Top Fiordland & Milford Sound Water Tours

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. Lunch, as well as onboard coffee and tea are included with all cruise options.

Receive a passport to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic scenery on this full-day excursion to Milford Sound. Part of the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park, the region features a glacier-carved fjord, soaring mountains, and tumbling waterfalls. Explore via glass-topped bus, go for a cruise along the sound’s waters, stroll the Mirror Lakes Walk, enjoy lunch along the way, and much more.

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.

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.

Escape the crowds on a Milford Sound cruise aboard a spacious boat with a limited number of passengers. Get up-close views of New Zealand fur seals, dolphins and Fiordland-crested penguins from the luxury lounge in the upper cabin, where you can enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits as you listen to the skipper’s narration. This boutique vessel provides a superior experience with unforgettable memories of highlights like Mitre Peak.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Head out on a spectacular cruise in the pristine wilderness of the southern Fiordlands of Milford Sound. From thundering waterfalls, to mile-high mountains and lush green forests, take in the breath-taking views from the expansive deck. If the weather turns to a moody, ethereal grey and raining wonder-land, seek shelter inside, but don't miss a moment of the majesty through the perfectly positioned glass windows. This cruise will trace along the entire fiord and out to the Tasman Sea, before heading back down the other side. Get up close and personal with the glacial spray of the waterfalls, and keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife that call this magical place home. Please note: this service may operate on several different vessels. If you wish to find out more, please contact the supplier directly. Please arrive 20 minutes before departure to check in. 8.45am and 3.30pm cruises are of a shorter duration Paid Parking - as set by Milford Sound Tourism LTD.

Enjoy uninterrupted views of glacier-carved cliffs on your Milford Sound cruise aboard the Gem of the Sound. The Gem is Milford's only vessel with two glass roofs, guaranteeing you the best viewing opportunities in the fiord! With spacious booth seating indoors, an open sun deck up top, a covered deck at the rear and a spacious viewing platform at the bow, your cruise comfort is guaranteed. Visit the onboard Café Bar for an array of substantial hot and cold snacks, or simply savour a local wine or beer as you bask in the beauty of the surrounds. The famously friendly skipper and crew are on hand to share their wealth of local knowledge, take those all important photos and join you on foredeck for the big finale as the bow noses under Stirling Falls!

Cruise the spectacular waters of Milford Sound, passing colonies of fur seals, tumbling waterfalls, and soaring cliffs. You’ll explore on a boat whose viewing decks and glassed-in cabins are ideal for sightseeing in any weather, traveling all the way from Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea. Make your own way to Milford Sound, or opt for round-trip transport from Queenstown by glass-roofed coach, with sightseeing, short hikes, and narration along the way.

Enjoy uninterrupted views of glacier-carved cliffs on a Milford Sound cruise aboard the Maiden of Milford, a 3-deck vessel. This sightseeing cruise through one of the South Island’s most stunning natural wonders takes you past vivid waterfalls to frolicking dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. Meet at the pier or opt for a round-trip coach tour of UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park from Queenstown, and stop for photographs and some short nature walks en route to Milford Sound.

Taking only 20 passengers a night, the Fiordland Jewel features nine climate-controlled cabins each with their own ensuite and sea views. Includes: overnight accommodation cabin for 2 people per cabin only (option in king twin or super king double cabin), two cruises of Milford Sound, a three-course evening meal, cooked and continental breakfast prepared by the on board chef, kayaking, tender boat explorations, use of top-deck hot tub (weather permitting). The friendly expert crew will share with you the incredible natural wilderness and local wildlife of this area. View the fascinating sea life beneath the surface when shown underwater film footage captured by the Fiordland Jewels' onboard Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) following dinner. Bookings are open from 18 December 2022 to 2 April 2023. Van connections (maximum 10 people) are available from Te Anau or Queenstown with exclusive charters available upon request.

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.

This section of the track offers a taste of one of the world’s most famous walks and is ideal for anyone on a day trip to Milford Sound or staying overnight at Milford Sound Lodge and looking to explore further. This section of the track is flat and easy-going, and in under two hours, you can reach Giant Gate Falls, one of the highlights of the Milford Track. Allow 3-4 hours for the return hike. The perfect family-friendly adventure in Milford Sound.