Tours and Tickets
Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown
5

Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown

By Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Cruises
Recommended by 95% of travelers
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
About
from
$180.58
per adult

Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 150 per group
Duration: 12h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English


  • Return transport from Queenstown to Milford Sound on premium glass-roof coach
  • USB charging ports on board coach
  • Informative commentary provided by local coach driver
  • Milford Sound Nature Cruise
  • Freshly prepared Lunch
  • Coffee and/or Tea
  • Entry/Admission - Milford Sound
What's not included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Appropriate child restraints are not provided by the operator and must be supplied by yourselves.


Departure details
  • 110 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand Please head inside the Southern Discoveries office situated at the above address (110 Beach Street, Queenstown) to check in for your trip.
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3960P16

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent advisable
  • Appropriate child restraints are NOT provided by the operator. These must be provided by the parent or caregiver - without this you may be turned away and unable to travel - please be prepared.
  • If you booked before 24th November 2022 you will receive a picnic lunch not buffet. You do however have the option to upgrade to buffet lunch at an additional cost on check in
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

What you can expect during your visit
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Contactless payment for gratuities and add-ons
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks provided for travelers
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.

Which attractions will I visit with Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown?
How much is Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown?
Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown price starts from $157.07. Discover and book Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown on Tripadvisor
What is the Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown cancellation policy?
Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown?
Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown is hosted by Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Cruises. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Cruises on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown on Tripadvisor

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: 3960P16

Reserve your spot

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    110 Beach Street
    110 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
    Please head inside the Southern Discoveries office situated at the above address (110 Beach Street, Queenstown) to check in for your trip.
    See address & details
  • Pass by
    Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre
  • 1
    Queenstown
    Stop: 15 minutes
    See details
  • 2
    Te Anau
    Stop: 30 minutes
    See details
  • 3
    Eglinton Valley
    Stop: 15 minutes
    See details
    Pass by
    Lake Gunn
  • 4
    Mirror Lakes Walk
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
    Pass by
    Cleddau River
  • 5
    Monkey Creek
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
    Pass by
    Homer Tunnel
  • 6
    The Chasm Walk
    Stop: 20 minutes
    See details
  • 7
    Milford Sound
    Stop: 2 hours
    See details
    Pass by
    Bowen Falls
    Sinbad Gully
    Stirling Falls
  • 8
    Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre
    Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • You'll return to the starting point
+
About the operator
Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Cruises
1,865
New Zealand
Joined in July 2009

