Top Things to do in Milford Sound
What to do and see in Milford Sound, South Island: The Best Day Trips from
Hailed by Rudyard Kipling as "the eighth wonder of the world," the breathtaking Milford Sound is the star of glacier-carved Fjordland National Park, providing an emerald-green and waterfall-rich backdrop for hiking, biking and kayaking. Frequent downpours only enhance this South Island beauty, sending numerous waterfalls cascading down the cliffs. Passionate nature lovers book in advance to hike the 33-mile Milford Track, a legendary route through alpine passes and temperate rainforest.
1. Envy Experiences Exclusive Milford Day trip from Te Anau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
BRAND NEW PRODUCT. Fully Electric vehicle - no carbon impact. Fully guided day trip for 2-3 pax only. Not rushed and plenty of time to relax. Check our first customers review on google.
Inclusions: Afternoon Tea
Exclusions:
2. Private Milford Sound Tour with Cruise & Lunch from Te Anau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
This fully-guided, private day trip combines the amazing return journey to Milford Sound with a boutique Milford Sound Cruise aboard the No.1 Trip Advisor rated cruise company, Cruise Milford. Highlights: • Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford • Fiordland National Park • Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel and Mitre Peak • Wildlife Spotting While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember. Our tours are led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.
Inclusions: Private and Fully Guided Tour, Cruise Entry (cruise is not private), Picnic Lunch, Bottled water, Snacks
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages (available to purchase), Gratuities
Reviewed By lauramareehay
Mark was an excellent tour guide with a lot of local knowledge. The bird sanctuary was eye opening to the number of native bird species and we even saw a morepork which was a first for us! We absolutely love Lord of the rings and we're happy that the tour could be altered to our interests slightly to incorporate a few more Lord of the rings spots. These additions did not add to much time to the overall travel time which was good! The Mavora lakes area was a highlight and had so many hidden filming spots. We appreciated having exploration time at each point for photos and to soak in the scenery to truely picture what is was like to film in these areas. We were thrilled to get our pictures taken in Amon Hen although it would have been better if we were able to get photos together. Some more in depth knowledge for Lord of the rings super fans would have been awesome like more behind the scenes facts unique to these locations. It was an awesome opportunity to actually walk through Fangorn forest, an activity not usually in the tour. Overall we loved the tour, it introduced us to some areas that we will have to return to!
3. Premium Milford Sound Bus - Cruise - Fly Tour with Picnic Lunch from Queenstown
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
This small group day trip includes a stunning boutique Milford Sound cruise with TripAdvisors No. 1 rated cruise provider and an amazing scenic flight back to Queenstown. Highlights: •Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford •Scenic return flight with Glenorchy Air •Fiordland National Park •Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel & Mitre Peak •Wildlife Spotting Our tours are led by our passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses that are packed with extras, ensuring your comfort and safety. While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Inclusions: Cruise Entry, Scenic Flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown , Small Group and Fully Guided Tour, Bottled water, Snacks, Picnic Lunch
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages (available to purchase), Gratuities
Reviewed By pcol2017
Had a great trip last week with Cheeky Kiwi. Callum our guide was fantastic - took us to beautiful spots we would never have stopped at on our own. He provided a fun commentary and was totally engaging. The cruise with Cruise Milford was stunning. Lovely staff on board who chatted happily to guests and made us feel very welcome. Would totally recommend this trip. Takes the hassle out of driving yourself, and at the end of a long day, having someone else drive you home is a bonus. Nice comfortable van and small size makes a more personal trip. 5 stars
4. Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 450 reviews
This full-day Milford Sound extraordinaire tour from Te Anau will have you traveling along the spectacular Milford Road. With fun commentary and plenty of local knowledge provided you will have a chance to see keas, seals, dolphins and the Fiordland crested penguin. Visit the historical Gunns Camp and enjoy an amazing morning tea that includes wonderful date scones, tea, coffee and biscuits, chocolates and fruit juice. Experience an amazing 20-minute walk to the Chasm. You will have the chance to do the most spectacular 30-minute walk to Milford Sound. It is the Marian Cascade which is a continuous cascading waterfall draining from a glacier fed lake. Your day will be topped off with a 2-hour cruise on the famous Milford Sound.
