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Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

2,562 Reviews 4.91 out of 5 stars Based on 2,562 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 99% of reviewers
99% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
|
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards. Queenstown, New Zealand
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from $253.75 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Cruise the Milford Sound fiord on a two hour nature boat cruise.
Mirror Lakes
Premium Vans
After your cruise, our guide will transport you on a relaxing drive back to Queenstown
Milford Sound is famous for waterfalls - how many will you see?

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On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.
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13 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Instant confirmation
Offered in: English

Overview

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 awestruck. This globally award winning small group tour is for travellers seeking an all-inclusive, uniquely-kiwi, personalised trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound and back.

Our fleet of modern Mercedes vans are fitted with leather seats, panoramic scenic windows, Wi-Fi and Spotify. Enjoy a small-group journey with 15 people maximum for ultimate comfort and undivided attention from your guide.

Let your Altitude Tours guide entertain you with in-depth knowledge of the area, as you travel from Queenstown into the Fiordland National Park on the famous Milford Road. Enjoy many scenic photo stops at both famous locations, as well as your guide's favourite spots.

Enjoy a 1hr 45min boutique uncrowded cruise and picnic lunch while taking in the incredible beauty that Milford Sound has to offer!

What's Included

  • Tea and coffee Tea & coffee available on the nature cruise
  • Lunch Packed picnic lunch is included
  • WiFi on board
  • Bottled water To reduce single-use plastic, we do not provide water bottles. We recommend anyone travelling NZ to have their own reusable water bottle. There are several locations to refill during the day.
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Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point
Pickup details

Please note that your selected pickup location may not be exact; we will pick up either at or near your requested location. After you book, our team will contact you to provide your exact pickup location details. If you are unsure of the best pickup point, please inform the activity provider of your accommodation, and we will advise the most suitable pickup location.The departure time applies to the central Queenstown pick-up, however, times can vary, depending on your location.

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.
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Safe & secure • Easy breezy • Hassle-free

Lake Whakatipu (pass by)

Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. You'll travel in style in a premium Mercedes van designed for touring with only 15 seats onboard. The first leg of our journey to Milford Sound transports you from Queenstown through the picturesque Southland farming country and the charming town of Te Anau, where we'll make a brief stop by the lakeside for refreshments.
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Lake Te Anau

Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island. It is the largest lake in Australasia by fresh water volume.
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Admission Ticket Free

Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

From here, we welcome you to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fiord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains, winding rivers, and the cheeky Kea bird. Throughout the journey, your guide will make multiple stops for photo opportunities, short walks, and will entertain you with fascinating local facts and stories.
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3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Eglinton Valley

See the picturesque Eglinton Valley
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mirror Lakes Walk

Enjoy a beautiful short nature walk and view the famous Mirror Lakes.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Homer Tunnel (pass by)

The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2 km long road tunnel in the Fiordland region of the South Island of New Zealand, opened in 1953. New Zealand State Highway 94 passes through the tunnel, linking Milford Sound to Te Anau and Queenstown, by piercing the Darran Mountain range at the Homer Saddle.
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Milford Sound

Upon reaching Milford Sound, embark on a 1hr 45min nature cruise that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fiord. This small boat cruise, accompanied by a knowledgeable onboard nature guide, allows you to explore the edges of the fiord, revealing its impressive waterfalls and unique wildlife, which may include dolphins, penguins, fur seals, and native birdlife.
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2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Te Anau

After your cruise, rejoin the van to commence the return journey to Queenstown. Sit back, relax, and take in the views. This day tour spans approximately 12-13 hours, and our smaller vehicles and attentive guide ensure your comfort and entertainment throughout the journey.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Queenstown

On arrival back into Queenstown, your guide will return you back to the same location they picked you up from, or you can choose to be dropped in Queenstown.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please bring walking shoes, warm clothes and rain jacket.
  • Please bring a reusable water bottle on tour with us. There are multiple locations to refill during the day.
  • The cruise operator requires all passengers need to be able to board and disembark the vessel without assistance in case of an emergency.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(8)

Q: Will I get seasick on Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown?