#6 of 14 Tours & Activities in Milford Sound
  • lecons
    lecons
    0
    0
    Great commentary and unbeatable location
    On this day, we were blessed with beautiful blue skies. The drive to Milford was absolutely stunning, with lots of opportunities to stop and admire the snowy peaks. If I had more time I would have done some walks but, even if you leave early from Te Anau, it is a time crunch to get there in time for the morning cruise. We also had cheeky Kea’s try to pull apart my car whenever we stopped. I chose to stop at the free car park on Deepwater Basin Road. It is worth making note of this free parking location prior to arriving as you may not have cell reception to find Deepwater Basin Road on maps when you arrive in Milford (there is a sign post but it comes up fast). The walk took 23.5 minutes including stops (17 minutes on the way back as we picked up the speed) and was quite pleasant. Worth parking there and saving some money. We were on board the Lady Bowan. Commentary on the cruise could be heard everywhere on the boat. The host was very funny, made many jokes during the experience and was both informational and enjoyable (some hidden just for the adults). We got up close to the waterfalls and those standing outside were treated to a shower. The Underwater Observatory allowed us to see schools of fish very clearly, black coral which is hundreds of years old and even a shark which darted down to get some food. This is very rare, our guide said she had never seen a shark dive that low and close to the observatory before. The picnic lunch consisted of cheese & crackers, Whittakers chocolate, choc chip biscuit, mandarin, apple, a bag of crisps and a fresh chicken sandwich. Coffee and tea was also available for free throughout the cruise.
  • JAMEQ
    JAMEQ
    0
    0
    Enjoyable Trip with Keith
    We had a great time with Keith as our driver cum tour guide along the journey. Keith was careful in his driving yet able to ensure we have an enjoyable journey to board the cruise and back to Queenstown on time too. Thanks, Keith!
  • 117izzyd
    117izzyd
    0
    0
    A Must Do in Queenstown NZ.
    Wonderful tour! Exceeded expectations. Keith, our driver was knowledgeable and fun. Well done! Highly recommended.
  • wrgr56
    wrgr56
    0
    0
    Highlight of our So Island trip
    Highly recommend! Keith was an excellent driver and provided a wonderful commentary during the drive to Milford Sound. Boat excursion was even better than the wonderful descriptions. Stunning scenery and experience. Decided to take plane ride back to Queenstown and loved it!
  • Georgina B
    Georgina B
    0
    0
    Queenstown to Milford Sound - flights and cruise
    We took the scenic flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, the cruise and return flight to Queenstown. This was a fabulous way to experience the mountain ranges and the fjords! We had the special experience of flying in a small aircraft (4 passengers and the wonderful James … our pilot) … which meant we all had a window seat and had our own view from above and James provided great commentary about what we could see from the plane and where we were!. The cruise through the fjord was also comfortable and meant we had the best views of the waterway… heading to the Tasman sea!
  • foxandchook
    foxandchook
    0
    0
    Worth the long day! Highlight of our trip.
    If you are worried about the long day (5hr bus trip each way), don’t…It is absolutely worth it! Our bus driver (Keith) was amazing - his commentary on the way was very informative and he stopped many times on the way for bathroom breaks, photo opportunities and leg-stretching. We were very lucky to get active snow fall near Milford Sound and Keith stopped the bus to let us all jump out and have a play - it was magical! Milford sound itself is just breathtaking. The whole day is the highlight of our trip to Queenstown. We were here in early August and I strongly recommend dressing warm (even for the bus). If you have an extra coat to bring for over your legs on the bus, I recommend it.
  • RhiKNZ2023
    RhiKNZ2023
    0
    0
    Milford Sound is a must!!!
    Couldn’t recommend this tour more! Beautiful place to visit and the drive there even though long went through such stunning landscape and mountain views! We’re not 100% sure on the name of our bus driver, possibly Keith, wish we could remember! He was so so good, so much knowledge of not only Milford Sound and surrounds but of New Zealand and it was so fascinating listening to him talk about it all so passionately! We were on the morning bus and then nature cruise from Queenstown on July 27th :) Southern Discoveries was also super easy to book with and gave great info, no problems!
  • susanna67c
    susanna67c
    0
    0
    Highly recommend this tour
    Was an awesome experience. Highly recommend Southern Discoveries Tours. The bus was lovely and the driver very knowledgeable.
  • Mitchell C
    Mitchell C
    0
    0
    A beautiful scenic tour
    I took my GF on this trip and it was beautiful. The scenery was amazing and the buffet was quite nice. We even saw a few dolphins. Was a long trip but would recommend.
  • Michael W
    Michael W
    0
    0
    Definitely worth doing!
    Great service overall. On time, friendly and informative driver, amazing views on the road, scenic stops, delicious food on the boat, comfortable and safe boat ride, incredible scenery at Milford Sound, a bunch of natural features and wildlife sightings, and a smooth ride back to town. Excellent experience.
  • Vacation18254895217
    Vacation18254895217
    0
    0
    Informative Trip with Breathtaking Views!
    It was our first time to do the Milford sound coach and cruise and we had the most spectacular time! Our coach driver, Roland, was a great character. He was very informative and was easy to interact with, I can see he always checks and double checks that people are in the bus before driving off. We stopped at beautiful areas such as the Eglinton Valley and the Mirror Lakes (My most favourite). We also spotted some playful Keas along the way. The tunnel was very interesting too! The boat cruise views was breathtaking. The variety of food served on the boat was pretty good for the price! Although I hope it could be better seasoned next time. We went so close to the waterfall and it was absolutely gorgeous. We went for my hubby's and mum's birthday, and mum and dad's anniversary so it made our experience all the more special. Partway through the day someone from the head office called me to inform me I left my wallet in their office! They very kindly held on to it until I came back the next day. Thank you to the team who made it all possible :)
  • 1752luciel
    1752luciel
    0
    0
    Breathless views
    My daughter and I are on a road trip around the south island, and Milford Sound was a must stop!! In researching, we were so happy to see this amazing nature cruise. We both love being outdoors and exploring nature, and this cruise had both. We weren't lucky enough to see many wildlife but the views of the mountains, waterfalls and the experience was priceless 💞 The skipper explained so many things and my personal conversation with him brought out his joy of his work. Thank you to all the staff, and the boxed lunch was simple and delicious.
  • 230liannar
    230liannar
    0
    0
    Amazing
    Great experience, boat had heating, complimentary coffee, we ordered the picnic lunch which was perfect. The skipper on our boat was hilarious, entertaining and informative.
  • norpatmat
    norpatmat
    0
    0
    BEST DAY EVER!!
    Wow, we truly had the very best day and I’m not sure if anything will ever top it. Keith was a wonderful driver/ guide. He has a soothing, calm tone and a whole heap of knowledge. Although the bus ride was long, it never felt it. We had a few stops along the way for bathroom, coffee, and photo opportunities. Keith went out of his way to make the journey enjoyable. The boat ride was also delightful and it certainly helps that we had stunning weather (winter sunshine). What made an already great day even more wonderful was the scenic flight back to Queenstown. Our pilot, Ryan, was excellent. We took off from Milford Sound and journeyed through the Fiord National Park. My face hurt from smiling. It was stunning and an experience I will never forget. Thank you.
  • Inspiration485561
    Inspiration485561
    0
    0
    perfect day out with family..
    day was perfect.. weather.. conditions.. cruise and staff.. lunch was ok.. we had the buffet..felt it quite pricy i thought for the quality and options.. the fruit pineapple and kiwi fruit and lamington slices all gone by the time we had eaten and ready for some sweets.. but overall food was tasty..
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

