Top Fiordland & Milford Sound activities
Top Fiordland & Milford Sound landmarks
Beyond Fiordland & Milford Sound
Fiordland & Milford Sound trip ideas

Milford Sound Cruise: Stunning Views & Optional Picnic or Buffet

234 Reviews 4.53 out of 5 stars Based on 234 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 90% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Fiordland & Milford Sound, New Zealand

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 26 (0) days in advance.

1 hour 45 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English
and 5 more
French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean

Overview

Get closer to Milford Sound's natural wonders aboard our spacious, purpose-built catamarans. Enjoy more room to move around, with incredible views from our outdoor viewing decks or cosy interior cabins.

Get closer to the famous waterfalls and towering cliffs of Milford Sound, plus expert commentary sharing fascinating insights into the local wildlife and geological formations. Download our free app for commentary in eight languages.

Includes options to pre-order a freshly prepared picnic lunch or choose the To Kai buffet on selected departers. With 70+ years of expertise, we deliver unforgettable journeys in this breathtaking landscape and ensure a premium experience for all.

What's Included

  • Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries
  • Lunch (if option selected)
  • Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound for up to 2 hours
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour.
See 2 moreSee 2 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point

Freshwater Basin
Milford Sound Highway 94, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Read more

Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre

Your journey starts here, check in with friendly staff at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
Read more

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park is in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for the glacier-carved fiords of Doubtful and Milford sounds. A beech forest trail on the sandy Milford shore offers views of towering Mitre Peak. Nearby, the craggy Earl Mountains are reflected in the glassy surface of Mirror Lakes. On the Cleddau River, the Chasm Walk passes over bridges with views of powerful waterfalls.
Read more

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins.
Read more

1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mitre Peak (pass by)

Mitre Peak is a beautifully dramatic mountain in the South Island of New Zealand, located on the shore of Milford Sound. It is one of the most photographed mountain peaks in the entire country.
Read more

Bowen Falls (pass by)

The stunning Lady Bowen Falls is Milford’s highest waterfall. It plunges 162m from a hanging valley into the head of Milford Sound and provides electricity for the Milford Sound township by feeding a small hydroelectric scheme, as well as being the water source for the settlement
Read more

Sinbad Gully (pass by)

Nestled behind the world famous Mitre Peak, the Sinbad Gully is characterised by extremely steep glacially carved walls punctuated by near vertical granite cliffs. These walls slowed pest invasion into the gully and as a result a number of unique native species remain in the Sinbad.Southern Discoveries is passionate about preserving Milford Sound’s beauty for future generations which is why it’s a key partner in a major conservation project – the Sinbad Sanctuary Project.The aim is to see the valley of New Zealand’s most photographed mountain (Sinbad Gully is at the base of Mitre Peak) become a sanctuary for native species.
Read more

Stirling Falls (pass by)

Milford’s second-highest waterfall is the Stirling Falls, a staggering 151m in height – three times the height of Niagara Falls, but the 1,300m mountain behind displaces this incredible height. This is the famous waterfall that Hugh Jackman ‘jumped off’ in the movie Wolverine. The sheer drop of the Stirling Falls allows boats and brave kayakers to get right underneath – it’s an incredible feeling to have the power of 151m worth of glacial water falling on top of you.
Read more
Show 6 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for check-in.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers
  • Operated by a business

Frequently Asked Questions

(8)

Q: Will I get seasick on Milford Sound Cruise: Stunning Views & Optional Picnic or Buffet?

A: If you have any doubts about becoming seasick on the water, we recommend taking a Dramamine® Motion Sickness Relief tablet the night before your trip. Some people recommend taking it the night before your cruise and then again that morning so you will not feel so drowsy. Read more Feb 2023

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-3960MFNREDB

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.53
234 reviews

Average 4.53 out of 5 stars based on 234 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
161
4 stars
50
3 stars
13
2 stars
6
1 star
4

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 26 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Milford Sound Grand Tour Helicopter Scenic Flight Departing from Milford Sound

Combine all that Milford Sound is famous for into one flight! Explore Mitre Peak, the Sutherland Falls, and Tutuko Glacier. A minimum of four passengers...

45 minutesFree Cancellation
45 minutesFree Cancellation
45 minutes • Free Cancellation
5.0 (5)
from
$535.49

Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Get closer to nature on a Milford Sound Day Cruise with RealNZ. Discover glacier-carved cliffs rising from the ink waters below – when you’re travelling...

2 hoursFree Cancellation
2 hoursFree Cancellation
2 hours • Free Cancellation
4.8 (526)
from
$110.67

Scenic Flight Transfer to Queenstown from Milford Sound

Take the scenic route back to Queenstown from Milford Sound with Air Milford, on this one-way 35-minute flight. Admire spectacular views of natural wonders such as the Southern Alps, Sutherland...

