I’ve been fortunate enough to experience no shortage of beautiful places in my life, but few have impressed me as much as Milford Sound has.
With a unique water composition that prevents light from penetrating the deep sea water underneath its top freshwater layer, many deep sea creatures can be found just 30 meters beneath the surface.
From breathtaking mountains, lush rainforests, and impressive rainfall, there’s so much to see at this fjord. However, if you want to make the most of your time there, I highly suggest selecting one of the 5 top Milford Sound cruises available today. Let’s jump right in!
Best Milford Sound Boat Tours
| Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown | Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience | Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau | |
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| Location: | Corner of Shotover & Camp Streets, 25 Shotover Street, Queenstown | 1 Milford Sound Highway, Milford Sound 9679 | Hotel pickup and drop-off available |
| Start: | 6:30 & 7:30 AM | 10:45 AM, 12:45, 1:45 & 2:45 PM | 8:00 AM |
| Duration: | 13 hours | 1 hour and 45 minutes | 10 hours |
| Includes: | Small group and fully guided tour, cruise entry, lunch, bottled water, snacks | Complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits on board all sailings | National Park fees, coffee and/or tea, driver/guide, live commentary on board, local guide, air-conditioned vehicle |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Milford Sound Cruise Tours For 2024
- Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown
- Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience
- Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau
- Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau
- Premium Milford Sound Tour, Cruise and Lunch from Te Anau
Milford Sound Cruise Tour Reviews
1. Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown
- Duration: 13 hours
- Departure: Corner of Shotover & Camp Streets, 25 Shotover Street, Queenstown
- Departure Time: 6:30 & 7:30 AM
- Includes: Small group and fully guided tour, cruise entry, lunch, bottled water, snacks
Located right within New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound appeals to travelers from all over the world with its rugged beauty and pristine wilderness.
I find small group tours to be practically essential when it comes to an intimate and immersive wildlife experience, so as to not disturb the flora and fauna and enjoy the peace and quiet.
The Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown offers all this and more, appreciating the awe-inspiring grandeur of this magical place.
Departing from downtown Queenstown, it is important to mention if you would prefer to be picked right up at your hotel, as both options are available. We chose a convenient hotel pickup so we didn’t have to deal with public transportation or shelling out extra cash for a taxi/Uber.
We then made our way around Lake Wakatipu, where we were able to take in some amazing views of The Remarkables Mountain Range from our comfy coach!
The Devil’s Staircase Lookout is a must-see, with incomparable views along the lake – particularly if it’s a clear day! It’s a really quick stop, though, as that’s all there is to see so you can just snap some photos and head back onto the coach.
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Lake Te Anau is the country’s second-biggest, with a charming little town where we explored the flora and fauna and grabbed a tasty bite to eat!
After departing Te Anau, we went through the beautiful Fiorland National Park, making a stop in Eglinton Valley with Lord-of-the-Rings-esque vistas through an ancient glacier.
Mirror Lakes Walk is up next, which is really just a brief, leisurely walk for you to take in the reflections of the Earl Mountains on the picture-perfect, flat lake!
We even got to stop at Lake Gunn, which is known for its fishing and pristine views. Hollyford River was next, before delving further into the Darran Mountains, where we even got to explore a unique area that’s home to the world’s largest alpine parrot!
Homer Tunnel couldn’t be left off, which was shocking to learn that it was hand-built with such precision!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience
- Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Departure: 1 Milford Sound Highway, Milford Sound 9679
- Departure Time: 10:45 AM, 12:45, 1:45 & 2:45 PM
- Includes: Complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits on board all sailings
There is no shortage of natural beauty when it comes to New Zealand, so when the Milford Sound was first suggested to me, I knew I couldn’t pass it up.
Sitting within the breathtaking landscapes of the legendary Fiordland National Park, the sound is one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural wonders.
The Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience will take you through towering granite cliffs, crystal-clear waterfalls, enormous glacial waters, and so much more!
Lasting just 1 hour and 45 minutes, it’s super easy to fit into even the busiest of schedules and is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re an animal lover like me, I find it to also be one of the best tours for seeing little critters in their natural habitats!
It’s great for the entire family because it’s brief yet still offers you the opportunity to get to see areas of the sound up close and personal!
Start by boarding a comfortable, spacious vessel equipped with viewing decks where everyone can fit, along with large windows for optimal viewing of any area passed.
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The captain and crew were very friendly, offering us top-notch customer service, complete with complimentary coffee, tea, and biscuits. We glided across the tranquil waters at Milford Sound, allowing the stress to melt away as I soaked up all of the remarkable beauty surrounding us.
As we cruised along, our captain shared all kinds of insightful commentary about the area’s geology, animals, plants, as well as the region’s rich Maori and European history.