5.0
44 reviews
Excellent
38
Very good
4
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0

PWill
Auckland, New Zealand12 contributions
We thoroughly enjoyed the coach and cruise to Milford Sound. Thanks to our coach driver, Fly, for making us feel welcome. He provided great commentary of the history of the area and made the trip feel short with informal conversations off the mic. It was a rainy day but we enjoyed the coach ride, Milford sound cruise and picnic lunch. Highly recommend and hope you get Fly as your coach driver!
Written May 21, 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.
Kia ora, Thank you for your review, It's great to hear that Fly made your trip extra special, he really is a fantastic driver and guide, we hear so many good comments about him. Thanks again for recommending Southern Discoveries and we are glad you had a great day out! Nga Mihi, Jayne
Written May 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

yvonnerkh23
Te Kuiti, New Zealand24 contributions
Wow! What a huge day filled with the most stunning scenery and landscape. We chose to travel with southern discoveries to experience the knowledge of the local drivers, and we were not disappointed. Our driver kept us entertained and shared more local knowledge with us than we could have ever hoped for! All the stories and facts made the drive and scenery that much more stunning. We travelled on the smaller bus which was very comfortable, made even better by the skilled driving of our guide. The views out of the bus were amazing, with the large windows and skylight we got to see the mountains and scenery in a way that’s just not possible when driving in a car.

The stops along the way were beautiful, and we were spoilt to get to see them during this very quiet post covid time. We even got to see a kea along the way which was a definite highlight of the trip.

Finally boarding the cruise we spent almost every second enjoying the views from outside. Milford sound on a rainy day feels like a movie! We will never forget our trip that, thanks to southern discoveries, was the most special experience during our first visit to the South Island.
Written May 11, 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 Yvonne, Wow it's reviews like this that mean the world to us. We're so glad you had an awesome experience with us and we could help make your first trip to the South Island so special. We love what we do because of guests like you. Thanks so much for choosing us and taking the time to pass on your feedback. Ngā mihi,
Written May 13, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KURA Kotero
10 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
Our driver Gab was our favourite part, he was amazing, going above & beyond when it came to the "service factor" treating us with the utmost respect. Gab is the reason that we will return to see what else Qtown & Scenic Discoveries has to offer. Anybody can serve somebody but not everybody has the ability to make their customer want to return! Thank you for your amazingness Gab - Mum & I loved your work. Merry Christmas to all the Scenic Discoveries team! The KURA Koteros.
Written December 24, 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.
Kia ora KURA Koteros Thanks for the amazing review and feedback on Gabe. He is one in a million right? I know he will love reading this review. Kind regards and safe travels Kerry Southern Discoveries
Written January 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kim Gibberd
11 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We actually booked through another company but got a phone call yesterday saying...you have been upgraded. I don't think so, it was because there were not enough people on the company we booked with, so we were put with Southern Coaches to fill the bus. They were great! Greg was a awesome commentator, but the bus was completely full with all seats taken. Unfortunately a few couples couldn't sit together. I would recommend lining up first to get good seats. We were cramped on the back seat of the bus in the middle. Also, check if lunch is included, because we thought ours was. It should stipulate on the email no lunch included. Also the bus was really cold until we got to Te Anau!
Written July 10, 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.

