Milford Sound Cruise with Optional Kayak Tour
4.8
Milford Sound Cruise with Optional Kayak Tour
By Southern Discoveries Milford Sound
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Most visitors to Milford Sound simply take a sightseeing cruise around the UNESCO-listed landscape. This all-inclusive tour provides a kayaking option for those who want to explore the beauty of the fiord via sheltered Harrison Cove, accompanied by a naturalist guide. Admission to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory is also provided with a picnic lunch. Upgrade to include a guided kayak excursion around Harrison Cove.
Ages 15-99, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Milford Sound cruise takes passengers aboard a smaller vessel
- Picnic lunch, naturalist guides, and marine life: not to be missed
- Milford Underwater Observatory included
- Upgrade for the option to kayak around tranquil Harrison Cove
- Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- Picnic lunch
- Local guide
- Visit to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
- All kayaking equipment if you choose to add kayaking to your cruise
- Entry/Admission - Milford Sound
- Entry/Admission - Southern Discoveries Milford Sound
What's not included- Gratuities
- On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour.
- Start:
- Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre, Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound Highway 94, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3960MILFORD- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
- Please note the minimum age to kayak is 5 years old and must be accompanied by an adult or guardian in a double kayak.
- Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for check-in.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3960MILFORD
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound Highway 94, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
- 1Pass byMilford SoundBowen FallsMitre Peak
- 2
Top rated
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- riddheshj0 contributionsAmazing experienceIt was a wonderful experience! The boat was clean and comfortable, making the journey enjoyable. If you're lucky, you might even spot some penguins! I’d recommend bringing some water and snacks, as you'll be on the boat for a few hours. The underwater observatory may not be for everyone, but overall, it’s a great adventure.Written 22 March 2025
- Lizzie5650 contributionsA must doAn amazing day Stan was our driver/guide and kept us entertained/informed throughout our day. The coach was excellent, Stan was a great driver and the scenery was fantastic. Don't skip the coach trip - it flies by and is an excellent part of the experiment. We left from Queenstown.Written 18 March 2025
- scottsB4438AL0 contributionsNothing special with low visibilitySo the underwater observatory was damaged in a storm and is no longer part of this tour. No communication made to us that part of the tour had been removed. Milford sound is probably wonderous on a good weather day but when we went visibility was limited, zero blue sky and peaks all covered. Evidently weather like that is common. One good waterfall that they got the boat in close to mist the masses, not impressed. No complaints with company staff who all were friendly, just not a special experience compared to many of the other things we did in New Zealand.Written 16 March 2025
- davidpX6808BP0 contributionsFantastic experience!Highly recommended! Yes, it takes the whole day, but every minute of it is great. Our bus driver, Stan, was a great tour guide. Very fun and informative. And the drive out to Milford Sound from Queenstown was beautiful. And the cruise on the Sound itself was spectacular! We were there on a non-rainy day, which made it great for the top deck, but not as many rain-fed waterfalls. But Bowen and Stirling (both glacier-fed) were beautiful. We got very close to Sterling and could feel the mist and see the patterns of the water running down the rocks. We did not do the buffet. We did the picnic lunch, which was great. Plenty of food (including Whitaker's Chocolate!!!). Highly recommend this tour!Written 9 March 2025
- Hannah_Pat30 contributionsDO NOT BOOK WITH THIS COMPANYMy partner booked the trip as a surprise and rang up several days in advance. The girl on the phone said they had a larger group willing to book which would make them more money, so could we move the day we had booked. Unfortunately we couldn’t as had other plans, she was rude, unaccomadating and did not honour the booking. Would recommend you look elsewhere when booking Milford sound.Written 3 March 2025
- DerekW19350 contributionsAwesome Trip following/during long awaited rainWe almost cancelled when we were woken by monsoon-style rain @ Cascade Creek @5am!! However we persevered and as our skipper said “If you came for beauty you’ll be disappointed. If you want to see waterfalls you couldn’t have come at a better time!” How tight he was. Absolutely stunning array of waterfalls everywhere you looked and an incredible flows particularly down to the two permanent falls. Only glimpses of the mountaintops but an awesome and unforgettable experience. The weather cleared for our beautifully self guided walk from Deep water basin. Amazing day.Written 25 February 2025
