Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a scenic journey and cruise from Queenstown. Enjoy panoramic views, engaging commentary, and a delicious buffet lunch.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a scenic journey and cruise from Queenstown. Enjoy panoramic views, engaging commentary, and a delicious buffet lunch.
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Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre - 6:30 am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (for those who chose the 6:30 am tour option)
7:00 am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (for those who chose the 7:00 am tour option)
• Travel in a premium glass-roof coach, featuring reclining seats, extra legroom,…
- Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre - 6:30 am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (for those who chose the 6:30 am tour option)
7:00 am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (for those who chose the 7:00 am tour option)
• Travel in a premium glass-roof coach, featuring reclining seats, extra legroom, and air-conditioning
• USB charging ports and onboard restroom
• Skilled local coach drivers offer engaging and informative commentary, highlighting the best short walks and photo stops along the Milford Road
• Coach connects with our Milford Sound Cruise
• Complimentary tea and coffee
- Queenstown - Queenstown, New Zealand, is located on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu. From here, embark on a day trip with Milford Sound’s original Cruise operator, Southern Discoveries, from Queenstown to Milford Sound to enjoy a delightful experience on a premium, low-emission coach with a delicious & freshly prepared international buffet onboard your cruise. Discover the native wildlife, towering waterfalls, and majestic mountains of the fiords in Milford Sound.
- Te Anau - Te Anau is a charming town on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s recognized as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The area is home to endangered, flightless takahē birds and abundant trout in Lake Te Anau. Enjoy a brief stop here on your way to Milford Sound to break up the journey, grab a coffee, and stretch your legs.
- Eglinton Valley - This stunning valley is glaciated with steep sides and a flat floor. It ranges from half a kilometre to two kilometres wide and has a shingle riverbed floor, which is constantly reshaped by the Eglinton River. This is an incredible stop on your journey to Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries.
- Lake Gunn - Lake Gunn is a breathtakingly beautiful lake in the South Island of New Zealand.
- Mirror Lakes Walk - Enjoy a stroll among small lakes with stunning reflections of the Earl Mountains, weather permitting on the day. This is an easy, short walk off the Milford Road.
- Cleddau River - The Cleddau River is a picturesque river in New Zealand. It flows into the head of Milford Sound. You’ll see many parts of this river as you travel along the Milford Sound road.
- Monkey Creek - Enjoy spectacular views of the upper Hollyford Valley while you fill your water bottle from this glacier-fed spring. Friendly Keas (a New Zealand alpine parrot) frequent this area, making it a great stop for some kea spotting.
- Homer Tunnel - At an altitude of 945 metres above sea level and 1.2 kilometres in length, the unlined road tunnel provides access through sheer rock to Milford Sound with a gradient of 1 in 10. Completed in 1953, traffic lights manage the flow through the tunnel. An incredible part of your journey along the Milford Road.
- The Chasm Walk - Weather and time permitting, enjoy a short walk here as part of your Milford Sound day trip with Southern Discoveries. Experience dramatic views of a rock chasm and waterfalls formed by the rushing waters of the Cleddau River. This is an easy walk along a well-maintained trail and is approximately 20 minutes long.
- Milford Sound - Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s renowned for the towering Mitre Peak, rainforests, and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which cascade down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins, and dolphins. Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory offer views of rare black coral and other marine life. Southern Discoveries cruises are the best way to explore.
- Mitre Peak - Mitre Peak is a stunningly dramatic mountain in the South Island of New Zealand, located on the shore of Milford Sound. It is one of the most photographed mountain peaks in the entire country.
- Bowen Falls - The magnificent Lady Bowen Falls is Milford’s highest waterfall. It plunges 162m from a hanging valley into the head of Milford Sound and provides electricity for the Milford Sound township by feeding a small hydroelectric scheme, as well as being the water source for the settlement.
- Sinbad Gully - Nestled behind the world-famous Mitre Peak, the Sinbad Gully is characterized by extremely steep glacially carved walls punctuated by near-vertical granite cliffs. These walls have slowed pest invasion into the gully, allowing a number of unique native species to remain in the Sinbad.
Southern Discoveries is dedicated to preserving Milford Sound’s beauty for future generations, which is why it’s a key partner in a major conservation project – the Sinbad Sanctuary Project.
The aim is to see the valley of New Zealand’s most photographed mountain (Sinbad Gully is at the base of Mitre Peak) become a sanctuary for native species.
- Stirling Falls - Milford’s second-highest waterfall is the Stirling Falls, an impressive 151m in height – three times the height of Niagara Falls, but the 1,300m mountain behind diminishes this incredible height. This is the famous waterfall that Hugh Jackman ‘jumped off’ in the movie Wolverine. The sheer drop of the Stirling Falls allows boats to get right underneath – it’s an incredible feeling to have the power of 151m worth of glacial water falling so close to you.
- Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre - Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound.

- Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries
- Informative commentary provided by local coach driver
- Return transport from Queenstown to Milford Sound on premium glass-roof coach
- USB charging ports on board coach
- Milford Sound Nature Cruise of up to 2 hours
- FREE tea and coffee onboard the…
- Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries
- Informative commentary provided by local coach driver
- Return transport from Queenstown to Milford Sound on premium glass-roof coach
- USB charging ports on board coach
- Milford Sound Nature Cruise of up to 2 hours
- FREE tea and coffee onboard the cruise
- Spot diverse wildlife while on the cruise
- Freshly prepared Lunch
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Appropriate child restraints are not provided by the operator and must be supplied by yourselves.
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Appropriate child restraints are not provided by the operator and must be supplied by yourselves.
Discover the ultimate way to explore Milford Sound from Queenstown. Relax as the driving is handled, allowing you to enjoy breathtaking views from our top-tier coaches, featuring panoramic windows, glass roofs, and USB charging ports. The amiable driver will share fascinating stories about the region’s history and unique ecology, with perfectly timed…
Discover the ultimate way to explore Milford Sound from Queenstown. Relax as the driving is handled, allowing you to enjoy breathtaking views from our top-tier coaches, featuring panoramic windows, glass roofs, and USB charging ports. The amiable driver will share fascinating stories about the region’s history and unique ecology, with perfectly timed stops for capturing stunning photographs. Our complimentary multi-lingual commentary app is accessible on both the Coach and Cruise in eight different languages.
Arrive at Milford Sound rejuvenated and ready to embark on a cruise through the fiord. Prepare for uninterrupted views of majestic waterfalls and towering cliffs. Our premium Nature Cruise offers options to pre-order a picnic lunch or select the To Kai buffet on certain departures.
This journey includes all transportation, ensuring a smooth round-trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound and an effortless transition to your cruise. Simply relax and enjoy the adventure.
- Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Sunscreen and insect repellent advisable
- Appropriate child restraints are NOT provided by the operator. These must be provided by the parent or caregiver - without this you may be turned away and unable to travel - please be prepared.
- Please make sure you arrive at least 15mins before your departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.