doesn't rely on canned commentary. He made us all feel both welcome and wanted.

We picked up the early morning BBQ Bus in Te Anau. The rest of our tour came from Queenstown, so we met them during their coffee stop. Graham was an excellent tour guide. He got to know everyone on the tour, gave great commentary throughout the ride, and made a lot of stops for sightseeing. We drove straight from Te Anau to Milford Sound and promptly boarded a boat. The best part about the bus and boat was that they were both small groups. We didn't feel like we were being shuffled around, it really felt like an intimate tour. The boat driver even drove us under a waterfall! Lunch on the boat was excellent - meat skewers, sausages, coleslaw and other sides. Free coffee and tea as well. Overall, we had an amazing time and would recomend to anyone looking for an intimate, unforgettable tour of Milford Sound!

We spent a great day exploring Milford Sound in late January. When our bus arrived promptly at 8 am, we were pleasantly surprised to see that we were the only passengers - talk about the ultimate small group tour! Our guide/driver, Graham, was superb - a great driver and source of expert knowledge about the sound. The bbq on board was excellent - more that you could possibly eat - and the small boat cruise was fun - it could get virtually beneath one of the waterfalls. A great way to take a break from driving and to be able to fully appreciate the awesome scenery. Recommended.

My sister and I were picked up at Te Anau. We did the early morning tour 8am start. This meant we were able to miss the many crowds. The tour was incredible, the amount of people on the bus was perfect. The tour guide knew so much information about the surrounding areas. He mad us feel comfortable and welcome at all times. The bbq luck was delicious. I would recommend the BBQ bus to anyone.

My sister and I had such a wonderful time, we did the early tour (highly recommend as it's a good way to miss some of the crowds) Graham had some great stories and information about the area. He managed to remember everyone's name and made us all feel very comfortable. We had a really nice lunch, well cooked and delicious. Milford Sound has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. We also stopped at many wonderous places along the way. This was the perfect way to see sites, highly recommend!!

What a great trip, we were picked up at our hotel at the exact time as arranged by Our driver Chris on board a smaller bus that held approx 16 people. We had 3 pick ups and were on our way, Chris gave a great commentary on the trip, we had toilet stops as required always at the cleanest possible places, we stopped at Te Anua for a coffee and snack break then off to Milford Sound with a couple of stops on the way, one was for a bbq lunch which included Sausages, lamb and Chechen kebabs and two salads cooked to perfection. After lunch we headed to the sound and the commentary continued and was so informative during the whole trip. Once we arrived at the sound our boat was waiting for us, we had a 1.5hr trip to the Tasman Sea and then back to the Harbour where our bus was waiting for us for the trip home. Our driver Chris was very safe and after 1 toilet stop on the way home dropped us back at our hotel a great day highly recommended

We thoroughly enjoyed our day. Rob was an entertaining and informative driver making our day most enjoyable. With the BBQ bus, arrival at Milford Sound is a little later, which allowed the crowds to have gone so we could take in the scenery from a smaller boat in peace.

We were picked up promptly at our hotel. When we got on the bus our guide was in a discussion with some other passengers on the bus bashing the US government. Guides should be trained not to engage in discussions of this type with the passengers. It was extremely uncomfortable and my husband had to say something. Made the entire trip extremely uncomfortable. The guide was very good and knew the area well. We had a great lunch and the boat cruise Milford falls was beautiful. Overall it would have been a great trip if it were not for the inappropriate discussion that the bus driver was engaged in with a few of the passengers

Incredible experience from start to finish. Nigel was our driver and he was amazing, made a point to get your name as soon as you stepped in the van. Throughout the trip he'd be asking you funny trivia questions about NZ using your name the whole time, made the whole day feel very personable. Being in a smaller vehicle than a tour bus helps cut out a lot of the waiting time to reload at various touristy stops, and he sure can cook up a delicious BBQ lunch. He really made the tour one to remember and this is probably the best way to see Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. Mirror Lake and the Chasm were great stops.

We wanted to visit Milford Sound but knew that by the time we got to that part of our trip a day off would be in order, so we decided to book a tour. We chose this tour because we hate tours and tours with lots of people even more. The prospect of decent food for lunch helped as well. We were not disappointed. Our driver/guide Rob was humorous, informative and we always felt safe while he was driving. The tour has several stops for photo opportunities and comfort breaks on the way to Milford Sound. I imagine in the summer months these can be very busy stops, as at times there were quite big groups of people all going in the same direction. A few deep breaths got is through. Cruise Milford took us on the cruise and they were professional and friendly and we had our BBQ on the boat which was a nice touch. We had a really great day with some amazing pictures. Going with this tour gave us an opportunity to enjoy the day and just relax.

We were on this tour in Mid-sept. Our guide picked us up promptly from Te Anau at 930am and we headed off to another cafe enroute to Milford sound to pick up the group from Queenstown where he had dropped them off for a coffee break. It was a mid-sized bus so the numbers were comfortable and not overly big. Rob did several stops for us along the way to visit some nice sights on the way to Milford Sound - We got up close with a Kea, saw The Chasm, drove past windy roads and avalanche-risk areas with ever-changing sights and weathers, it was really pretty! Rob was very informative to share more about the NZ culture and history too. When we got to the cruise (about 1.5 hours long total), we were free to roam around the boat to take amazing pictures and you could smell the BBQ lunch getting ready. On a rainy cold spring day when you're out on a cruise, a hot BBQ lunch will really make a BIG difference!! While we did share the boat with other tours, the BBQ lunch was only reserved for our bus and Rob will be around to 'swat' any hovering unaware guests who are eyeing the lunch. The food was simple and great!! The sights in the Fjordland were really pretty, we took plenty of pictures out on the boat, they even got us close to waterfalls or dip the boat in the waterfall and you can choose to stay outside if you're adventurous. It was a really relaxing trip amidst the beautiful scenery! :) It was a great decision to go for this day trip, we were recommended by fellow TA that we shouldn't be driving on our own to Milford sound as we are not familiar with the windy roads plus there are avalanche risk areas even in Spring. Very glad we chose this tour via Viator - will recommend this to anyone who is considering visiting Milford Sound.

We took the minibus trip with a small group of people, about 6, plus two of us. The trip was wonderful. The driver was good and had a wonderful sense of humor. He would talk to you calling you by your first name. He also had a good general knowledge about the country you are coming from and overall the drivers with this small minibus company were excellent. Also he makes you a steamy lunch right in the middle of no where. We had a blast and I am sure you will too. Just dont go with the huge BUS tour, where you will be lost in the crowd. Enjoy.

We just got back from a lovely day at Milford Sound with the BBQ bus and it was an amazing and memorable day! Graham was our driver so was lovely, and all round good bloke! The little things like calling us by our first names throughout the day made this cruise feel more personalized. I can not recommend this company or tour highly enough. I will be telling everyone traveling to NZ to scope these guys out! Amazing day!!

Nigel was an excellent guide. His commentary on the history and insights of the area, it’s geology and New Zealand in general was very informative. Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park was absolutely amazing. The cruise around Milford sound was delightful and spectacular. The lunch was a very tasty surprise!