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Queenstown Tours
Milford Sound Cruise from Queenstown or Te Anau
4.5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Milford Sound Cruise from Queenstown or Te Anau

By RealNZ
Recommended by 93% of travellers
93% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Travel all the way to the Tasman Sea on this extended Milford Sound cruise. A naturalist serves as your guide on board, offering live commentary while pointing out the wildlife. Learn about the dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins that inhabit the majestic fiord. Coach transport is provided, whether you’re starting from Queenstown or Te Anau.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 180 per group
Duration: 7–12 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Milford Sound nature cruise with specialist guide
  • Onboard commentary includes nature interpretation
  • Coach transport available from Te Anau or Queenstown

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
What's not included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Lunch (but available at extra cost)


Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    88 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
    RealNZ Queenstown, Please arrive 15 minutes before scheduled departure time. Please contact our customer service team if you wish to organise a pick-up from a bus stop close to your hotel/accommodation.
  • Option 2
    RealNZ - Te Anau Visitor Centre, 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9640, New Zealand
    Real Journeys Visitor Centre. Please arrive 15 minutes before scheduled departure time.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2264P23

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Operates in all weather conditions
    • Please dress appropriately
    • Most travellers can participate
    • Infant and Child rates are the same for this product
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • 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 180 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: 2264P23

    From
    $220.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

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    Itinerary
    • Pass by
      Milford Sound
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • RealNZ
      2,600
      New Zealand
      Joined in May 2009
    • Camper793717
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience
      What a wonderful experience shared with family. Milford Sound is truly spectacular and the boat trip was well organised.
      Written 23 January 2025
    • 345janicea
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great view. Bring your own food.
      The boat tour was excellent. The viewing was perfect because we had a bluebird day. The lunch and buffet both were awful. I would recommend bringing your lunch with you.
      Written 23 January 2025
    • georgiamA2778VG
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Must do in NZ
      The views were amazing, so many stops and photo opportunities along the way. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting!
      Written 23 January 2025
    • Bill_b_bob
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Well worth the visit
      The whole thing was well organised and they even let us get on an earlier sailing as we arrived very early. The captain was informative and stopped the ship in all the right places!
      Written 22 January 2025
    • 718ChrisW
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Day out at Milford Sound
      It is a long day out, so be prepared for that - but what a fabulous trip. Scenery is stunning, the boat trip is awesome & if you do stop at Te Anau for a rest break, seek out the Miles Better Pie shop - that place is top drawer. On the boat(Milford Haven), you are free to move around to get all angles of pictures, there is food & drink which is reasonably priced. And if your driver is Ryan, he gives you a really smooth journey, his commentary is really informative but some of his jokes are terrible (although the aussie bashing was funny)
      Written 21 January 2025
    • U2559IWsusanf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent
      Absolutely stunning scenery everywhere you look. The commentary on the boat is really useful but very hard to hear at the back of the boat (front much better). Really nice cruise and well worth doing.
      Written 21 January 2025
    • E9130GUalexandrac
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Stellar Experience
      We had an incredible time on this cruise. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food and drinks were great. The boat was comfortable- well kept and not too crowded!
      Written 18 January 2025
    • CHR15Uk
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Well organised trip
      Great knowledgeable driver - Dan - interesting commentary on the drive down. Comfortable coach. Great balance of stops en route there. Milford Sound cruise stunning of course. Reasonable commentary on the boat. My one complaint for the boat part would be no bottled water for sale on the boat - yes they had free water from the falls for drinking which was great but I wanted a bottle of water for the journey home.
      Written 15 January 2025
    • Vacation62191542537
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Andre the best tour guide and amazing driver....
      This was an amazing excursion!!! The sights were stunning on one of the best sunny days in Milford sound in a while. Andre (bus 179), our driver and tour guide was knowledgeable, made our scenic stops an experience, not to mention a great driver and willing to accommodate every tourists with a smile. The trip was long but worth every dollar. I'd recommend RealNZ.
      Written 14 January 2025
    • Wendybel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Milford Sound - put it on your to do list!
      We recently went on this coach/cruise tour and overall, it was an excellent experience. The day was well-organised, and Milford Sound is absolutely beautiful. The coach was comfortable, and the boat cruise was excellent, providing us with a unique perspective on the scenery. We purchased a lunchbox prior to the tour, we collected the boxes once on the boat, the food was delicious and plentiful. However, while the tour itself was fantastic, I felt that the tour guides could use some improvement in their commentary. At times, the information provided seemed more repetitive than informative. A bit more practice and refinement in their storytelling and delivery would go a long way in enhancing the overall experience. That said, the guides were friendly, accommodating, and enthusiastic. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to explore the area and enjoy a well-planned trip.
      Written 13 January 2025
    • EdwinaT20
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Epic bus tour through beech tree forests with an incredible boast tour through the fiord.
      Loved our bus tour guide Lucas from Colorado . He is a glacier guru and a beech tree addict. I learnt so much from him during that drive. It seemed to fly by . The cruise was outstanding , although the commentary was hard to listen to , possibly talking to close to the microphone, but it was ….. it lacked clarity , I would thoroughly recommend this trip
      Written 12 January 2025
    • melcissa
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lovely
      We loved this Milford Sound cruise. Staff were all great throughout the process. The women commentating was very informative too!
      Written 12 January 2025
    • Q9940LSkarena
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantabulous trip to/ on Milford Sound
      Our bus driver Josh was the best. Made the long drive interesting and fun. Great sense of humor. Very approachable. Gave suggestions for eating in towns where we stopped for a break
      Written 7 January 2025
    • kristinab516
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic afternoon touring the Milford Sound
      We traveled on the RealNZ Milford Haven boat through the Milford Sound on their 1pm sailing. The trip was fantastic and the views were amazing. We sat on the back of the boat (open deck area) and had 360 degree views. The crew onboard made the experience even better by serving drinks and food. One of the best trips we took during our holiday in New Zealand.
      Written 6 January 2025
    • JonoP_13
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      2hr cruise on the Milford Haven
      Fantastic 2hr cruise, on a fine weather day. Nice boat with plenty of seating and good commentary. Pity about the disgusting smell from the toilets that was wafting over the outside viewing decks this was quite unpleasant for a lot of people.
      Written 5 January 2025
    See all 2,600 reviews
    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.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles126 reviews
    Excellent
    104
    Very good
    14
    Average
    4
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    2

