Milford Sound Tour: Cruise & Flight

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We travel alongside the stunning shores of Lake Wakatipu, winding our way through dramatic alpine landscapes. Your guide will share fascinating insights about the adventure ahead and point out some hidden gems to look forward to.

   Passes by

2. As we cross into Southland, take in the wide-open spaces and lush farmland. Your guide will provide insight into the local farming lifestyle and how this region plays a key role in New Zealand’s agriculture.

   Passes by

3. We arrive in Te Anau, often called the gateway to Fiordland National Park, where we take a short break to enjoy a coffee and stretch our legs. Refreshed, we continue our journey towards the breathtaking Milford Sound. As we pass Te Anau Downs, you’ll have views across the lake to the starting point of the legendary Milford Track. Your guide will bring the trail’s history to life, sharing stories of its early explorers and its place among the world’s great walks.

   30 min

4. We officially enter Fiordland National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the landscape instantly changes. Dense rainforest, moss-covered beech trees, and towering peaks welcome us into this remote wilderness.

   Passes by

5. Stop and step out into the wide-open expanse of Eglinton Valley. This impressive glacial valley, with its flat floor and mountainous walls, makes for an unforgettable photo opportunity.

   15 minAdmission included

6. National Park New Zealand Take a short stroll to see the perfectly still Mirror Lakes, famous for their glass-like reflections of the Earl Mountains. On a clear day, it’s a photographer’s dream.

   30 minAdmission included

7. Not far along the road, we follow the course of the Hollyford River, its clear waters tumbling over massive boulders and racing through rapids. At Falls Creek, we’re treated to the first of many spectacular waterfalls in the region.

   5 minAdmission included

8. Journey through the iconic Homer Tunnel, carved by hand through solid rock. Learn the fascinating history of this feat of engineering as we prepare to descend into the dramatic Cleddau Valley. Emerging from the tunnel, the road winds through a steep glacial valley. On rainy days, the cliffs come alive with hundreds of cascading waterfalls—a magical and unforgettable sight.

   Passes by

9. Arrive at Milford Sound and board your boutique nature cruise with Cruise Milford, TripAdvisor’s top-rated operator. Enjoy a 1 hour 45 minute cruise with fewer passengers and an onboard nature guide. You’ll get up close to waterfalls, towering cliffs, Mitre Peak, and wildlife such as seals and potentially dolphins or penguins.

   2 h

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

Ratings come from 25 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Queenstown

• Its from-price is 104% above the median of the 114 day trips we list in Queenstown.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 52 of 114.

About Queenstown

Queenstown, on Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's South Island, is a mountain town beneath the Remarkables, set among gold-rush hills and vineyards.

Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, a long, deep lake shaped like a lightning bolt, with the jagged Remarkables mountains rising across the water. It began as a gold-rush camp in the 1860s on the Shotover and Arrow rivers, and the lakefront, with its small streets, preserves a few stone buildings from that time. A gondola climbs Bob's Peak for the view over the lake.

Top-ranked sights in Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu, Kawarau River, Queenstown Gardens.

See all 432 experiences in Queenstown