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Milford Sound

Milford Sound Tours

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Milford Sound Coach Tour with Lunch from Queenstown

Badge of ExcellenceQueenstown, New Zealand

From $156.56

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Reserve Now & Pay Later
Secure your spot while staying flexible
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Queenstown Tours
All Queenstown Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Private and Luxury
Unique Experiences
  • 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Upon reaching Milford Sound, board a luxurious catamaran. Peer through panoramic windows of a luxury coach while you travel through the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park with a guide, before a memorable sightseeing cruise by Mitre Peak and the magnificent cliff-side waterfalls of Milford Sound.
  • Explore the beauty of Mildford Sound and Fiordland National Park on this full-day tour from Queenstown
  • Relax and enjoy the sites of Mildford Sound on a sightseeing cruise
  • View the stunning Mirror Lakes
  • Includes hassle-free, round-trip transportation

What's Included

  • 1-hour 45-minute sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
  • Lunch
  • Local guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • Glass-roofed coach with free WiFi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off - please call to book
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Athol Street
    Athol Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

    Please note, that all-day parking isn't available at the Athol Street car park

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

After you’re picked up at your hotel, settle in aboard a comfortable coach with panoramic windows and begin your Milford Sound tour from Queenstown. This day trip departs the shore of Lake Wakatipu, situated against the jagged backdrop of the Remarkables mountain range, and makes a stop in Te Anau for morning tea (own expense). 

On arrival at the World Heritage–listed Fiordland National Park, step off the coach at the Mirror Lakes. Snap photos of this natural roadside attraction before passing through the Hollyford Valley. Your coach then enters the Homer Tunnel, emerging above the Cleddau Valley, where you’ll follow a footbridge over the Cleddau River to the Chasm to view the river’s turbulent whirlpools.

Upon reaching Milford Sound, board the luxurious catamaran. Throughout the 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise, listen to expert commentary about the pristine environment and natural landmarks such as Mitre Peak. Rising dramatically to a height of 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) above sea level, it’s one of many towering cliffs carved by a massive glacier in the last ice age.

Pass cascading waterfalls, and search for birdlife and marine mammals including New Zealand fur seals in addition to penguins and pods of dolphins. Gourmet Buffet lunch is included on your cruise, before you’re returned by coach to your Queenstown hotel.

GreatSights

Tour departs from this location

1 minute • Admission Ticket Free

Lake Wakatipu (Pass By)

oLake Wakatipu is the longest lake in New Zealand and the third largest. Wakatipu is a Maori word meaning, ‘Hollow of the Demon’. The lake has an unusual rhythmic rise and fall in the water level, approximately 12cm every 5 minutes. In Maori legend this strange rhythmic rise and fall of the water level, is said to be the beating heart of a monster from the deep depths of the lake.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 49 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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

