Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown

By Cruise Milford
Recommended by 100% of travellers
100% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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The limited passenger numbers on our modern Mercedes Sprinter Vans make for a much more personal experience. It also allows us to stop more often for photos and short walks than the big 50-seater coaches (up to 12 stops along the way). We connect with Milford Sound's only boutique small boat cruise. Passenger numbers on the cruise are limited to 50% of the boats capacity.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 13h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights

  • a packed lunch is included, please advise us of any allergies or dietary requirements you may have
  • Boutique Small Boat Cruise at Milford Sound


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
  • Frankton Terminus, Frankton, Otago 9300, New Zealand
    Besides the hotels on the list we also pick up from the Frankton Bus Shelter. Please call us on +64 3 398 6112 at least 24hrs before your tour departs to confirm your pickup location and time with us.
Pickup details
  • Please call us to confirm your pickup location at least 24hrs before your tour departs. We will give you the correct pick up time and any further information required for you day tour.
Hotel pickup offered
During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Not wheelchair accessible
      • Infant seats available
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 21377P2

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Most travellers can participate
      • 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 16 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: 21377P2

      From
      $349.00
      per adult
      Select date and travellers

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      Itinerary
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      • 9
        Pass by
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      • 10
      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Cruise Milford
        4.9 of 5 bubbles2,489
        New Zealand
        Joined in February 2014
      • kel0veland
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        So happy we did this!
        Tania was an amazing driver for our tour. My family loved this experience. We would definitely do this again in the future.
        Written 20 March 2025
      • TB0088
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Awesome trip
        Awesome trip have been before and totally loved this one Captain very knowledgeable and down to earth. Better experience on a smaller boat able to get up close and personal to the seals and not overcrowded…….. totally recommend!!
        Written 20 March 2025
      • Albert S
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Milford Sound Cruise
        The boat was clean and new. The views were excellent and the staff were very friendly. I highly recommend this trip. The car ride from Queenstown was long but had some amazing views.
        Written 19 March 2025
      • lovethailand1
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Informative, comfortable and enjoyable
        This tour was awesome. Our driver guide Martin was exceptional. He had a great sense of humour and seemed to go over and above on making our tour as enjoyable as,possible. He was even training Mae a new recruit on the day who was also lovely and he managed to do this with minimal fuss. He Showed us heaps of sites en route and explained every detail of our itinerary steps. Everything was like clockwork and the day ran seamlessly. Yummy packed lunch and the boat driver also had a sense of humour. We were lucky enough to get a perfect weather too.
        Written 19 March 2025
      • JoyB418
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Incredible and breathtaking views
        Wonderful trip down the fjords - we were lucky to have had very heavy rain through the night so the waterfalls were simply incredible! I’ve never seen so many waterfalls in one place! Tea/coffee & biscuits all complimentary- information informative although hard to hear at back of boat - but easy to move around boat top and bottom , front and back - incredible trip - thanks to all the staff
        Written 19 March 2025
      • mc284
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great cruise of Milford Sound
        The weather allowed us to see everything from moody mists to glowing waterfall rainbows. Punctual, courteous staff with great captain and really interesting details about the area.
        Written 18 March 2025
      • 64Kay2602
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Boat Trip
        Lovely smaller boat so we could get closer to waterfalls and bay. Friendly staff , enjoyable trip. Would recommend getting an early boat before the hoards arrive .
        Written 16 March 2025
      • lovestoroam78
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A wonderfully sound experience
        Great way to experience Milford Sound. The smaller boat makes it more personal and it was very easy to get around to catch all the views. We also got to experience a “glacial facial “ when the boat got close enough to a waterfall to soak the bow. The captain gave some interesting facts and the tea, coffee and cookies were great. Well worth the drive from Te Anau.
        Written 15 March 2025
      • Cristi M
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Amazing fiord trip - smaller boat
        Well worth every penny! We consider this as a better alternative to the larger boats filled with Chinese bus tour travellers. A smaller boat means fewer people , less noise, and a much better experience. A knowledgeable captain who will be your best guide in those fiords. The landscape is just mesmerising, hard to describe. We were lucky enough to have dolphins around us as well. We got below a waterfall as well. Extraordinary experience for a decent price.
        Written 14 March 2025
      • 133guyn
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Perfect, they could not have been any better.
        We wanted to avoid the large companies where you sit inside amongst a crowd so we could get outside and enjoy, and Crusie Milford gave us just that ! I can't recommend them enough, from the welcome to the cruise, the information and the friendly onboard staff. They made a trip to a wonderful place an even more amazing experience.
        Written 13 March 2025
      • jeanmJ8655FM
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Breathtaking!
        Lovely outing! Spectacular views, plenty of waterfalls, and tour commentary was interesting. We saw dolphins swimming around the boat and seals sunning themselves on the rocks.
        Written 12 March 2025
      • russells374
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A lovely trip
        It was a atmospheric day, cloudy and misty day after a night of rain. While there was no sun it was nonetheless great. The waterfalls were numerous and gushing. We were also able to see dolphins swimming beside the boat and seal on some nearby rocks. The boat was one of the smaller offering trips but it was spacious and not overcrowded, which is one of their claims. The captain and crew were all excellent and very informative.
        Written 11 March 2025
      • Lisa C
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Fantastic cruise
        Very well organised cruise , captain was very informative .. had beautiful weather ,boat was not the boat on the trip advisor picture , it was much newer
        Written 10 March 2025
      • juliapB731KM
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nice small boat tour
        Nice small boat that goes up to ducks to see the seals and gets the waterfall diary. Free hot tea and coffee included. Commentary from the Captain to the relevant sight. Changed the booking time and they were really quick to respond and help. Great customer service
        Written 8 March 2025
      • daveaF5730JK
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great tour
        There was plenty of room on the boat, the captain gave a great commentary. The tour lasted 1hr 45 mins, which was just right. We saw seals and bottle nose dolphins
        Written 7 March 2025
      See all 2,489 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.