- stephensB7949JD0 contributionsBucket listThe trip was amazing and the scenery breathtaking. The level of professionalism and hospitality shown by our bus driver Stan was what made the trip even more memorable for us. His knowledge and experience was valuable on the trip. You should be grateful to have him as an employee, front line worker and ambassador of your company.Written 19 February 2025
- Vikki12750 contributionsGreat tour and a big thanks to EmmaReally enjoyed the tour. Milford sound was as good as expected. Huge thanks to Emma for being so kind, helpful and efficient.Written 16 January 2025
- tracy7QT0 contributions4 seasons in 1 CruiseWow what an amazing day. Thanks to the rain it was waterfalls galore. The icing on the cake was coming in from the mouth 2 beautiful dolphins crested the waves for us. Amazing time, crew really friendly and informative. Milford sounds a most see in any weather...loved it. New Zealand is beautiful, so untouchedWritten 10 December 2024
- vennesar20240 contributionsBreathtaking Milford Sound cruiseBreathtaking Milford Sound cruise! Stunning waterfalls, towering cliffs, and serene waters. Smooth journey, knowledgeable guide and unforgettable views.Written 1 December 2024
- lordm_120 contributionsThroughly professional and enjoyableGreat trip. Really well organised from the pick up in Te Anau, through coach, boat, coach, boat, coach, boat, coach! Each person along the way knew their role and had the character to carry out that role in a professional and entertaining way. The star attraction is the Doubtful Sound cruise. We had a slightly overcast day with some light rain. Not quite perfect conditions but pretty close. Lots of waterfalls and moody landscapes. The only let down was the fact that the underwater observatory part of the trip didn’t take place. Apparently it had sunk in September and we should have been notified and offered a refund. The cruise company and Tripadvisor need to work together to ensure people are notified of such things.Written 20 November 2024
- stephanieeV4692MB0 contributionsBreathtaking experienceThis was a breathtaking experience, offering stunning views of towering cliffs, waterfalls and wildlife. The serene beauty of the fjord combined with the peaceful cruise makes a must do for nature lovers. This is must do for anyone who is visiting New Zealand South IslandWritten 14 September 2024
- robcU7977OT0 contributionsFantastic ExperienceSuch an amazing afternoon trip. The scenery and wildlife were amazing but the whole experience was added to by the friendliness and professionalism of the staff and the skill and knowledge of the pilot.Written 3 September 2024
- LockieDee0 contributionsBreathtaking Cruise at Milford Sound, But Limited Food OptionsWe recently went on the Southern Discoveries cruise at Milford Sound, and it was an incredible experience. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and we were lucky to have a clear day (if not a bit windy), which made the views even more spectacular. We spotted seals, penguins, and even some albatross, which added to the magic of the day. However, the food options were a bit disappointing. Unless you booked the buffet in advance, the selection was extremely limited, which felt like a missed opportunity given the otherwise excellent experience. Despite the food situation, the cruise itself was fantastic and definitely worth it for the natural beauty and wildlife sightings. I’d highly recommend it for anyone visiting Milford Sound—just plan ahead for meals!Written 28 August 2024
- Trip176269529350 contributionsA wonderful Cruise - Cultural Respect.My recent cruise to Milford Sound was an unforgettable experience. The natural beauty of the area is breathtaking, and the staff, including our driver, were incredibly friendly and helpful. However as a girl from Ngāti kahungunu, one aspect that stood out to me was the pronunciation of Māori place names during the tour. It's important, especially when sharing these beautiful locations with visitors from around the world, to ensure that Māori names are pronounced correctly. This not only shows respect for the culture and language but also helps educate everyone on the significance of these places. I hope that in the future, more emphasis is placed on getting these pronunciations right, so that the richness of Māori culture is properly shared with all who visit!Written 22 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.8
38 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
S1MES
London, UK5 contributions
Cruise and kayak were great, underwater observatory a little underwhelming. Milford Sound is spectacular and not to be missed. Seeing it from a kayak as well as the cruise boat adds an extra, interesting, perceive.
