Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau
Overview
Available languages
9 hours
Mobile ticket
Embark on an awe-inspiring day excursion to Milford Sound from Te Anau, where you'll be part of a friendly, intimate group of no more than 15 fellow travelers, led by a friendly local guide. Prepare for an unforgettable journey, including a small boat cruise, traversing the entire length of the majestic fiord and venturing out to the vast expanse of the Tasman Sea.
Our relaxed itinerary is designed to maximise your enjoyment, allowing ample time for leisurely strolls, capturing breathtaking photographs, and immersing yourself in the natural wonders of the area alongside our knowledgeable nature guide. Whether it's pausing to admire cascading waterfalls, spotting playful dolphins, or simply soaking in the tranquility of the surroundings, every moment promises to be filled with wonder and discovery.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather – please bring a good rain jacket and practical shoes.
Bring any required personal medication.
Tour departs from Te Anau, not Queenstown. Allow 2.5 hours driving time if coming from Queenstown.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Departing from Te Anau, travel in a small group (maximum 15 people) along the scenic Milford Road through the heart of Fiordland National Park. Your local driver/guide will share their knowledge and entertaining stories along the may. On reaching Milford Sound enjoy a 2-hour small boat cruise to the Tasman Sea. With excellent viewing opportunities and plenty of time to enjoy the waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. Exploring on foot with a walk in Fiordland is a must, even if it is only a few hundred meters. We stop often to ensure you won't miss a thing! Enjoy a series of short guided walks and scenic photo stops on the journey. Lots of opportunities are made for you to experience this natural wonderland with all your senses. Hike in a the range of different environments, from lush forests to magnificent alpine areas carved by glaciers long ago and discover the native birds, such as the cheeky kea. We will tailor the day to the weather and seasonal highlights to ensure your day makes the most of this incredible world heritage area.
What‘s Included
Milford Sound sightseeing boat cruise (small vessel)
Guided & self-guided nature walks along Milford Road
Small-group transport (max 15 travelers) in a modern minivan with local guide
Picnic lunch (vegetarian & gluten-free available with advance notice)
Te Anau accommodation pickup & drop-off
Queenstown pickup (tour departs Te Anau only)
Personal expenses
INFANTS - Sorry we do not cater for children under 5 years
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
2023/24 season
Duration: 9 hours
Picnic lunch: A picnic lunch is included. Please advise if you have any dietary requirements for the lunch prior to the day of travel.
Pickup included
Reviews
715 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic tour complete with walks.
Mobile825173,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the best trip to Milford Sound yesterday. We lucked out with some sunny weather and got to enjoy several short walks along with the boat tour. Our guide Mel was very knowledgeable and great about telling stories and stopping along the way for photo spots and short treks to break up the journey. We had a fairly small tour group and the boat tour was on one of the smaller boats so got to get up nice and close to the waterfalls. Plus you didn’t have to deal with as many people. We also got to see some dolphins and a baby seal. Highly recommend for all considering!
Must-do way to see Milford Sound!
Chrissy O,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing tour and guide! Phil was SO knowledgeable and make the experience so easy, informative, and fun! The tour was an ideal size (smaller group) to make it personal, but still excellent value. Our pickup was prompt and easy. The little stops on the way there and back really enhanced the trip, and Phil did an excellent job catering the stops to our tour group, including engaging our kids in a fun and educational way! 10/10 recommend!
Incredible experience 10/10
R5987PEalexh,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredible experience 10/10. Our guide, Olivia, was awesome. She grew up in the area and was able to share her knowledge and passion with all of us on the tour. The van held ~10 of us and was quite comfortable. We made plenty of stops for photos along the scenic drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound. The boat is slightly smaller than some of the otheryu charters but overall good size (~70 people) with indoor and outdoor space. There was plenty of room to enjoy all the views of the sound. Overall highly recommend supporting Trips & Tramps.
Highly Recommended!
Kate H,,Jan 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had such a great tour guide Jacob. He showed us his favourite spots along the way and had great suggestions for other places to visit on New Zealand. The cruise was so beautiful.. highly recommended! The small group tour was great too and the lunches provided were very substantial and yummy.
Best Day Out In New Zealand
Sherpa46959987879,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The best day in New Zealand! Our tour guide Jeff was brilliant, very knowledgable and gave so much information as we were traveling from Te Anau, including “dad jokes”!😂😂 The cruise on Milford Sound was amazing, we saw seals and even penguins, and we had plenty of stops on the way back to get fantastic photos. Could not rate this trip highly enough!
Milford and more
Roving736326,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brilliant full day including trip to Milford and back. Phil was our driver/guide. We enjoyed his commentary about local history and legends. The short stops along the way were special. The cruise in a smaller vessel was stunning. Milford Fjord is a special place on Earth. Highly recommend this tour.
Superb experience with expert knowledgable guidance
maxpeel9,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Superb all round experience! A list of the things we found excellent: 1. Phil’s guiding and knowledge (including of the flora and animals, Lord of the Rings and more) 2. Slow pace with many beautiful stops to actual take in Milford Sound and the journey there and back 3. Comfortable bus 4 Great lunch, we had both meat and veggie options I highly recommended this trip and Phil as a guide if you can! Thanks to Phil for making it superb. We managed to see the rare Whio (blue duck, a Kia and Dolphins on the boat trip ontop of good weather - I hope you get as lucky as we did!
What a great day! Spectacular scenery on a thoroughly enjoyable tour
Jacqueline B,,Jan 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our friendly, knowledgeable guide picked us up from our accommodation in a small, comfortable tour bus with plenty of overhead storage space for day packs etc. (important because you need rain coats and warm clothes for the boat). They provided a high quality car seat for our 6-year old, which made him more comfortable and safe. This made a huge difference, as he was able to see the scenery properly on the way down, and the head rest him to nap on the way back. The commentary on the way down was really interesting, and I learned a lot about the Sound, NZ birds and other topics. Our guide also included some info about Maui and other Mauri legends, which was great for keeping our 6-year old engaged. The boat was relatively small, and wasn’t crowded at all. This was great because it meant we could alternate between the warm indoors and the better views outdoors. Plus our son could run around and play without getting in people’s way. We then took a short walk before heading back on the tour bus. The journey back was slower with lots of scenic stops along the way. I really appreciated the opportunity to see different parts of the Fiordlands and understand its full character.
A day with many impressions
Ulch1234,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very detailed explanation- well organized - many impressions - highly recommended - additional helicopter flight possible, but expensive
Perfectly magical experience
Jenny T,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a truly magical experience visiting Milford Sound. Maddie was a delightful guide who made the day extra special. She was very informative with a touch of fun and we felt safe in her hands. All in all a day we will remember forever!
From NZ$310.65
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