      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.

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      5.0
      5.0 of 5 bubbles26 reviews
      Excellent
      25
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      1
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      0
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      0
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      0

      Dena W
      Kewarra Beach, Australia13 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Feb 2025 • Couples
      Wow….. what an amazing experience.
      Milford Sound (fiord) is absolutely stunning and well worth the trip to get there.
      Cruise Milford do such a fantastic job, booking was easy as was the check-in and boarding the boat.
      The captain gives a great guide and information about the area and history.
      We saw fur seals feeding and even saw seal pup up on the rocks. The waterfalls and scenery are just stunning.
      What made this experience so special was that it was a smaller boat which of course means a smaller number of passengers. Everyone had loads of space to move around and there was plenty of seating for all guests. It was lovely being uncrowded and small enough that guests interacted.
      I highly recommend Cruise Milford for a fantastic experience, they really are the best.
      Written 17 February 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.

      Grace
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jul 2021 • Couples
      My partner and I did the Queenstown to Milford sounds small group tour. We had the best time thanks to our tour guide Callum. He was not only very knowledgeable and informative but he was very entertaining which made the van ride go fast. We would definitely recommend Callum & cheeky kiwi tours.
      Written 9 July 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.
      Thank you for your kind review. We are pleased to hear you've enjoyed your small group tour from Queenstown with Callum.
      Written 17 February 2022
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Rick
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2021
      EXCELLENT!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, Kreig was very accommodating. Sharing his knowledge about the places and his experience is interesting. I did the right choice of booking in a smaller group rather than driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound
      Written 22 January 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.
      Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are very happy to hear Kreig looked after you for the day. Joining our small group tour is definitely one way to make sure you get to see everything the Fiordland National Park has to offer.
      Written 25 January 2021
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      cpetershr51
      San Francisco, CA8 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Mar 2023
      This was the highlight of our trip to New Zealand. It's a long day but well worth it. Going into Milford Sound was just a breathtaking experience. The boat ride was lovely and you get so close to the waterfalls.