Whole trip took close to 4 hours so it cost an extra $50 to park! Parking here is a rip off for captive audience - would be nice if the tour could included this.
Picnic lunch offered with the cruise was very basic, others on different tours had a buffet lunch which looked a lot better.
Minor issues, all in all a great experience!
Whole trip took close to 4 hours so it cost an extra $50 to park! Parking here is a rip off for captive audience - would be nice if the tour could included this.
Picnic lunch offered with the cruise was very basic, others on different tours had a buffet lunch which looked a lot better.
Minor issues, all in all a great experience!
Written 12 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maru Reyes
Paris, France52 contributions
Milford Sound is a magical place, the ride was spectacular. The customer service is very good, since we called several times and they responded to all our demands. As a remark, we would add that the lunch is small for the price of the tour, maybe hot food could be better. And the kayak was good but it is limited in space to go around.
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahki2018
Toronto, Canada18 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We had a great experience with this company! We did the Milford sound cruise and kayak option which included a stop at the underwater observatory. The cruise was great! Amazing views of Milford sound, great captain who took us up close to many waterfalls and pointed out wildlife (seals and penguins!). Provided lunch was simple but filling. The kayak experience was also great, very well organized, no prior experience needed. The only thing to note about the kayaking though is that you basically just to a big loop in sheltered Harrison cove, where there aren’t many (if any at all) falls. The scenery is beautiful, and we got lucky and saw penguins! The underwater observatory was a cool addition, but not something I would specifically pay extra for had it not already been included.
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ekta G
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
We went on a kayak trip aroun Milford sound
Really expensive and felt ripped off for what it is. Think we kayaked for less than an hour. You don't really go on a journey and only round the shore that you can see from the docking station anyway. The tour guide was nice on the tour and it's not their fault. But felt this was not £100 worth
The views are lovely and it would have been way better if you could travel out of the shore (i.e not do a small curve of the bank). We were really lucky with the weather and it is lovely to be that close to the national park and nature. I just think it's really expensive for what it is
Really expensive and felt ripped off for what it is. Think we kayaked for less than an hour. You don't really go on a journey and only round the shore that you can see from the docking station anyway. The tour guide was nice on the tour and it's not their fault. But felt this was not £100 worth
The views are lovely and it would have been way better if you could travel out of the shore (i.e not do a small curve of the bank). We were really lucky with the weather and it is lovely to be that close to the national park and nature. I just think it's really expensive for what it is
Written 25 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irene - Sydney Australia
2 contributions
Feb 2023
Our kayaking tour of Harrison Cove was the highlight for our family (adult children). There was a fair bit of rain during our afternoon cruise of Milford Sound and as we pulled in for our kayaking tour, I'm sure everyone on the boat thought we were crazy and we thought perhaps they were right! 2 people booked on the tour pulled out, so then there was 6 of us and our guide. We were provided with as much waterproof/warm layers as we thought we needed and waterproof bag for phones/camera. The location was serene, couldn't believe we had this wonderful location (Harrison Cove) all to ourselves. We felt so lucky, only 3 short bursts of rain, the waterfalls were at their best, our guide was terrific, the observatory was good, the picnic lunch was substantial. As the day came to an end, the sun started to appear and crowds were gone by the time we returned to the terminal.
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dowling Family
2 contributions
Dec 2021
Great personal service and excellent commentary. The cruise was extremely comfortable despite the inclement weather and the staff were happy to take family photos for us.