    These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
    This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

    jenniferberg24
    San Francisco, CA58 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2024 • Family
    We were told this was a must of all activities in Queenstown. However, we were not told the amount of time we would be on the bus on the way there and if we could not fly back, we would add a four hour bus ride back, and miss our 8pm dinner reservation (we would not have gotten back until 8pm). This is not RealNZ’s fault, but it seemed most people were not aware the scenic bus ride to the cruise was 5.5 hours, with stops along the way. However, our bus driver/tour guide, Peter, was the best of our entire trip. He kept us entertained and educated us along the way. The bus was very comfortable and air conditioned and we stopped at a cafe along the way to use the restroom and get beverages and snacks. The cruise itself had incredible views. Our boxed lunches were okay, we were starving. They also had food to purchase that was much better, just needed to let the line die down after the initial rush. I get seasick and definitely needed to take something for it. I still felt seasick at parts and had to stay outside, but I took Bonine and it didn’t work as well as Less Drowsy Dramamine I took the next day for another excursion, and the Bonine made be drowsy on the bus ride - a double espresso helped at the cafe stop. Our plane was canceled even though other companies were running, seemed to be a scheduling issue, too many flights booked so we were able to get a last minute helicopter ride, more expensive but absolutely priceless experience. In summary, if you are doing the Milford Sound tour, use RealNZ!
    Written 31 December 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.

    Mark H
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This package consisted of a coach trip through Fiordland National Park, and a 2-hour boat cruise on Milford Sound, total duration about 13 hours.

    The coach was very comfortable, with recliner seats slightly angled towards the windows, and a glass roof allowing panoramic views even in steep sided valleys.

    Our driver and guide Mykaylah was excellent, and her interesting and informative commentary was balanced with periods of silence so that we didn’t suffer from information overload. It must be very difficult to drive and talk at the same time, but she managed it extremely well.

    Big thanks also to her colleague Peanut who, although not formally on duty, was happy to chat and give lots of other interesting details.