Inclusions: National Park fees, Coffee and/or Tea, Driver/guide, Live commentary on board, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off from Te Anau, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Drinks, Lunch, Hotel Pick up from Manapouri (available by special arrangement. Additional costs may apply)
Reviewed By JMR700
We had a great day - our driver was very passionate and knowledgeable, and stopped along the way at places of interest for walks (if you wanted to), views and date scones :). The minivan was super comfortable and we could enjoy the scenery which is spectacular. Cruise Milford provided the cruise service and this was an awesome experience on a beautiful boat with a very friendly and informative captain. We had booked to fly back to Te Anau if able but the weather did not permit this, however we were more than happy to make the return trip back with our group by van.
5. Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour, Cruise & Picnic Lunch from Te Anau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Premium small group tour including boutique Milford Sound cruise onboard TripAdvisors No.1 rated cruise operator, Cruise Milford, and picnic lunch from Te Anau. There is no better way to see this famous attraction. Highlights: • Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford • Fiordland National Park • Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel and Mitre Peak • Wildlife Spotting While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember. Our tours are led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.
Inclusions: Small Group & Fully Guided Tour, Cruise Entry, Picnic Lunch, Bottled water, Snacks
Exclusions: Gratuities, Optional extras and activities - please select the tour option you want at time of booking
Reviewed By lauramareehay
Mark was an excellent tour guide with a lot of local knowledge. The bird sanctuary was eye opening to the number of native bird species and we even saw a morepork which was a first for us! We absolutely love Lord of the rings and we're happy that the tour could be altered to our interests slightly to incorporate a few more Lord of the rings spots. These additions did not add to much time to the overall travel time which was good! The Mavora lakes area was a highlight and had so many hidden filming spots. We appreciated having exploration time at each point for photos and to soak in the scenery to truely picture what is was like to film in these areas. We were thrilled to get our pictures taken in Amon Hen although it would have been better if we were able to get photos together. Some more in depth knowledge for Lord of the rings super fans would have been awesome like more behind the scenes facts unique to these locations. It was an awesome opportunity to actually walk through Fangorn forest, an activity not usually in the tour. Overall we loved the tour, it introduced us to some areas that we will have to return to!
6. Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour, Cruise & Picnic Lunch from Queenstown
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 153 reviews
Premium small group tour including boutique Milford Sound cruise with Cruise Milford, the number 1 Trip Advisor rated cruise company, and picnic lunch from Queenstown. There is no better way to see this most famous of attractions. Highlights: • Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford • Fiordland National Park • Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel & Mitre Peak • Wildlife Spotting While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and little details that set our tours apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember. Our tours are led by our passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing stories and background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses that are packed with extras, ensuring your comfort and safety.
Inclusions: Small Group & Fully Guided Tour, Cruise Entry, Picnic Lunch, Bottled water, Snacks
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages (available to purchase), Gratuities, Optional extras and activities - please select the tour option you want at time of booking
Reviewed By tinanU2049PP
Lance was an excellent driver/Guide. He was patient and kept us entertained throughout-Thanks Lance!
7. VIP Milford Sound All Inclusive Tour
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 136 reviews
COACH Travel in luxury and ultimate comfort in our 18 seater Mercedes coach to Milford Sound. With air conditioning in Summer and heating in Winter, you will be comfortable taking in the spectacular scenery through extra large viewing windows. Passengers will be treated to an informative and insightful commentary throughout the journey with their local driver. The small seating capacity allows for more time to complete extra photo stops and small walks. Passengers will be picked up and dropped off at local accommodation. CRUISE AND LUNCH OPTIONS IN MILFORD SOUND Upon arriving in Milford Sound you will join a 2 hour Nature Cruise Mitre Peak Cruises. Passengers will enjoy Milford Sounds awe-inspiring scenery from the comfort of their small, never overcrowded vessel. Mitre Peak goes the furthest and gets closest to Milford's thunderous waterfalls. Please contact VIP Milford head office to pre-purchase a picnic lunch for $15 each. Standard and vegetarian options are available.
Inclusions: Nature Boat cruise in Milford Sound, Live commentary on board, Local guide/Driver, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Air-conditioned vehicle, Coffee and/or Tea
Exclusions: Drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By Ellwood40
Had an amazing day tour with Steven as our guide. Very knowledgeable man. Well worth it. Would do it again. The lunch provided was lovely
8. Milford Sound Experience Full Day from Queenstown
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 681 reviews
Milford Sound is arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand and a must-see for any traveller. Whether seen in sunshine or rain, the incredible views are guaranteed to leave you awe-struck. This is a small group tour for travellers seeking an all-inclusive, uniquely-kiwi, personalized trip to Milford Sound. We keep things personal using our fleet of modern Mercedes vans. Enjoy your journey with no more than 16 people, in a vehicle with luxury features such as leather seats, panoramic scenic windows, Wi-Fi and Spotify playlists. Let your Altitude Tours guide entertain and amaze you with their in-depth knowledge of the area, as we travel from Queenstown through Te Anau and into the Fiordland National Park on the famous Milford Road. Enjoy many scenic photo-stops at both famous locations, as well as our guide's favourite off-the-beaten-track spots. Enjoy a picnic lunch on a 2-hour small uncrowded cruise while taking in the incredible beauty that Milford Sound has to offer!