      When the Tasman Sea got a little rough a very kind crew member, Brooke, just talked me through what was happening. She has a very calm approach and was just a wealth of knowledge. She made what was a rocky experience for me (the rest of my family loved the small waves) just splendid. She was great!
      Written 18 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.

      A S
      Bideford, UK33 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2020
      Look at the weather forecast before you go and try to pick a day when it will not be misty/foggy or lashing with rain! I would suggest doing a coach tour from Te Anau or Queenstown rather than driving to Milford Sound - the road is windy and goes through Homer Tunnel (single track) & coaches usually stop at Mirror Lakes, the Lupin Field & places to view the snow capped mountains on the way to Milford Sound. The company we went with owned the Cruise Ship we went on. The commentry and information on the bus journey down was great and we were fortunate to get up close at one of the stops to the inquisive Kea bird. The cruise ship was clean & tidy with free tea & coffee and helpful crew. The commentry was again good and there was plenty of freedom to stay inside with large windows or go out on deck. Take a waterproof/windproof coat as it can get cold on deck. From the start until we finished the cruise there were plenty of photo opportunities of mountains, waterfalls, seals etc. One of the 'must do' trips in New Zealand.
      Written 25 February 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.
      Thank you for your great review. We are very happy to hear you've enjoyed your day out with us despite the misty/foggy weather. Taking one of our small group tours is a great way to travel as you get to relax and learn and see more about this beautiful area. Our local drivers love sharing their knowledge and passion about this place. We hope to welcome you back at Milford Sound one day.
      Written 9 December 2020
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Craig P
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Apr 2022
      A great day - Shane our tour guide was brilliant; his local knowledge of plants, animals and stories of Maori and European history in the area made it even better.
      Funny and entertaining too !
      The stops along the way were in really interesting places you may otherwise not know about; and the boat cruise was spectacular with the informative and humorous skipper.
      We highly recommend the tour, great value too.
      Written 12 April 2022
      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 leave a review, we are very pleased you enjoyed you tour to Milford Sound with us and thanks for choosing Cruise Milford.
      Written 12 June 2022
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Nicky C
      Takanini, New Zealand10 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Apr 2021 • Couples
      We had a great tour today with Cruise Milford. We were fortunate to have a very small number of people on our cruise so got a great personal experience. Saw dolphins and seals and while the weather wasn't the best we still got to see everything. Friendly staff from check in to disembarking. Easy to move around the ship and tea, coffee and biscuits all provided. Definitely recommend.
      Written 25 April 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.

      Leon T
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jun 2021 • Couples
      If you are going to book a trip to Milford please use these guys! Such a good experience, Jonno was astounding with the knowledge he could provide over the duration of the trip. We found it great in a smaller group as we could interact with all. We were shown some good points of interest and got to experience the cruise on a good rainy day! Definitely recommend going with Milford Cruises 😊
      Written 7 June 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.
      Thank you very much for your lovely review. We are so pleased to hear you've enjoyed your small group tour from Te Anau with us. We are very lucky to have passionate guides like Jono. We hope you'll enjoy the rest of your travels.
      Written 7 June 2021
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Marc
      Fribourg, Switzerland4 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2023 • Family
      Excellent day out of Te Anau to Milford Sound. Jonathan was a great driver/guide and very knowledgeable. He makes everyone comfortable. We had a full day programme, but no stress at all. The drive is magnificent, also thanks to the various stop and walks in the forests or at the lakes. The cruise was great, about 2 hours and very impressive. A highlight of our trip to NZ.
      Written 3 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.

      Mingliang Sun
      4 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2023 • Friends
      Enjoyable cruise and knowledgeable guides. The staff was extremely friendly and even offered to take a photo of me steering the wheels! Will definitely come back one day in the winter or on a wet day.
      Written 31 January 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.

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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.

      Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown provided by Cruise Milford

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