Top Fiordland & Milford Sound How to Get Around

Travel from Queenstown to the much-loved UNESCO-listed Milford Sound. Your guide will ensure you make the most of your trip with commentary along the way—pointing out scenic viewpoints and areas where Lord of the Rings was filmed. Once you reach Milford Sound, you won’t have to worry about waiting in visitor lines as entrance tickets are included. Enjoy a Milford Sound Discovery Cruise where you’ll see stunning views of waterfalls and Mitre Peak. You’ll also have free time to explore the waterfalls of Lake Marian on foot.

Discover the natural beauty and wildlife of the Milford Sound on a cruise that includes admission to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory. Choose from several options for your cruise, depending on the amount of time you have available and the level of detail you desire. Get close to towering rock walls and waterfalls, and see the aquatic world through the windows of the observatory.

The UNESCO-listed Milford Sound is the postcard icon of New Zealand’s South Island—a dramatic fjord, ringed by jagged cliffs and cascading waterfalls. This cruise checks off all the highlights, affording spectacular views of Bowen Falls, Sinbad Gully, and Mount Pembroke; passing the mighty Mitre Peak; and gliding out along the Tasman Sea coast.

A Milford Sound cruise is a must-do activity in southern New Zealand. Make the most of your time on this tour from Te Anau that includes a picnic lunch. Look at the views rather than the road by going with a guide and driver. You’ll see many spectacular sights along the way, including the Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel.

Take in amazing views of the magnificent Milford Sound on this cruise. Sail on the only vessel in Milford with two glass roofs, meaning you get brilliant views from every angle. The skipper and crew are available to share local knowledge or take photos of you and your friends/family. An onboard café-bar is also available, offering the chance to purchase tasty snacks and drinks.

Enjoy uninterrupted views of the mountain scenery on the way to Milford Sound in a glass-roofed coach. Your driver will provide commentary along the way, to keep you informed. At Milford Sound, embark on a cruise on the water, all the way out to the Tasman Sea. Interesting commentary is available in several languages. Relax and take in the views as you enjoy a buffet lunch on board.

See the Eighth Wonder of the World on a Milford Sound Nature cruise, led by a naturalist guide. Gliding past granite walls, glacier-fed waterfalls and stunning Mitre Peak aboard a smaller-sized vessel than most Milford Sound cruises, you’ll have great photo ops of this famous South Island attraction situated within the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Stay on the water for up to 2 hours, and be on the lookout for Fiordland crested penguins and bottlenose dolphins.

Experience stunning scenery on an unforgettable day trip to Milford Sound. The pristine Milford Sound is part of the World Heritage Fiordland National Park, in the south west of the South Island, and is famed for its remote atmosphere and rugged beauty. It is New Zealand’s best known fiord and the only one that can be reached by road. Maori are believed to have discovered Milford Sound more than 1,000 years ago, returning seasonally to collect the prized pounamu (greenstone). In the early 1800s John Grono was the first European settler to land in the sound, which he named after Milford Haven in Wales. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', Milford Sound was carved by glaciers during the ice ages. Milford Sound is breathtaking in any weather. Cliffs rise high into the air from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards, some as high as 1000 metres.

Instead of glimpsing snippets of extraordinary beauty from the Milford Road, travelers in the known enjoy the entire landscape in context on this cruise of Piopiotahi, Milford Sound. Slowly turn your attention across the horizon to see glacier-carved cliffs rising from the inky waters below - when you’re travelling by boat, there’s plenty of time to take it all in before framing up the perfect shot to preserve the moment.

See Milford Sound by air and water, flying round-trip from Queenstown for a small-craft boat cruise through the famous fiord. Save time on this half-day tour as you soar over the World Heritage-listed landscape of Fiordland National Park. Landing at Milford Sound, trade your wings for watercraft and a sightseeing journey with experienced naturalists. Learn about the wildlife and geology of the scenic waterways at one of New Zealand’s top natural wonders. Includes round-trip hotel transfers and a boxed lunch.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to take a Milford Sound cruise while visiting UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Departing from Milford Wharf, this boat cruises past Mitre Peak and waterfalls cascading down steep-walled mountains that rise straight up from the water. See Bowen Falls, Stirling Falls and Seal Point while searching the deep fiord for marine life including bottlenose dolphins and New Zealand fur seals.