35 minutesFree Cancellation
35 minutesFree Cancellation
35 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.9 (58)
from
$395.94

Milford Sound Coach & Cruise ex Te Anau Stunning Views with Lunch

Embark on a stress-free Milford Sound adventure from Te Anau. We'll do the driving as you relax in our premium coaches, designed for unbeatable views...

8 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
8 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation
8 hours 30 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.8 (140)
from
$201.42

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Rated one of the Top 10 Experiences in New Zealand. Join our boutique small boat cruise and experience Milford Sound the "local" way. We limit...

1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 45 minutesFree Cancellation
1 hour 45 minutes • Free Cancellation
4.9 (3,082)
from
$118.92

Premium Milford Sound Tour, Cruise & Lunch from Te Anau

Premium small group tour including boutique Milford Sound cruise onboard a Milford Sound Cruise, and picnic lunch from Te Anau. There is no better way...

7 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
7 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
7 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.9 (914)
from
$183.73

Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ
Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Get closer to nature on a Milford Sound Day Cruise with RealNZ. Discover glacier-carved cliffs rising from the ink waters below – when you’re travelling...

2 hoursFree Cancellation
2 hoursFree Cancellation
2 hours • Free Cancellation
4.8 (526)
from
$110.67

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

Premium small group tour including a boutique Milford Sound cruise designed for an immersive viewing experience, and picnic lunch from Queenstown. There is no better...

13 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
13 hoursHotel pickup offeredFree Cancellation
13 hours • Hotel pickup offered • Free Cancellation
4.9 (3,438)
from
$227.49

What's Included

Activity name

  • Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries
  • Lunch (if option selected)
  • Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound for up to 2 hours
  • Live commentary provided by the skipper
  • FREE tea and coffee are provided to all passengers
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • All passengers please advise country of origin at the time of booking
  • Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for check-in.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 200 travelers
  • Operated by a business

Protecting you

Activity name

For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Southern Discoveries

Report Product Issue

Activity name

Language
Currency

Site Settings

Activity name

Currency

Activity name

Activity name

Free Cancellation

100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (NZST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Sorting, ranking, and search results

Activity name

Cool Destinations wants to make your searches as relevant as possible. That's why we offer many ways to help you find the right experiences for you.

On some pages, you can select how to sort the results we display and also use filter options to see only those search results that meet your chosen preferences. You'll see explanations of what those sort options mean when you select them.

If you see a Badge of Excellence label, the award is based on average review ratings, share of bookings with a review, and number of bookings through Cool Destinations over a 12-month period.

The importance of any one factor over any other in a sort order varies, and the balance is constantly being reviewed and adjusted. We're always updating our systems and testing new ways to refine and improve your results to make them as relevant as possible to meet your needs.

Choose an option

Activity name

or

Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

Activity name

Cool Rewards

  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

Earning rewards

  • Rewards can be earned by making bookings on the Cool Destinations website. You will be able to see the value of the rewards you can earn during the booking process.
  • Earned rewards will be issued in a pending state and will move to a confirmed state 24 hours after the start time of the experience.
  • Earned rewards will be available to redeem once they are no longer in a pending state.
  • For bookings that are moved to a different travel date, the rewards will be redeemable after the amended travel date.
  • If a booking where rewards were issued is canceled, the earned rewards will not be redeemable and will be moved to a canceled state.

Redeeming rewards

  • To redeem rewards, you must be logged into your Cool Destinations account.
  • Any available rewards will be automatically applied the next time you make a booking, and their value will be deducted from your order at checkout, unless you choose not to apply them, which requires you to indicate this via the toggle switch. Bookings made using rewards are subject to the standard Cool Destinations Customer Terms of Use.
  • You will not be able to redeem only a portion of your available rewards at checkout. It is only possible to redeem all or none of your available rewards.
  • There is no minimum order value required to redeem your rewards. This means that you can pay for 100% of your order with rewards.
  • Rewards are non-transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash.
  • If rewards are redeemed against a booking that is canceled or refunded, the rewards will be reissued to your account.

Miscellaneous

  • You can check your Cool Destinations account to see the rewards you have collected at any time. You are responsible for ensuring that your rewards balance is correct.
  • We reserve the right to modify these Cool Rewards Terms and Conditions at any time, with or without notice, including the rules for earning and redeeming rewards. Any changes will be reflected in the updated Terms and Conditions.
  • We reserve the right to terminate the Cool Rewards program and cease issuing any further rewards on future bookings. All pending and available rewards balances will be honored.
  • By earning and redeeming rewards, you agree to these Terms and Conditions, as well as any subsequent changes made to them.