Milford Sound Coach Tour: Panoramic Views, Nature Cruise, and Buffet Lunch from Te Anau
4.8
35 Ratings
Te Anau
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a coach tour with panoramic views, a nature cruise, and a delicious buffet lunch. Get up close to stunning waterfalls and learn from a knowledgeable guide.
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Te Anau - 10.00am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (80 Lakefront Drive Te Anau)

• Travel on a premium glass-roof coach, equipped with reclining seats, extra legroom, air-conditioning
• USB charging ports and onboard toilet
• Experienced, local coach drivers provide engaging and informative commentary, and show you the best short walks and photo stops along the Milford Road
• Coach connects with our Milford Sound Nature Cruise 1 hour 45min cruise of Milford Sound
• Skipper provides entertaining and informative commentary
• Freshly Packed Picnic Lunch is included if purchased
• FREE tea and coffee

  • Te Anau - Te Anau is a beautiful town on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is home to endangered, flightless takahÄ“ birds and abundant trout in Lake Te Anau. Here is where your day trip will start from, you can meet us at the Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre on 80 Lakefront Drive at 9:45am.
  • Mirror Lakes Walk - Enjoy a stroll among small lakes with stunning reflections of the Earl Mountains, should weather be permissive on the day. This is an easy, short walk off the Milford Road.
  • Eglinton Valley Camp - Interpretation panels show the effect of avalanches on the Milford Road and provide information on the wildlife of the Eglinton Valley. Visitor amenities include toilets and a telephone (card payment only).
  • Monkey Creek - Take in great views of the upper Hollyford Valley while you fill up your water bottle from this glacier fed spring. Friendly Keas (a New Zealand alpine parrot) love this area so it’s a great stop for some kea spotting.
  • Eglinton Valley - This beautiful valley is glaciated with steep sides and a flat floor. It’s between half a kilometre to two kilometres wide and has a shingle riverbed floor, which is constantly being changed by the Eglinton River. This is an incredible stop you will make as apart of your journey to Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries.
  • Lake Gunn - Lake Gunn is a strikingly beautiful lake in the South Island of New Zealand.
  • Homer Tunnel - At an altitude of 945 metres above sea level and 1.2 kilometres in length, the unlined road tunnel allows access through sheer rock to Milford Sound with a gradient of 1 in 10. Completed in 1953, traffic lights control the traffic flow through the tunnel. An incredible part of your journey along the Milford Road.
  • Cleddau River - The Cleddau River is a beautiful river of New Zealand. It flows into the head of Milford Sound. You’ll see many parts of this river as you journey along the Milford Sound road.
  • Milford Sound - Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins. Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory offers views of rare black coral and other marine life. Southern Discoveries cruises are a popular way to explore.
  • Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre - Exchange your pass and board your Nature cruise. Your journey on the water starts here!
  • Bowen Falls - The stunning 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 characterised by extremely steep glacially carved walls punctuated by near vertical granite cliffs. These walls slowed pest invasion into the gully and as a result a number of unique native species remain in the Sinbad.

Southern Discoveries is passionate about 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, a staggering 151m in height – three times the height of Niagara Falls, but the 1,300m mountain behind displaces 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.
  • Mitre Peak - Mitre Peak is a beautifully 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.
What's Included
  • Informative commentary by local coach driver
  • Commentary from skippers on cruise
  • Return transport on premium coach
  • Free tea and coffee on cruise
  • USB charging ports on coach
  • Milford Sound Nature Cruise
  • Freshly prepared lunch
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Additional Information

Journey in comfort on one of our brand new, low-emission coaches and take in incredible, panoramic views on the road to Milford Sound. Enjoy entertaining commentary, and let us show you the best stops along the way as you connect seamlessly to your Milford Sound cruise.

Discover native wildlife, towering waterfalls and majestic mountains on our extended Milford Sound Nature Cruise. Get within touching distance of impressive rock walls and close enough to feel the full force of the powerful 15,000-year-old Stirling Falls Waterfall. Specialist nature guide on board sharing their local knowledge with lively and informative commentary.