Thanks to the small group size, it was a very intimate and personalized tour that felt more like a professional guide friend was taking us out on the water! Overall, this was a super tranquil, exciting experience that I’ll be sure to do again soon!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau
- Duration: 10 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off available
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM
- Includes: National Park fees, coffee and/or tea, driver/guide, live commentary on board, local guide, air-conditioned vehicle
Are you on the hunt for one of the most comprehensive all-day tours of its kind? If you have a free day and want to see Milford Sound to its fullest, this is one of the best tours available in 2024.
The Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau is a fascinating experience that takes you on land and sea to view the most awe-inspiring views around.
Starting off with a convenient hotel pickup right at 8:00 am, you will be able to take advantage of an early departure where you’ll run into very few other people. This is great, as most of the areas we viewed we had to ourselves, which was quite a blast!
Our first stop was at the Te Anau Downs, where we visited the Bluegum Bay sheltered harbor, which was also quite interesting.
One of my favorite portions of the tour was taking a leisurely stroll at the Mirror Lakes boardwalk where we were able to see beech forest, wetland pools, and the halfway point between the equator and South Pole!
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I also thoroughly enjoyed walking to Marian Cascade/Lake where we took in amazing views before sipping on some morning coffee or tea at Gunn’s Camp, which overlooks the legendary Chiefs Island.
It’s one of the last few luxury, vintage safari camps in existence and had a kind of “Out of Africa” vibe to it!
We snapped some photos at Fall’s Creek and Monkey Creek, and even got to check out the over 4,000-foot-long Homer Tunnel, following it up with a brief walk to the unique rock formations of The Chasm.
Throughout the entire tour, our guide shared interesting info about the local area’s history, geology, and so much more! While I do feel like the lunch could’ve been a bit more substantial, everything else was perfect!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau
- Duration: 9 hours
- Departure: 20/22 Luxmore Drive, Te Anau 9600, (or hotel pickup and drop-off)
- Departure Time: 8:00 AM
- Includes: Afternoon or morning tea, local driver/guide, sightseeing boat cruise, guided and self-guided walking tours, modern air-conditioned minivan (max 15), lunch
If you’re looking for one of the most convenient, smooth tour experiences around New Zealand, look no further than this next one!
The Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau takes you on various methods of transportation in order to discover this special area in all its glory.
Perfectly balancing scenic drives, leisurely walks, and a captivating cruise along the pristine waters of the Sound, you can’t go wrong here.
You can opt to have your guide pick you and your party up right from your hotel in an air-conditioned minivan, for optimal convenience!
As groups are limited to just 15 participants, everyone has plenty of space to move around while receiving an intimate, customized experience. The tour starts off at 8:00 am, so you can try and beat most of the crowds while making the most of the day out in the wilderness.
As we cruised along the winding roads, our knowledgeable guide shared fascinating commentary about the area’s rich history, geology, wildlife, industry insight, and much more!
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Once we reached Milford Sound, we all already had a good background of it, starting off with a beautiful cruise. As we sailed along the tranquil waters, I gazed out at the impressive landscapes that made it feel almost like I was in some epic film!
I wasn’t expecting to see any sea life, but we were so lucky, we even spotted some dolphins splashing around, sweet seals, and even some penguins!
We then went back to shore, stretching our legs with a guided nature walk along the shore with experienced guides. We headed down hidden pathways, checking out the native flora and fauna while stopping to take photos along the way.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Premium Milford Sound Tour, Cruise and Lunch from Te Anau
- Duration: 9 hours
- Departure: 94 Te Anau Terrace, Te Anau 9600
- Departure Time: Between 7:30 & 10:30 AM
- Includes: Small group and fully-guided tour, cruise entry, lunch, bottled water, snacks
There’s a ton of excitement when it comes to New Zealand, from pristine glaciers to gushing waterfalls! However, if you’re looking for a quiet and calm way to escape the city’s madness, I have just the tour for you.
The Premium Milford Sound Tour, Cruise and Lunch from Te Anau is all that and more, with visits to idyllic towns, brazen wildlife, and everything in-between.
With this tour, you either get the choice of meeting your guide in Te Anau Terrace or having your guide pick you up right from your hotel accommodations.
I always choose the latter, as I like to bring along a small backpack and jacket, and having the guide pick me up eliminates the risk of me forgetting them in an Uber or public transportation.
Our driver/guide was absolutely fantastic – not only informative, but a careful and efficient driver who placed our safety first.
The tour starts off in the charming lakeside town of Te Anau, where we learned all about the endangered takahē birds, underground waterfalls, as well as the rich Maori history.
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The road from here to Milford Sound is very smooth, well-maintained, and postcard-perfect. Upon entering the Fiordland National Park, we headed to Eglington Valley, which boasts many different film locations for Lord of the Rings films.
We then went on a Mirror Lakes walk for a short walk, where the reflection was so clear that it really did look like the mountains were upside-down! Lake Gunn and Falls Creek were next, which feature amazing waterfalls, dangerous rapids, and amazing views.
We saw so many more incredible places that there are too many to mention here, but trust that you won’t even be able to think about getting bored!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Sites Seen
Boat Comfort
Value
The Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown is our Editors Choice for the best Milford Sound Cruise
