Milford Sound Premium Tour with Lunch
About this activity
Highlights
- Breathtaking views of Mitre Peak
- Cruise past stunning waterfalls
- Spot playful dolphins and seals
- Explore Fiordland National Park
- Enjoy a gourmet lunch onboard
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour from Te Anau to Milford Sound
- Scenic cruise through Milford Sound
- Delicious lunch onboard the cruise
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Itinerary
Pass by: Your tour starts in stunning idyllic town of Te Anau, after maybe meeting some of the local animals or wildlife we continue along the lake. Stopping at Te Anau Downs the starting point for the Milford Track you will be able 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.
Named after a famous explorer and popular for fishing, often we will stop at Lake Gunn for some photos and to enjoy the peace. Hollyford River & Falls Creek – 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.
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.
Next we pull over to admire the elevated amazing views of the divide in the Southern Alps, close to the start of the Routeburn Track. While here the guide will tell you the stories of ancient Maori explorers.
Climbing in altitude we go deeper into the Darran Mountains where the views require another stop to admire and take photos. We are also entering the area where Kea (the world largest alpine parrot) likes 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 while hearing the incredible history and stories. Emerging from the tunnel the valley descends sharply down towards Milford Sound and on a rainy-day hundreds of waterfalls can be seen cascading down the mountain side.
Following the valleys to the sea we arrive at Milford Sound where you will board your cruise! 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 meters out of the sea and the waterfalls cascading from the 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.
Sadly we must start to head back to Te Anau but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip and many stops and breaks along the way.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriately.
- Children under 5 years old are not permitted on this tour.
- Please inform the operator of any dietary restrictions at least 48 hours in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy footwear suitable for a day outdoors.
- Bring a waterproof jacket to stay dry during the cruise.
- Don't forget your camera to capture the stunning landscapes.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Easy Public Transport
- Stroller Accessible
Good to know
- A moderate amount of walking is involved. Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
Traveler reviews
Awesome day out!
Shura was an awesome, friendly and info packed guide. The trip, drive, scenery to the boat was great. The trip out on the sound was incredible. Great experience for the family and no hassle, issues at any stage. Wonderful day, not adding photos as don’t want to ruin any of the adventure ahead for those about to book!
Great experience and guide
Great experience and visit of Milford sound. Small group a plus and our guide who I believe was named Barry was also great. He was very friendly and informative
Excellent day trip, well organised.
Excellent experience! Our guide, Andy, was brilliant from the start; welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. From the outset, Cheeky Kiwi’s communication was great. We travelled from Te Anau and on the day of pick up Cheeky Kiwi WhatsApp’d to let us know they would be ten mins late due to traffic from Queenstown. We were picked up from our accommodation and the vehicle was very comfortable with spacious leather seats and large windows to aid the views. The company faded even thought of providing squeeges and cloths even to help clear windows in case they steamed up during the drive - great forward planning! The seats all had our packed lunches on the seat when we arrived, including the various dietary arrangements annotated on luggage labels - nice attention to detail. The lunches themselves were great too. The journey to Milford Sound was smooth and informative with well timed photo stop opportunities. On arrival at Milford Sound, Andy collected the boat tickets and escorted us to the boat ensuring we all got there with zero stress. We were lucky with the weather but the boat trip was super. Informative and beautiful. The skipper and boat host were really helpful. It’s worth taking plenty of warm kit because it can be VERY chilly (if you go on deck) when you turn around to head back to port. Free tea, coffee and biscuits on the boat were great. Similarly, we had an efficient and interesting road trip back after the boat journey. I would highly recommend this company and also their guide, Andy.
Magical Milford Sound
Amazing! Our tour guide, Jess, provided lots of informative commentary about Milford Sound and New Zealand as the bus made its way to what is tagged as one of the eighth wonders of the world. We were so fortunate to experience snowfall and to make fantastic family memories. The sun came out as we arrived at the dock for our cruise on the Sound. Just breathtaking beauty. It was magical to spot rainbows in the waterfalls. This is a definite must do on any New Zealand itinerary.
Excellent small tour
Amazing experience, Danny the guide was awesome and very entertaining. Excellent soundtrack! The smaller cruise ship was not cramped or overcrowded so we could enjoy the outdoor experience more.