Get a comprehensive tour of Milford Sound with this combination coach and boat cruise. Book ahead to ensure you see the area’s highlights; first traveling along Milford Sound Road in a glassed-in coach for panoramic views, stopping for photo ops and short walks. Then transfer to a boat for a scenic cruise on the Tasman Sea, during which you will dig in to a buffet lunch with unlimited coffee and tea.

This Milford Sound cruise in UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park stops at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, accessible only by boat. Your morning cruise on a smaller boat travels outside of peak hours, offering prime viewing and more time on the water than other tours. Hear informative commentary from our passionate skippers on board, and enjoy a provided picnic lunch. Upgrade to include a kayak excursion and paddle Harrison Cove in a small-group limited to 8 people.

Get up close to nature and explore one of the top spots on New Zealand's South Island on this half-day Milford Track guided walk. Take a boat ride across Milford Sound to Sandfly Point with your guide and admire soaring cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Hike along the banks of the Arthur River and Lake Ada, and enjoy panoramic views over the pristine countryside. Admire the mighty Giant's Gate Waterfall from the swing-bridge over the river and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 12 people.

Explore the Milford Sound on a full-day tour from Queenstown with a combination of a scenic coach ride, 2-hour sightseeing cruise, and return flight over the pristine mountain wilderness.

This track walk takes visitors on one of the world’s most famous walks. This walk only 3-4 hours return, so ideal for visitors staying at Milford Sound Lounge or on a day trip in the Milford Sound. It takes visitors to the Giant Gate Falls, a highlight of the track.

Experience the majestic Milford Sound onboard the MV Sinbad vessel. Cruising the length of the fiord you’ll enjoy freshly prepared canapes and bubbles made from local produce, while you take in the beauty of Milford Sound. Explore the outside areas of The Sinbad and enjoy allocated seating with uninterrupted views. Our experienced skippers tailor the cruise to take into consideration weather and recent wildlife sightings, ensuring you’ll see the best that Milford Sound has to offer on the day. Experience the cool spray of a waterfall as you move in close to sheer rock faces or watch out for dolphins, seals and, in season, the rare Fiordland crested penguins Elevate your experience and create unforgettable memories aboard the MV Sinbad. Informative, participative and relaxed, this is the perfect way to experience what’s been called the “eighth wonder of the world”.

Soak in panoramic views of New Zealand's South Island during your one-way flight to Queenstown from the Milford Sound. The scenic flight follows a route over Fiordland National Park, the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu, and Sutherland Falls, before landing at Queenstown airport, where a driver transfers you to your hotel.

Enjoy the peace and beauty of Milford Sound after all the day-trippers have departed when you stay overnight on the Fiordland Jewel cruise boat. During the day, explore the sound on cruises and kayaking excursions. Sleep in an ensuite cabin with sea views, a three-course dinner, and breakfast. The boat is also equipped with a top-deck hot tub where you can soak away your stress.

Depart Milford Airport and track west along Milford Sound, climb alongside Bowen Falls and Mitre Peak for some great views of the sound and its towering peaks before returning to our Milford base. A minimum of two passengers are required for this flight to go ahead. We are able to group passengers together if you are booking for less than 2 people. We will be in contact once you have confirmed your booking.

Climb out from Milford and up past Harrison's Cove, see sheer cliffs dwarf the surrounding rivers before approaching the Tutoko Glacier for a snow landing. Take a few minutes to capture some photo's on the snow before boarding the helicopter again to fly past the glaciated tops of Mt Tutoko, the highest peak in Fiordland national park at 2723m. Track via the lower Tutoko valley and return to Milford airport.

Take in the magnificent scenery of Milford Sound from above on this scenic helicopter flight. See the magnificent Mitre Peak, dramatic Sutherland Falls and Tutuko Glacier, as well as amazing views of the whole area. Weather permitting, also undertake a snow landing on top of a mountain. This is an unforgettable way to experience one of New Zealand’s top attractions.

Once airborne from Milford Sound, follow the famous Milford Track up the Arthur Valley and over the picturesque Lake Ada. Circle the Sutherland Falls, New Zealand's highest at 581m before making an alpine landing above the shores of breath taking Lake Quill. You will have the opportunity to take magical photos looking right down the Arthur Valley back towards Milford Sound. Return viewing the Mackinnon Pass, of the Milford Walking Track, and the Joe's river. Minimum of two passengers are required for this flight to go ahead. We are able to group passengers together if you are booking for less than 2 people. We will be in contact once you have confirmed your booking.