I initially booked a cruise with a visit to the underwater observatory for my family of 7. Due to weather condition, I was informed a week ahead that the observatory was closed and offered the cruise without plus a NZD25 voucher each instead. On the day of the cruise itself, it was unfortunately rainy and so everyone was wet and cold. We did not get to see any of the animals. Nonetheless, I’m glad I went but see no reasons for a second trip. If I have to summarize with one word it would be blend.

We took 10.30 time slots and were the first ones to be in the fjords and able to view the fjords in its full glory! Managed to see dolphins as they swim passed us! Overall, fantastic cruise! Must go if you are visiting NZ.

Great day! I was worried the very long travel time would be brutal but it was broken up very well along the way there. Left Queenstown at 7am. First stop in Te Anau where you can buy toasties, pies, baked goods, hot drinks and use the toilets..(heads up there is no hot water in the toilets and they are just portables 🤢 not the best but not the worst I've used). Depending on the amount of people you might run out of time to go to the loo, order food and sit down to enjoy it, so be prepared to scoff quickly and maybe bring non hot items back on the bus. We then had another two quick photo stops along the way. Got to Milford sound jetty at 12.30. As always, there is not enough toilets for women so the queue is loooooong. We boarded the boat at 1pm ready to leave at 1.15. The buffet lunch is served immediately, There is plenty of food so no need to panic. There was mini slices of lamington for dessert and a Whittaker's bar. The cutlery was a bit dirty with food stuck in a few pieces before we got a clean set. Maybe the dishwasher isn't cleaning well. Bathroom on the boat has hot water to wash hands in which is great. The views from all decks are great. Can get a little rocky in parts. Hot water is provided along with tea bags and premade coffee, however if you want a hot chocolate for some reason it's $2. The scenery is spectacular. We stopped on the way home in Te Anau at a different venue. Again, there aren't many female toilets so the queue will be loooooong and you may run out of time to get a hot drink. We got back to Queenstown at 7.30pm. Jam packed day but so amazing and worth the long bus time. Driver Stan was very good. Hopefully the company will provide a way for drivers to check if the road into Milford is open without looking on their phones / screens ? while driving. There is a chance the bus tours can't run if the roads to Milford are too dangerous so I suggest booking your tour early in your trip and if it gets cancelled then you have other days to rebook at least.

Milford Sound cruise is a must do for anyone visiting New Zealand. The cruise takes you through breathtaking fjords, waterfalls, and towering cliffs, offering stunning views at every turn. The boat is comfortable and commentary is informative, enhancing the experience.

It was amazing. The weather was sunny and perfect. We saw penguins, waterfalls, seals and big mountains. The highlight of the trip was breathtaking Fiords. Loved the experience.

We had an excellent trip to Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries. Paul our driver was very great, friendly and knowledgeable and gave an excellent commentary throughout the trip. the coach was comfortable, lots of legroom as advertised. We had plenty of stops along the way to take photos at scenic sites on our way to Milford Sound. The boat ride on the sound was amazing, saw plenty of wildlife and the captain gave excellent commentary along the way. The buffet lunch was excellent! It was a long day but worth it as you will see sites that will amaze you.

Lovely sunny day. Off to a great start with Keith our coach driver giving an awesome commentary on the way, with loads of great photo stops. (We chose this particular tour because the company uses coaches: some of the others look like they use shuttle vans.) The boat trip was great, what an awesome craft. Great food, great commentary. But the Sound itself wasn't at it's best: a rainy day is what you want for max waterfall activity (Or even better: heavy rain the night before!). HOWEVER, with it being a clear day, the return flight was AMAZING, with the pilot showing off not just Milford Sound, but most of the Southern Alps it seemed. And back to Queenstown in before time for afternoon happy hour cocktails. (And the bonus: I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat. I got a sore face from grinning so much.) My wife & I agree: we'd would do this again.

This 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 Island

The boat was clean and the staff was friendly, so I’ll throw in an extra star. Other than that, this was the overcrowded, tour bus jam packed buffet lunch boat from hell. Of course, the website depicts happy cruisers on a small sleek catamaran with plenty of space to enjoy the scenery. This was not the case, and our cruise was an absolute bait and switch. Because of rain and cold, most passengers were inside, which did not help, but even aside from that this particular cruise should be avoided. It was impossible really to see or enjoy anything unless you were fortunate enough to snag a seat next to a window, which the tour bus people promptly claimed having cued up beginning a half hour before departure, which seemed absurd at the time but in retrospect was necessary. I could continue about what an all around miserable experience this was, but you get the picture. I should have followed my instincts and abandoned my tickets upon arrival and booked one of the many smaller boutique boats available without reservations at the port. As they followed along I envisioned them saying “man, am I glad I’m not on that boat”. Unfortunately, I was.

5 star, top shelf experience from a company who know how to do all the little things to make it a memorable experience. Keith our guide was fantastic. Picnic lunch was tasty as were the stop at Teanu bakery. Thoroughly recommend this tour!

I’ve traveled around the world and been on countless tours. This is by far the absolute worst experience. I came all the way to New Zealand to to see Milford Sound. I booked it and got a confirmation email. I waited at 6:30 am and they never picked me up. I called that morning and was informed they should be there any minute. No one showed up. I called back and said they actually never booked the car to get me! They said I missed the bus for the day. I couldn’t believe it. They then rescheduled to Sunday. Then Sunday, the roads are closed. Then Monday (my last day) was sold out so they couldn’t add me. If they had picked me up when they were supposed to, I would’ve been able to go. I don’t even know if I can go back to NZ again. This is such a terrible and sad experience.

Such 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.

I booked via Klook which states clearly that there will be hotel pickup and dropoff. I was glad that my hostel was listed. I was ready at Camp St before 6am but got a call at around 640 to rush over to Beach Street, so I did on a cold, rainy morning. To my horror, the bus was already leaving and didn't stop for me. Thankfully, the next bus driver did stop for me, and I got on the correct bus at Stanley. DON'T promise pickup and dropoff if it doesn't exist. If this does happen, in the future, call earlier and suggest a closer stop such as Athol or Stanley. Klook only refunds 60%.

The trip began with a possible delay due to avalanche hazard…. The road was closed near the tunnel. We began, hoping that the road would be opened at 10AM. Keith was a fantastic driver, imparting his vast knowledge while we drove, with a soothing delivery. We made several stops along the way for photos, and a pit stop for breakfast and hot drinks. The cruise in Milford sound was amazing! Spectacular scenery, with hundreds of new waterfalls due to the overnight snow. Totally worth the anxiety regarding a possibility of an avalanche! Staff was professional and friendly. Would definitely book this trip again!

We 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!