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Fiordland National Park: Milford Sound Day Tour
4.6
138 Ratings
Te Anau
Be mesmerized by the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound on this full-day tour from Te Anau.
Be mesmerized by the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound on this full-day tour from Te Anau.
Duration:
7 hours, 45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Lake Te Anau - Te Anau is celebrated as the Walking Capital of the World. To the left, the Kepler Mountains host the renowned Kepler Track, a favored walking trail in the region. Te Anau serves as the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park. The town’s permanent population is around 2,500, but this number significantly increases in…
- Lake Te Anau - Te Anau is celebrated as the Walking Capital of the World. To the left, the Kepler Mountains host the renowned Kepler Track, a favored walking trail in the region. Te Anau serves as the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park. The town’s permanent population is around 2,500, but this number significantly increases in summer with the arrival of fishermen, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and holidaymakers. It’s a sought-after holiday spot. We pause here for morning and afternoon breaks and comfort stops.
- Mirror Lakes Walk - Mirror Lakes often reflect the nearby mountains. Due to their small size, these lakes are less likely to be disturbed by winds compared to larger lakes, and the high tannin content from the soil gives them a clearer mirror effect than many other lakes in the area. Here, you can stroll along a boardwalk, listening for Bellbirds and Tuis, which are protected native birds, while observing Black Scaups diving for food at the lake’s bottom among various beech tree species. These forests are believed to be 135 million years old. You can be dropped off at one end of the walkway and rejoin the coach in 10 minutes at the other end if you wish to take a walk.
- Homer Tunnel - As we approach the Homer Tunnel, on the right, you can see the remnants of a camp, including the oven used for cooking meals and bread. The shed on the left, built in 1983, was intended to house the snow plough. However, it was discovered that the doorway was not wide enough, so the plough is now kept at the camp at Knobs Flat. The building is now known as the Chapel, as it is one of the few areas in this region never affected by avalanches.
- Monkey Creek - Monkey Creek is named after one of three Government employees who camped here annually to find a path through the mountains. His monkey-like climbing skills eventually led him to discover a path, which, though not particularly safe, was used for guided walking tours for many years. Here, you have the chance to drink the water or fill your water bottles. This water flows directly from the mountains, making it one of the few places where it’s safe to taste fresh water without contamination. You’ll find it has no taste but is incredibly refreshing. Be cautious when filling your water bottles, as the water is very cold. Also, don’t be surprised if a Kea or two stop by to greet you!
- Milford Sound Hwy - Our Premium Cruise vessel is uniquely designed with a glass roof and large viewing decks to capture the views of Milford Sound. The ‘Pride of Milford’ offers an exceptional experience with unparalleled comfort and hospitality. A variety of snacks and noodles are available for purchase on board, along with a wide selection of drinks from New Zealand and around the world. Experience the breathtaking Milford Sound aboard a premium vessel that ensures your unique experience is well-cared for.

What's Included
- Local guide
- 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- On-board restrooms
- Live commentary on board
- Local guide
- 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- On-board restrooms
- Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified (contact the operator to advise of any dietary requirements)
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified (contact the operator to advise of any dietary requirements)
Additional Information
- If you have selected the picnic lunch option, please contact the operator directly to confirm whether you prefer the chicken or vegetarian option, or to advise of any other dietary requirements.
- While we do our best to operate with a glass-roof coach, these vehicles may not always be available due to operational requirements
- If you have selected the picnic lunch option, please contact the operator directly to confirm whether you prefer the chicken or vegetarian option, or to advise of any other dietary requirements.
- While we do our best to operate with a glass-roof coach, these vehicles may not always be available due to operational requirements
Location
Kiwi Country
Town Centre
Cancellation Policy
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.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(138 Ratings)
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948sj
Mar 1, 2026
Milford Bus,Cruise and Picnic - Great day…excellent picnic lunch
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bev_l
Feb 7, 2026
Milford cruise & coach tour - Very knowledgeable driver who was an expert bird song imitater. Awesome peaks & hundreds of waterfalls
Review provided by Viator
Heike_s
Jan 30, 2026
Milford Sound day tour - Great tour by bus from Te Anau to Mulford Sound, then boat trip by catamaran through Milford Sound.
Beautiful day trip with impressive moments.
Review provided by Viator
Alyda123
Jan 20, 2026
Fabulous trip, excellent day out - We broke this trip only the night before, we were stopping in Te Anua, lovely little place, picked up as planned at 10.15 right in the middle of town easy to find.
Our driver was excellent, cannot remember her name, biut she is the only female driver for the company, her commentary was excellent and she was really helpful and knowledgeable.
We made several stops on the way to Milford sound, great photo opportunities, then on to the cruise, just short of 2 hours, this is a must do trip, the scenery is hard to describe, it is breathtaking.
We choose the buffet lunch option, again the food was very nice nice and a good variety, we would recommend this trip to anyone, had we have not done this i feel we would have missed out.
Overall excellent day
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curiosity11438739364
Jan 15, 2026
Perfect! - Wonderful day! Terrific weather! Resourceful and pleasant bus driver. Not his first rodeo……
Trip ran like clockwork. Everyone was herded like cattle to keep it within time lines.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Caron_r
Jan 6, 2026
A great day out. Best to leave from Te-Anau to make the travelling shorter. Easy pick up/drop off in town. - Richard was the perfect driver and sooo knowledgeable about everything we saw, passed and history.
Thank you Richard.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_h
Dec 28, 2025
Tour was good, Milford Sound was Good but not Great - Overall a good experience and very well organized tour group. The bus is exactly on time the bus driver we had was great keeping people on time and explaining what was going to happen and when. The view coming into Milford sound are amazing and the bus will make a few stops along the way including mirror lake. We got lucky with our group and didn’t have stragglers taking longer than they should. So keep in mind the number of stops they make depends on whether or not the group overall is keeping to the schedule to make the boat cruise portion. I have to say the views on the boat tour were nice but a little underwhelming considering you can get spectacular views on the way in and around queenstown and te anau. So was expecting even more spectacular waterfalls. There were 2 bigger ones and a lot of small ones so I’m assuming that will differ by time of year. Considering how long it takes to get there was a little underwhelming. This is something I would do only once. Definitely better to do a tour bus to Milford unless you’re willing to wake up early as parking at Milford is limited and it’s pretty windy roads.
Review provided by Viator
Michelle_w
Nov 18, 2025
Great experience - It was a very windy day. The sights along the way were impressive. The picnic lunch was tasty too. A great experience had.
Review provided by Viator
Maria_s
Jan 6, 2026
The drive down to Milford... - The drive down to Milford and teh Sound itself is spectacular.
It's a long day trip for just 1.75 hours on the boat in the Sound
Review provided by Viator
94hughr
Dec 2, 2025
Crowded and rushed with poor support - I booked the tour and it clearly stated lunch was included but when I arrived they told me I would get no lunch.
They made no effort to rectify the problem despite the clear evidence I provided.
The tour was very crowded and noisy and was a disappointment compared to a trip I had done in the past.
Review provided by Tripadvisor