    The boat cruise was also excellent. Our departure wasn’t busy, so there was plenty of room to move around and get good vantage points. The weather was perfect and the water calm, and the stunning scenery lived up to all our hopes and expectations.

    Huge thanks to RealNZ and Mykaylah & Peanut for giving us a day out which will live long in our memories. Highly recommended!
    Written 17 January 2025
    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.

    Patricia M
    Queenstown, New Zealand211 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing experience which would not have been possible without the knowledgable tour guide, Simon, who knew so much about the region, down to little tips on where to go and what to see beyond this tour.
    The scenery was amazing and I was fortunate to be in a small group of 5 so we had more time at the stops and a lot of photo ops. Thank you Simon for showing us the best photo spots.
    The driving was really smooth despite some rough parts on the road and Sam was a really considerate driver.
    The boat cruise to Milford was amazing - saw penguins and fur seals
    Got up super close
    to both Stirling and Bowen Falls.
    This tour did not have lunch provided and had to purchase things on board ($33 for fish and chips 8) but got a coffee instead and glad that l had taken some snacks.
    Definitely recommend taking some light snacks as the range onboard the boat cruise is more sugary cakes and slices with a handful of actual food options.
    The cruise itself is short and full of interesting things to see so you wouldn't want to miss out on that while eating so grab and go snacks are better.
    Luckily it wasn't raining on the day but it was a little overcast, and it was beautiful nonetheless.
    Would do this again.
    Recommend booking through RealNZ because you get discounts.
    Written 1 October 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.

    Cherisse K
    16 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Solo
    The coach trip to and from the cruise was good and the tour guide, Bruce, was very helpful and informative. We made a few stops along the way for pictures and the coach was large and comfortable with huge glass windows and a glass roof. However the positive coach ride was not followed by a positive boat cruise. It was a unorganised chaos of people running everywhere and pushing past eachother, it was like people had never been out before. There was no queuing system and people were pushing to the front and barging through. I was hit with umbrellas several times and also had my feet stood on many times too.

    About 99% of tables were reserved for tours, buffet food and other food options so if you tried to save money, like me, you didn’t have a seat option reserved and had to walk round and round hoping to find a seat, this was near on impossible as I was one of the last to board the boat.

    The whole journey was carnage and everyone was shouting and speaking so loud you can’t even hear the caption speaking and informing you of your surroundings. I understand the company cannot help the weather but it was so misty and cloudy you couldn’t even see the amazing views that you paid to visit. I at least expect to be able to hear about the history and facts about the area. Had I of been able to hear the announcements, the madness and stress of the unorganised people would have been worth it but instead I had to listen to everyone shouting and seeing no views for the entire journey.

    I wouldn’t recommend this company purely because of their lack of control of the guests on board and the inconsideration of people who have bought their own lunch. I paid a lot of money for this tour and didn’t enjoy the main attraction.
    Written 21 April 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.
    Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback on your recent trip to Milford Sound. We're truly saddened to hear about the negative aspects of your cruise. It's great that you found the coach trip enjoyable and that Bruce was helpful and informative, however we understand that this does not make up for the disappointment that followed. Your description of the situation is concerning, and we understand how frustrating it must have been to navigate through the crowds and not be able to hear the commentary. We apologise for the disappointment and frustration you experienced during your cruise with us, and want you to know that we take feedback such as yours seriously and will be looking into our processes. If you would like to discuss your experience further or if there's anything else we can do to address your concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at feedback@realnz.com.
    Written 6 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    maryangelab2017
    Mount Airy, MD1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour of Milford Sound on a rainy day with lots of waterfalls, and a couple of fur seals spotted. The bus ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound was comfortable, with a couple of good stops to grab breakfast and use the rest room. The bus coach has large windows both side and roof, so is great for taking in the amazing views on the way to and from Milford Sound. Our driver Brian was very informative about the areas and towns along the way. Unfortunately, we were not able to stop at Mirror Lake or stop to see the Kea birds, because both stops were full up with bus coaches by the time we arrived. As the summer season gets into full swing, I’d imagine this will be more and more common, with larger crowds. Otherwise, it was a a great day! Highly recommend!
    Written 26 November 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.

