Milford Sound Premium Tour with Cruise, Flight & Lunch
About this activity
Highlights
- Breathtaking views of Fiordland National Park
- Cruise past iconic Mitre Peak
- Spot dolphins and seals in Milford Sound
- Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch onboard
- Scenic flight over Southern Alps
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Scenic bus ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound
- 90-minute Milford Sound cruise with commentary
- Return flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Itinerary
Pass by: Your tour starts in the stunning city of Queenstown. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventure today but also point out and guide you past some of the area’s top highlights.
Pass by: Departing Queenstown we wind our way around Lake Wakatipu, with amazing views of ‘The Remarkables’ Mountain Range and the lake.
Pass by: Continuing around the lake we will pass through Devil’s Staircase. This elevated windy part of the road is famous for dramatic photos and setting the scene for the day to come.
After more amazing mountain, river and farmland views we arrive in Te Anau, home to Lake Te Anau, New Zealand’s second largest lake. While in this idyllic town we will stop for a break and maybe meet some of the local animals or wildlife. Continuing along the lake we stop at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track, to hear the stories and admire the views.
Leaving Te Anau and entering Fiordland National Park we stop in Eglinton Valley. With views worthy of Lord of the Rings, this valley follows the path of an ancient glacier through Fiordland. One of the first major attractions as you enter the park, it really sets the scene for a journey that only get more impressive the deeper you get.
Our next stop on this epic adventure is Mirror Lakes for a short stroll to see the famous reflections of the Earl Mountains. Get the right day, take a good picture and no one with be able to tell which way is the right way up for the photo.
Continuing along the Milford Road we come across Lake Gunn. Named after a famous explorer and popular for fishing, often we will stop at Lake Gunn for some photos and to enjoy the peace.
Pass by: A short drive away we start passing the Hollyford River a gorgeous and powerful river full of large boulders and rapids. Feeding into the river at Falls Creek is the first of our extremely impressive waterfalls of the area, one of many to come.
Climbing in altitude we go deeper into the Darran Mountains and these views require another stop to admire and take photos. We are also entering the area where Kea (the world’s largest alpine parrot) like to live. Start keeping an eye out for these large, cheeky and colourful birds that never fail to thrill and entertain when found.
Pass by: To make our way back down towards the sea we enter the mind-blowing hand-built Homer Tunnel, hearing the incredible history and stories. Emerging from the tunnel the valley descends sharply towards Milford Sound and on a rainy-day hundreds of waterfalls cascading down the mountain side.
Following the valleys to the sea we arrive at Milford Sound where you will board your cruise with Cruise Milford (the No. 1 Cruise operator in Milford Sound on TripAdvisor). The Cruise Milford experience offers a boutique cruise on a smaller boat which is less crowded and a crew that offers a much more informative and personal tour of Milford Sound. The smaller boat means you get closer to the wildlife and nature including the New Zealand fur seals basking on the rocks, massive rock faces rising for hundreds of metres out of the sea and the waterfalls cascading from an ancient rainforest high in the mountains. This cruise is unbeatable.
While on the boat cruise you will be able to marvel at the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak, the iconic Milford Sound mountain, with its steep triangular peak rising high up above the reflective waters of the Milford Sound.
Lastly you take to the skies on the amazing scenic flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown. Your friendly and knowledgeable pilot will provide commentary during the flight, pointing out hidden lakes and waterfalls and the history of the areas you're flying over. Flight admission included in tour price.
Meeting point
Start Location
The Station - Home of Adventure in Queenstown, Corner of Shotover & Camp Streets, 25 Shotover Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour operates in all weather conditions; cancellations are rare but may occur due to extreme weather.
- Please inform the operator of any dietary restrictions at least 48 hours in advance.
- Children under 2 years old can join for free if seated on a parent's lap during the flight.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and bring a light jacket, as weather conditions can change rapidly in Fiordland.
- Don't forget your camera to capture the breathtaking scenery.
- Ensure you have a valid passport or ID for the flight segment of the tour.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Flights are always 'On Request' until confirmed with our partner airline
- If our regular flight operator is unavailable, we may be able to arrange an alternative operator; however, this could be at an additional cost
- Return scenic flight may be cancelled due to weather conditions. In this situation your return transport will be via mini bus and you will receive a partial refund.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- Bus tour operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can hire seats ($20NZD per seat) or you can provide your own
Traveler reviews
Milford sound bus cruise fly
Abby was an awesome guide. Especially appreciated the curated music which she played at key moments in the ride, which made it all very much more special and dramatic. What an experience!
An Unforgettable Milford Sound Adventure! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What an absolutely spectacular day out! The entire operation ran like clockwork from start to finish, and the four of us couldn't have asked for a better way to experience the sheer scale and beauty of Milford Sound. The water was stunning, the logistics were seamless, and getting right up close to the cascading waterfalls was an absolute highlight for the whole family. A huge shoutout to our driver and guide, Jason. He kept us thoroughly entertained the whole way down. I'm still trying to figure out if his relentless jokes or the hairpin turns on the Milford Road were more dizzying, but he navigated both like a total pro! The absolute cherry on top was the scenic flight. Our pilot, Isabelle, was fantastic and gave us an incredibly smooth ride over the peaks. This was quite a relief, considering she deadpanned right before takeoff that it was her very "first time" flying an airplane. We all had a minor heart attack before we realized she was completely pulling our leg! Her landing ended up being significantly smoother than Jason’s punchlines. If you're on the fence about booking this tour, just do it. Incredible views, a wonderfully organized itinerary, and a brilliantly funny crew. Highly recommended!
100% Recommend
We loved the drive, cruise, fly experience to see Milford Sound. We were able to see so many beautiful sights in just one day. Hannah was an amazing guide and took great care of us. We especially loved the stories and information along the drive.
Milford Sound
Our guide Abbey was the best, she entertained us, answered all our questions and shared so much great info on the area. The play list was great, it was a wonderful day out.
Exceptional & Seamless—An Exclusive Way to Experience Milford!
We booked the Premium Bus-Cruise-Fly package and it was worth every cent. The entire process was incredibly thoughtful and friendly from start to finish. The highlight was definitely the small group setting, which made the whole experience feel much more exclusive compared to the larger tour buses we saw. Unlike the bigger cruises that seemed rushed, our cruise took much more time, allowing us to truly soak in the atmosphere. Because we were on a smaller vessel, we were able to get incredibly close to the waterfalls, which was a breathtaking experience. Every detail was well-managed, allowing us to truly recharge and enjoy the stunning scenery without any stress. If you want a professional, seamless, and high-end experience in New Zealand, I highly recommend this package. Great people, great views, and a world-class arrangement!