Sadly the weather conditions meant it was unsafe to go kayaking, but we appreciated their professionalism.
The underwater observatory was fascinating and we were treated to sightings of triplefin, scarlet perch, leather jackets, marble fish, a sting ray, black coral and more.
Highly recommend.
Sadly the weather conditions meant it was unsafe to go kayaking, but we appreciated their professionalism.
The underwater observatory was fascinating and we were treated to sightings of triplefin, scarlet perch, leather jackets, marble fish, a sting ray, black coral and more.
Highly recommend.
Written 27 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stevie G
Ballygowan13 contributions
Beautiful day for our first hour of our 2 hour cruise out on the Lady Bowen, and then the rain was intermittent (well they do get more rain than the Amazon here, so be mindful!) Raincoats are provided on board or you can stay inside and look out. Great pieces of commentary from our nature guide on board and our smaller boat was able to get in close to the shore line to check out a couple of groups of fur seals and one of the glacier fed waterfalls. We were dropped off at the Discovery Centre and 14 of us headed out with our two guides for about an hour around the more sheltered Harrison Cove - don't forget your bug spray for those sand flies which can appear around Milford! On return to the centre, we went down to the underwater observatory for a look at some of the local sealife that visit the artificial coral framework which rings the observatory, ranging from molluscs to scorpion fish, with staff on hand to give an overview and answer any questions. We were picked up by the Lady Stirling for our final leg and were back at the ferry terminal 10 minutes later.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephan
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Friends
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The cruise was nice and the kayak trip through the sound was exceptional. I can highly recommend this experience, which was the highlight of our trip so far. We even spotted a couple of penguins (December 8th) which apparently all leave from November end, but we were lucky. My only recommendation is for the tour operator to think about the waste they create. We had a pre-booked and pre-packed lunch meal which came in excessive packaging that was all going to landfill. An insane amount of waste that can surely be changed with some more sustainable practices.
Written 8 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esther Rimmer
4 contributions
My partner and I did the sound cruise, underwater observatory and kayak tour which included a packed lunch. It was absolutely amazing and took my breath away. This trip exceeded my expectations and I will definitely return. A special shout out to all the crew who made this trip even more enjoyable. Each and every staff member was absolutely lovely, very helpful and knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. particularly Maia Jacob and Dave (hopefully I’ve got that right), many thanks to you guys! I would definitely recommend doing the kayaks if your a keen adventurer, you get to experience the sound in a completely different, unforgettable way. Loved it!
Written 18 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora Esther
Wow reading reviews like this really makes our day. Seeing kiwi's get out and explore Milford and love it just as we do means the world to us. We're so stoked you loved your kayak experience, it's pretty special being on the fiord in a kayak. Thank you so much for your awesome review, we'll be sure to pass on your feedback to the team.
Ngā mihi,
Written 24 March 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
J.Elle
Melbourne, Australia38 contributions
Absolutely loved this experience and am so glad we opted to add on the kayaking. The included lunch on the cruise on the cruise was a lovely bonus too. Kayaking in Milford Sound was such a fun and memorable experience with a lovely and knowledgeable tour guide.
Written 4 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Ora,
Thank you for your fantastic feedback! We’re happy to hear you loved the kayaking experience and enjoyed the picnic lunch. It’s great to know that your tour guide made a positive impact on your adventure. We hope to welcome you back for more memorable experiences in the future!
Nga mihi
Written 7 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Can you offer transport from Te Anua, now that the road is closed to private cars?
Written 14 February 2020
I'm travelling around South Island over Christmas and a boat cruise in Milford Sound is on top of my list of things I will be doing while I am there - is it necessary to prebook a ticket or will I be okay to buy my ticket when i get there?
thanks for any help!!
Written 9 May 2018
We prebooked which I would recommend. There were people at the sound buying same day tickets. We were there in November, so springtime and not summer.
Written 10 May 2018
Showing results 1-2 of 2
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.