Freshly prepared Lunch included alongside FREE tea and coffee with a licensed bar on board.

  • 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.
  • If you booked before 24th November 2022 you will receive a picnic lunch not buffet. You do however have the option to upgrade to buffet lunch at an additional cost on check in
Location
80 Lakefront Drive
Lakefront Drive
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(35 Ratings)
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1 star
Getaway11301080620
Apr 3, 2024
M have done better! - Our bus tour guide was great and very knowledgeable along our drive. He knew of the right stops to go to and how best to avoid large crowds. The cruise was equally as wonderful, with brunch and scenery just as lovely. I enjoy driving but sometimes it’s nice not to have to deal with the hustle/bustle😉
Review provided by Tripadvisor
356ireney
Oct 1, 2023
Great Coach to Milford Sound - The coach ride to Milford Sound was smooth, our driver/guide, Keith was informative and provided various scenic lookout points for photo-taking, he even volunteered to take our photos. His timing was punctual and we were in good hands under his care. Great to have chosen Southern Discoveries!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kaye_w
Mar 13, 2023
Magnificent, awe inspiring- has to be seen to be believed!!!! - The whole experience. We can’t pick one thing. It was great to be able to see so many waterfalls and get up close to the two big ones. The grandure of the mountains. Wonderful wonderful day.
Review provided by Viator
Mede1
Nov 11, 2022
Great day out - We enjoyed a very interesting informative coach trip today with our ‘ FBI’ driver .who kept us entertained on our Te Anau - Milford rtn trip. The cruise was awesome with friendly staff, great views, calm seas and a very adequate picnic lunch
Review provided by Tripadvisor
46bluebabe
Sep 15, 2022
What an amazing day. Will be recommending to all my friends and family in the North Island and overseas. Thank you to the drive - From the moment we got on the bus in Te Anau, our bus driver started telling us about everything. He was very very knowledgeable about the area to Milford Sound and kept it all very interesting. Even adding is jokes. Our photo stops were absolutely amazing. The cruise through Milford Sound was also spectacular and our captain again very knowledgeable about the area. The weather wasn't too bad. We thoroughly enjoyed our day. Thank you so much 💓
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ruth_c
Jul 11, 2022
The whole trip was an... - The whole trip was an adventure. From being picked up on time and the fantastic drive into Milford. Loved Brad’s (bus driver) easy manner and knowledgeable commentary. The whole day went smoothly from bus to boat. Well done to all involved.
Review provided by Viator
Gwb0104
Jun 25, 2022
A great bus and boat trip - totally recommend this tour. We drove from Queenstown and stayed at Distinction Te Anau. I would not drive from Te Anau to Milford as I had heard of dangerous driving, and we actually experienced an overtake on a blind corner during our bus trip. Do not drive there. Actually as well as avoiding danger the bus trip was great as you could see the countryside and the scenery was amongst the best we have seen in NZ. At Te Anau the receptionsit was wonderful. The bus driver Brad was awesome in discussion and attitude, loved his jokes. The whole tour was seemless, no problems at all. The packed lunch was ok and ample but there are more options on board such as burgers, pies, chips. The day was a clear day so the scenery was wonderful. The skipper sent some people under waterfalls so laughs all round. great photo opportunities. All round very professional staff, good boat and bus, and very enjoable day. Taking the bus from Queenstown is another 3 hours each way. A variation there is bus it in to experience the scenery and fly out by plane or helicopter to QT. Thanks Southern
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E6768ustinaw
Mar 25, 2022
Spectacular - What an amazing day!. Driver was great, very knowledgeable and helpful. So glad we did this tour and not self drive. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorraine_t
Feb 9, 2023
Seating - Not getting seat together on bus on way to milford sound, then On return trip managed to get seats together but having people arguing they were their seats not a good experience for money you pay
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_b
Feb 9, 2023
The boat was fabulous but the commentary was really tired and uninteresting, he could have made it a bit more exciting f - The coach ride was good with the commentary. Boarding the boat was chaotic and we had to wait for half an hour.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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