Milford Sound Nature Cruise and Scenic Day Tour
- A full-day return coach journey from Queenstown to your Milford Sound cruise aboard a premium glass-roof coach—with an expert driver-guide so you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
- On one of New Zealand's most picturesque road journeys, stop at locations like Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, and Monkey Creek for unforgettable photos.
- Experience the ultimate Milford Sound Nature Cruise on a purpose-built catamaran, offering views of the majestic fiord, towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls. See local wildlife in the fiord, including fur seals, dolphins, and occasionally rare Fiordland crested penguins along the rocky shores.
- Free Southern Discoveries app for tour commentary in eight language options.
- Free tea & coffee and options for pre-purchased lunch onboard the boat
What to expect
The best way to experience Milford Sound from Queenstown. Travel in a premium glass-roof coach with expert commentary along one of New Zealand’s most picturesque journeys. At Milford Sound, connect with your two-hour Nature Cruise and sail the fiord to the Tasman Sea. Our purpose-built catamaran gets you close to Milford Sound’s famous waterfalls and iconic sites like Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls while spotting seals, dolphins, and maybe, rare penguins. Onboard commentary is also available in eight languages on our free app. Complimentary tea and coffee onboard the boat, plus choose to add a picnic lunch or To Kai buffet (on selected departures)— available to order when booking. Milford Sound is approximately a 5-hour drive from Queenstown. Trips depart daily.








Reviews
Everything was perfect from pick up service in our hotel, the glass roof coach, our friendly and funny Greg (if I'm not mistaken his name) and the cruise in Milford Sound. Time schedule is on time and we come back to our hotel happy and satisfied.
An amazing trip ! I booked for 6 people and we were allowcated seats to sit together, which was really considerate. The coach driver Stan was a really nice and jolly guy, made the journey fun, insightful and that much better. The coach was beautiful with big windows and glass roof. The stop overs were beautiful, like mirror lakes, monkey flat, lake gun and also got to see keas ! The toilet breaks were perfect + cafe stopovers. The cruise was also beautiful and the buffet was really nice too, kept us from having to bring extra snacks or food. Southern Discoveries was a really great choice, definitely booking with them again in the near future.
Upon arriving at the reception, after confirming your reservation information, the staff will give you your boat ticket. Keep it safe, then follow the staff's instructions to go outside and verify your reservation name with the driver. Once all guests are onboard, the driver will explain the day's itinerary and provide ongoing commentary. There will be stops along the way at several locations for photo opportunities, and there will also be some time spent in Te Anau for restroom breaks/eating/resting. Once you arrive at the boat launch, hand your ticket to the staff and board the boat. The captain will also provide commentary along the way. Free coffee, tea, and hot water are available on board for self-service. If you would like to purchase other hot food or drinks, they are also available on board. Milford Sound experiences a fair amount of rain, and when passing several large waterfalls, the boat will get quite close. If you are on the deck, you are likely to get wet, so it is recommended to bring a raincoat or wear a windproof and waterproof jacket. The fiord landscape is unique and not visible in many places. The scenery along the way is also beautiful and very worthwhile. I heartily recommend that anyone traveling to the South Island come and see it.
The Milford Sound tour with Southern Discoveries will truly remain one of the happiest experiences of my life. The scenery was incredibly beautiful, and our guide, Chris, was very kind. He made sure to stop at viewpoints along the way and drove safely. I think the Milford Sound cruise would be even more spectacular in the rain, but fortunately, Southern Discoveries brought the boat close to the waterfalls, and the experience of feeling the spray is still vivid in my memory. The surprise of seeing dolphins from the boat was also amazing. The reflections in Lake Mirrors were stunning, and the scenery along the entire drive to the tour was like a work of art. For anyone hesitant about taking the Milford Sound tour, I highly recommend it. It's an experience well worth dedicating a day to when visiting New Zealand. If you go with Chris, the guide on Southern Discoveries Coach #3, he will surely help you create wonderful memories. I truly recommend it!
Our guide shared a lot of knowledge and stopped at every beautiful spot so we could take photos. They were also incredibly kind. The ferry was large and comfortable. It was great to see seals, and Milford Sound was absolutely beautiful. The bus even had a glass ceiling, allowing us to fully enjoy the stunning scenery. Thank you for creating such a wonderful tour.
We had Stan as our tour guide and he was extremely funny and entertaining. we had such an amazing time and the views were so amazing. Stan stopped by a couple of places where we were able to take photos and we were lucky enough to catch the snowy mountains. highly recommend !
I've always wanted to go to Milford Sound! On the map, it wasn't that far from Queenstown, but I had to make a long detour, and it was quite a long way, 300km one way. Milford has rain 300 days a year, and it was cloudy the day I went, but it didn't rain and the scenery was amazing! I was also able to see some fur seals! One thing that bothered me was that the pick-up location was written as the hotel, but it was actually a different place, so I was confused and didn't know which was correct. I also got to see the rare bird Kea, so overall I'm very satisfied!
Good and entertaining itinerary. Prompt pick up, travel, and boarding. Scenic Milford Sound will not disaapoint! I will come back and bring family 😘⭐️
I just happened to come across the mid-year special sale, which is a great deal! Although the trip was canceled due to rain and road closures on the original date, the date can be changed, and the customer service handling efficiency is very good👍🏻The weather was super good on the day of the ride ~ the sun was very bright☀️ (remember to wear sunscreen, the roof of the car is made of transparent glass) Exposure!) Although many people on the Internet say that the waterfall will be more spectacular if it rains a little, but it’s also good on a sunny day! There is a rainbow🌈We will stop at several scenic spots along the way for everyone to take photos, and then we will have the opportunity to see the scenery on rainy days😁
1. This is the itinerary of Southern Discovery, red series, large yacht 2. Flexible departure time, you can go to most hotels in Queenstown for pick-up and drop-off 3. The large boat is very stable, very suitable for people who are afraid of seasickness 4. Panoramic glass windows can see The scenery is very complete. "It is recommended" to wear a hat and sunglasses in the car to avoid sunburn.
Good to know
What To Wear/Bring:
- Non-slip shoes or boots
- Waterproof jacket
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Please indicate your hotel upon checkout. If your hotel is outside the service area, the booking team will arrange for the nearest hotel pick up location and all these details will be indicated on your voucher
Contact us
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