Inclusions: Hotel pick-up from select Queenstown based accommodations, 2-Hour nature cruise on Milford Sound., Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides, Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route, Picnic Lunch, Air-conditioned vehicle, WiFi on board, Bottled water
Exclusions: Gratuities, Additional Snacks (we provide lunch, but it is a long day)
Reviewed By Alan C
We did a tour to Glenorchy guided by Eric. His local knowledge was impressive and pointed out interesting facts of areas we traveled through. This is a must do travel experience His luxury vehicle was spotless. Refreshments were provided.
9. Milford Sound Overnight Cruise Fiordland Jewel
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 81 reviews
Taking only 20 passengers a night, the Fiordland Jewel features nine climate-controlled cabins each with their own ensuite and sea views. Includes: overnight accommodation cabin for 2 people per cabin only (option in king twin or super king double cabin), two cruises of Milford Sound, a three-course evening meal, cooked and continental breakfast prepared by the on board chef, kayaking, tender boat explorations, use of top-deck hot tub (weather permitting). The friendly expert crew will share with you the incredible natural wilderness and local wildlife of this area. View the fascinating sea life beneath the surface when shown underwater film footage captured by the Fiordland Jewels' onboard Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) following dinner. Bookings are open from 6 December, 2021. Luxury connections are available from Te Anau or Queenstown with exclusive charters available upon request.
Inclusions: 3-course dinner, Breakfast, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Coffee and/or Tea, Kayaking, Tender boat excursion, Use of top-deck hot tub following dinner
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase), Transportation to/from attractions
Reviewed By nzp0ppy
We did the 7 day six night fiordland trip. As others have said - this isnt a luxury trip, but the ship is comfortable. There is no daily servicing of cabins. in fact, crew dont come into your cabins at all during the trip. Unfortunately as others have said, the food is nice, but there isnt enough. We went eight hours between breakfast and lunch one day and no morning tea provided, So be warned - take peanuts, crackers, cheese and snacks with you. I feel serving alcohol and having no snacks is wrong. And i will always never under appreciate my beer with snacks in the future. commercial processed biscuits for afternoon tea was poor. Id like to see some morning and afternoon teas. Fruit was available, but it doesnt fill you up. Some of the males on our trip didnt have enough to eat. I even felt dizzy and hungry. However, the boat is comfortable (especially the top cabin and definitely go for that with the wonderful views if you can). The scenery is amazing, the wildlife awesome. We enjoyed the kayking and walks. It would be five stars if little things were improved, Four crew for 18 passengers werent enough. And 8 kayaks for 18 passengers werent enough either. Would I recommend the trip - yes. But take your own snacks.
10. Milford Sound Experience Full Day Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 10 reviews
Milford Sound is arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand and a must-see for any traveller. Whether seen in sunshine or rain, the incredible views are guaranteed to leave you awe-struck. This is a small group tour for travellers seeking an all-inclusive, uniquely-kiwi trip to Milford Sound. We keep things personal using our fleet of modern Mercedes vans. Enjoy your journey with no more than 16 people, in a vehicle with luxury features such as leather seats, panoramic scenic windows, Wi-Fi and Spotify playlists. Let your Altitude Tours guide entertain and amaze you with their in-depth knowledge of the area. Enjoy many scenic photo-stops at both famous locations, as well as our guide's favourite off-the-beaten-track spots. Enjoy a picnic lunch on a 2-hour small uncrowded cruise while taking in the incredible beauty that Milford Sound has to offer! After your cruise, take in the views from above, travelling back to Queenstown on an incredible flight over the Southern Alps.
Inclusions: Hotel pick-up from select Queenstown based accommodations, Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides, 2-Hour nature cruise on Milford Sound, Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route, A breathtaking fixed-wing scenic flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown, Picnic Lunch, WiFi on board, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Additional Snacks (we provide lunch, but it is a long day), Gratuities
Reviewed By Robyn578
The day was spectacular for the views, the commentary and the packed lunch. I couldn’t recommend it more highly! Andy was fantastic and made sure each of us were well taken care of
TAGS