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

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

Like everyone says it is a big day but absolutely worth the effort.
Be kind to your fellow travellers and get back to the bus by the time he tells you to - you need to listen.
Reviews
4.5
476 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 476 reviews
Top
Les_D, Mar 2023
Steven, our coach driver and guide, did a top job. As did the boat driver and guide. Lunch was good.
Calmness with tranquility
Joreen_T, Mar 2023
We travelled from Queenstown to Milford Sound. It was a 4 hours drive. We have an experienced driver for the trip which is crucial due to the winding road. He gave good commentary on our journey to Milford Sound. The cruise was good with good commentary. Weather was not too good for us. It’s cloudy but it’s still a good experience. Feel the tranquility and calmness as well as majestic of Milford Sound
Overall great trip!
Manasa_C, Mar 2023
The tour was a great way to see Milford sound but I would have preferred a separate tour guide and driver as it would’ve been nice to ask questions during the ride. The boat ride through the fjord was fantastic, a must see!
Glacial Facial
RosannaWaiSum_U, Mar 2023
The drive to and from Queenstown is long but you get a moment to take in the sights along the way. We went through/passed Eglinton valley, Mirror Lakes Walk, Mitre Peak, Homer Tunnel, Monkey Creek and finally to Milford Sound for our cruise. The perks of this long drive is that you can sleep on a comfy coach bus with a glass roof, curtains and free wifi On the cruise they said dolphins are usually only seen twice a week but we had 4-5 surfing the bow wave with us the entire 1hr45min cruise. It was such a clear day and because of how Milford Sound is located, the waters are super calm. We even got up close and personal with a waterfall and got a glacier facial. I've heard that even when the weather changes, if it rains, that's when the waterfalls are more intense and creates more magic at Milford Sound. I'd definitely recommend this tour. My only suggestion is that if you are planning on doing this and Aoraki/Mt Cook hike/tour, to do this one first as Mt Cook in my opinion stuck out more and felt a bit more grandeur.
Fantastic day out
juliedoherty84, Feb 2023
Fantastic day out and the weather was perfect!! The views on the coach there made the long journey very enjoyable! And the boat ride was stunning! Highly recommend! Adrian our tour guide was so funny! Really enjoyed his commentary!
Glass bus a treat to travel and experience nature
Samuel_M, Feb 2023
An amazing trip..great tour guide kept us entertained and informed we'll throughout the trip. Fed well too and got us back in time.
Wow wow stunning day
Nicholas_M, Feb 2023
Great scenery, terrific bus driver who also provided very knowledgeable commentary and overall we had a wonderful experience.
Incredible 🇦🇺
Ishrat_G, Feb 2023
Fantastic Tour guide David , great sense of humour and very accommodating. An incredible day filled with happy smiles.
Marvelous Milford Sound
Elizabeth_C, Feb 2023
Milford Sound is amazingly beautiful. We were lucky to have had rain in the morning, which meant that even the temporary waterfalls were flowing. Lunch was excellent. The only problem was that none of the outlets on the coach to recharge phones worked.
A memorable day
Jane_C, Feb 2023
Lovely, scenic journey to Milford Sound and beautiful boat ride. Our day was enhanced by our wonderful bus driver, Adrian, who was engaging, humorous and very informative about the areas we travelled through and NZ in general. He was a tremendous value add to a great day.
Absolutely worth the time, money and effort
Tersia_S, Feb 2023
It was an amazing experience. The coach didn't have toilet facilities, but Adrian stopped to accommodate the need of the passengers.
Milford Sound
Richard_V, Feb 2023
The boat ride was excellent. The bus driver Jayden was very informative and entertaining. Despite previous comments we thought the packed lunch was v good. Boat crew were friendly and approachable.
Awsome trip
susan_s, Feb 2023
Great day to Milford, very well organised, coach driver awsome and well informed, boat trip great, overall good value
Worth it
richard_a, Feb 2023
Luke did a great job driving, providing commentary, and keeping us all on time. The weather did not cooperate, but it is what it is. Overall, a good time.
Dream destination ticked off list
Gillian_T, Jan 2023
The whole day. Luke our guide/driver was a huge part of making it so enjoyable. The staff on the boat were helpful and friendly. Helped that it was a glorious day weather wise.
Covid on the bus!
Peter_S, Jan 2023
Of course, nature was unbelievable and we really were enjoying it, but spending 10 hours on the bus with 40 people was not very good idea, especially almost nobody was wearing mask and was not asked to do so. Obviously, in two days after the trip I got Covid! It was totally inresponsible on behave of the tour operator. I am thinking about some kind of legal action.
All day trip
Marleena_A, Jan 2023
Beautiful trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound with the driver's commentary (partly hard to follow). Catamaran drive was awesome, people could stay on the roof and enjoy the view and take photos. We saw furseals and one waterfall closely. I took one star off because of the lunch which included sandwich, few cookies and little juice.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Kia Ora Marlee, thank you for your review, and glad you had a great trip out with us. Really appreciate your comments about the lunch and please know it is something we are consistently working on.
Choose another company
Joel_B, Jan 2023
Definitely do it, but not with your tour company. Bus needed to change tires. Over an one hour and half late. Nothing done to accommodate us. Lunch was horrible. Driver/tour guide barely understandable.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Kia Ora Joel, thank you for your review and comments. It is unfortunate on your trip we did have a flat tire that needed to be repaired. It's understandable how once you are delayed due to an accident it does make the day challenging. If you could please contact us directly, I would like the opportunity to discuss this with you.
Milford brilliant!
Dawn_P, Jan 2023
The bus driver Adrian was great and very funny. The scenery was spectacular. Stopped at mirror pools too which was amazing
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Kia Ora Dawn, thank you for your 5-star review, so happy you enjoyed our trip and liked the mirror pools.
False advertisement - description is not the same on the actual
MarlynIntalan_P, Jan 2023
Viator sold a Milford couch tour via Greatsight, with glass roof top and wifi description but the actual ended up to Ritchie Bus without wifi, glass roof and malfunction seats and seat belt.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Kia Ora, thank you for your review. It is unfortunate that on your day the coach had to be swapped out. If you could please contact us directly we would like the opportunity to discuss with with you.
...

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Product code: 3910GS76

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