    18Anna10
    Sheffield, UK18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Took the coach trip then Milford Sound cruise with RealNZ. It was a five hour coach drive to get to Milford Sound but the time flew because Paulie, our driver, provided an excellent commentary all the way. His knowledge and love for his adopted country really came through, especially all the work that is being done to protect and reintroduce native species of plants and birds. The coach was very comfy with a glass roof so you had great views of the mountains and waterfalls. Would highly recommend this trip with this company which also invests some of their profits into conservation work. A truly memorable day.
    Written 27 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.
    Thank you for taking the time to share your Milford Sound Day Trip experience. We're thrilled you had a memorable day and that Paulie provided excellent commentary throughout the journey. We take pride in showcasing the beauty of our region and are committed to conservation efforts, so we're pleased to hear that you appreciated our investment in this area. Thank you for recommending our trip, and we hope to welcome you on board with us again soon.
    Written 4 April 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    藤代 恵
    78 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2024 • Couples
    The scenery was amazing.
    I was glad that I ordered the optional bento lunch. The bento group had assigned seats and came with a bowl of miso soup with a lid. It was a little pricey, but I was able to relax without worrying about anything.
    Google
    Written 14 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.
    Thank you for your wonderful review of the Milford Sound Day Trip, it's lovely to hear that you were able to relax and enjoy the beautiful views!
    Written 24 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mike Klep
    25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023
    Our super bus driver/guide was SO right that the heavy rain we were having would make our cruise on Milford Sound an EPIC trip! The combination of rain and Milford Sound, along with hanging out on the bow of the Milford Haven and getting drenched, made for an awesome experience and life-long memory! If you have any flexibility in your Milford Sound tour dates, shoot for a rainy day. And get outside!

    And to reiterate, our Real NZ bus driver/guide provided wonderful commentary while providing a comfortable and safe ride. Its a long day from Queenstown, but his commentary and music made for a great trip. Thank you!
    Written 6 April 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.

    Kimberly D
    5 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Family
    We took the coach from Te Anau. The scenery was beautiful and we made a few stops along the way. The cruise was just as outstanding, just an amazing place to see. The reason I only gave it 4 stars is because of the employees at the Te Anau Visitor's Center where we checked in. We had taken the Glow Worms tour the day before and arrived a little late from Queenstown due to traffic and parking in Te Anau. The older woman at the center was not friendly, she seemed annoyed that we were late, even though we arrived before anyone had boarded the boat. The next day we made sure to arrive an hour before the Milford Sound coach departed. We were told by the same person that we would board the bus at 9:40am and leave at 9:50am. When we hadn't left or even boarded by 9:50, I asked her why we hadn't boarded yet and she just said, not very politely, that we had to wait by the door and that we would board when they were ready. No explanation, no apology. I started to walk outside and she told me not to go outside, we had to wait inside, even though I saw other people walking around outside. She was just not very nice for someone in the tourism business. So overall, I would give five stars for the tour itself and the tour guides and two for the customer service we experienced at the visitor's center.
    Written 1 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.
    Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback about your experience on our Milford Sound Coach and Cruise. We appreciate your positive remarks about the beautiful scenery and the outstanding cruise. However, we are genuinely sorry to hear about the negative customer service experience you had at the visitor's centre. Providing excellent customer service is a priority for us, and we will address this matter internally. We are pleased that the cruise itself and the tour guides met your expectations, and we hope that this aspect of your experience overshadowed the issues encountered at the visitor's centre.
    Written 24 January 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Roving53968178357
    Brisbane, Australia2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2024 • Family
    It's a big day but so worth it! My family and I had Brian as our guide on the coach and he was absolutely fantastic - after a 13 hour day he still was as upbeat and friendly as when we started. The coach was comfortable and has huge windows all around so you get great views as you travel along. Brian was great, the whole way in he gave us interesting information to really help us appreciate how special this part of the world is. Heaps of photo opportunities along the way and the bus is fitted with USB ports to charge your phone (you'll need it!)
    Written 25 June 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.
    Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that you and your family had a great time on our coach tour to Milford Sound. Brian sounds like an amazing guide, and we're delighted to hear that he provided informative commentary throughout the journey and maintained a friendly and upbeat attitude despite the long day. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you and your family back for more memorable journeys in the future!
    Written 15 July 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *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.

    Milford Sound Cruise from Queenstown or Te Anau provided by RealNZ

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