Emma L
1 contribution
This experience was absolutely wonderful. We had a great guide who was effortlessly story telling intermittently during the coach ride there - very engaging and interesting!

And we were lucky enough to have incredible weather and Milford Sound was unreal - it was incredibly dreamy !! Even went close enough to get splashed by the waterfalls !

Wonderful experience. Thank you Southern Discoveries xx

Definitely will be back (this time for the helicopter)
Written March 25, 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.

HaydenM
Sydney, Australia5 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
Milford was amazing! The driver was funny, and the cruise narrator was both very chill and interesting to listen to. The picnic was ok, but other food options are available to purchase on the day if you prefer hot food instead. (No card tap tho!)

Quite a long bus ride, and most of the day will lack reception so have any music or audiobooks downloaded beforehand
Written August 1, 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.
Kia ora, Thanks so much for your review. Great you got to experience Milford Sound with us, it certainly is a special and wonderful place! Thanks again, and we hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday! Nga Mihi, Jayne
Written August 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

kylie j
6 contributions
May 2023 • Family
We thoroughly enjoyed this full day coach, cruise, coach tour from Queenstown. Our driver Ben was great, he gave a commentry on everything we saw in the drive there, which made the 5+ hrs go very fast. The 2hr cruise was awesome, even though it was a drizzly foggy day. Glad we chose to take our own lunch as the buffet seemed hectic.So excited that we even saw a pod of dolphins. The drive back was a good opportunity to catch up on some sleep. All in all a great day, highly recommend Southern Discoveries for great service and well organised tour.
Written May 22, 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.

b0nnie55
New Plymouth, New Zealand79 contributions
Oct 2020
The Coach Trip was fantastic!!! The driver was excellent and funny, giving a really good commentary. I wish I could remember his name, starts with De . The road to Milford is very challenging, and I was really glad I didn't drive. The boat trip was also excellent. Really good crew, and funny commentary. The picnic lunch was substantial. We got out to the mouth of Milford Sound. The highlight of the cruise was probably when we went up to the waterfall, and got sprayed. That was awesome. It's a very long day, but really worthwhile.

I can recommend this to seniors - very comfortable boat and different options of where to sit - inside or up on top.

There is no Covid in the South Island so precautions only needed on planes.
Written October 6, 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.

Rob M
2 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
My friends, my wife and I did this cruise on the recommendation of our travel agent. We were not disappointed. The coach journey from Queenstown to Milford sound was wonderful in terms of the scenery we encountered and the journey was made even more interesting and fascinating by the commentary by the driver Ben, whose knowledge, insights and humour kept us entertained the whole way there. Milford Sound itself was everything we expected and during the cruise we were accompanied for quite a while by a pod of dolphins that rode the bow wave and leapt from the water in play. The food was great and the boat was modern and well appointed. Highly recommended.
Written May 4, 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.

Jill Roberson
Northampton, UK3 contributions
Aug 2020 • Solo
All of the 12 hour day was an amazing experience. The coach driver Gary was a wealth of knowledge, keeping us all entertained with his commentary.
The cruise on Milford Sound was magic. The rain added to the scenery giving us nature at its rawest hundreds of beautiful waterfalls.
Written August 30, 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.

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Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown provided by Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Cruises

Product Overview: Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown

Prices From

$184

Number of Reviews

43

Number of Photos

186

Duration

750 minutes