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-3287_ZQN

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.91
2,562 reviews

Average 4.91 out of 5 stars based on 2,562 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
2,385
4 stars
147
3 stars
19
2 stars
6
1 star
5

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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 25 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Destinations customers.

Filter by:

Q: Will I get seasick on Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown?
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.

Feb 2023
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown?
A:
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 a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Tea and coffee. Tea & coffee available on the nature cruise.
  • Lunch. Packed picnic lunch is included.
  • WiFi on board.
  • Convenient pick up and drop off locations around Queenstown.
  • 1hr 45min nature cruise on Milford Sound.
  • Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route.
  • Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides.
The following is NOT included:
  • Bottled water. To reduce single-use plastic, we do not provide water bottles. We recommend anyone travelling NZ to have their own reusable water bottle. There are several locations to refill during the day.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown is as follows:

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Destinations. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

Activity name

  • Tea and coffeeTea & coffee available on the nature cruise
  • LunchPacked picnic lunch is included
  • WiFi on board
  • Convenient pick up and drop off locations around Queenstown
  • 1hr 45min nature cruise on Milford Sound
  • Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route
  • Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides
  • Bottled waterTo reduce single-use plastic, we do not provide water bottles. We recommend anyone travelling NZ to have their own reusable water bottle. There are several locations to refill during the day.

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please bring walking shoes, warm clothes and rain jacket.
  • Please be aware that Milford Sound is a 5 hour drive from Queenstown (one-way with sightseeing stops). This is a full day excursion, and including the 1hr 45min cruise on the fiord, allow approximately 13 hours door to door.
  • A packed picnic lunch is included in your experience. The default choice is a chicken, however you can request a vegetarian lunch until 5pm the day prior.
  • Please bring a reusable water bottle on tour with us. There are multiple locations to refill during the day.
  • The cruise operator requires all passengers need to be able to board and disembark the vessel without assistance in case of an emergency.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
  • Operated by a business

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For your protection and stress-free bookings, use our secure platform to pay for bookings. Altitude Tours Milford Sound Experience

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Lowest Price Guarantee

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We guarantee the lowest price on all the tours available to book on our site. We'll refund the difference if you find the exact tour cheaper online until 48 hours before your tour starts.

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Locate your Cool Destinations Booking Number and the proof of the lower price you found.

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Email priceguarantee@mybookings.zendesk.com with the documents, your name, and your home address.

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We'll review your materials and get in touch as soon as possible.

Receive your refund

If everything checks out, we'll refund you the price difference.

Refund Terms & Conditions

The following conditions apply to all lowest price guarantee refund requests:

  • The lowest price guarantee is available to any customer who makes a qualifying purchase through our website. The qualifying purchase must be a minimum of US$20 (or equivalent).
  • The lowest price guarantee covers retail and prepaid rates available to the general public. This does not include discounts or promotions you may receive (or be eligible for) from third-party sites or organizations such as AAA or AARP or special offers made as part of a membership program, corporate discount, daily deal, group, or rewards program.
  • Cool Destinations promotions cannot be combined with the lowest price guarantee.
  • If you find a lower retail or prepaid rate for the same tour, offered on the same date, time and priced in the same currency as your original purchase, on any other website between the time you book on Cool Destinations and 48 hours before your trip starts, we will refund the difference.
  • The lowest price guarantee does not apply where a lower overall price is found by breaking down the purchased tour into one or more parts sold separately.
  • Cool Destinations reserves the right to verify the lower price details. Examples of acceptable forms of verification include a web screenshot or a web address.
  • All refund decisions will be made at the sole discretion of Cool Destinations.
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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.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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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.

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Cool Rewards Terms & Conditions

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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.