Tours and Tickets
Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown
5

Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown

By awesomeNZ Milford Sound Day Tour
Recommended by 94% 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
$131.61
per adult

Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 48 per group
Duration: 12h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English


  • Glass Roof Coaches with Free-Wifi
  • Free Hotel Transfers
  • Milford Sound Cruise
  • Picnic Lunch
  • Entry/Admission - Milford Sound
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Departure details
  • Athol Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Return details
  • Returns to original departure point

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • 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: 157701P1

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • 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 experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 48 travelers

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

A note from Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown
  • The two seats next to the driver / guide are not to be occupied. Increased customer tracing is in place.
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
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.

Which attractions will I visit with Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown?
How much is Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown?
Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown price starts from $135.63. Discover and book Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown on Tripadvisor
What is the Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown cancellation policy?
Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise 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 Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown on Tripadvisor
Which company provides Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown?
Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown is hosted by awesomeNZ Milford Sound Day Tour. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact awesomeNZ Milford Sound Day Tour on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise 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: 157701P1

Reserve your spot

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    Athol Street
    Athol Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
    See address & details
  • 1
    Milford Sound
    Stop: 90 minutes - Admission included
    See details
  • 2
    Mirror Lakes Walk
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
  • 3
    Monkey Creek
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
  • 4
    Homer Tunnel
    Stop: 10 minutes
    See details
  • You'll return to the starting point
+
About the operator
awesomeNZ Milford Sound Day Tour
502
Queenstown, New Zealand
Joined in February 2012

#58 of 200 Tours & Activities in Queenstown
  • sylviamH3912CU
    sylviamH3912CU
    0
    0
    Very disappointing.
    Took this bus/cruise on 5/4/23. The most disappointing experience I have ever had. The cruise on this day should have been cancelled. The most shocking weather on this day.
  • Khaliq A
    Khaliq A
    0
    0
    Great Bus tour and Boat cruise
    Thoroughly enjoyed this bus tour and boat cruise. Breathtaking views with plenty of photo opportunities along the way and on the boat. Bus driver and boat cruise staff were all very friendly and courteous.
  • Haninja14
    Haninja14
    0
    0
    Great experience
    Great tour, from the drive to the cruise. The staff (I was with David and Rod) were friendly and an amazing overall experience.
  • N8052HVkeithw
    N8052HVkeithw
    0
    0
    So much fun!
    Loved, loved Milford Sound! The bus tour from Te Anau was great but the catamaran 90 minute boat ride was awesome! Spectacular scenery and a fun commentary. Seeing the waterfalls, penguins, seals, fiord were all wonderful - best part was staying out on top when we went right inside a waterfall! So much fun. Loved the host: "guys, look ahead...; guys, water and electronics don't work together!" Fun!
  • Sandeep4489
    Sandeep4489
    0
    0
    Great tour, highly recommended!
    Amazing views. Jaeden was lovely, informative and funny. Cruise experience was great with best scenic views.
  • BigfootGang
    BigfootGang
    0
    0
    Youngest bus driver provides epic journey!
    From pick up to drop off, we thoroughly enjoyed our day. Our bus driver Jayden (the youngest bus driver in NZ) was wonderfully informative and absolutely hilarious, having us in stitches with his quiet dead pan humour. We felt completely safe, with information being directed clearly and head counts being performed before we left each stop. Hand on my heart I can say you’re in good hands with Awesome NZ, and if you’re lucky enough to have Jayden as your driver, you’re in for a real treat! Well done guys.
  • Rewarewa80
    Rewarewa80
    0
    0
    Awesome day trip from Queenstown
    Great day trip, weather got abit gnarly but our driver Jayden did a fab job getting us to the cruise and out of Milford before the road closed. Having worked for a tour company in the past I was really impressed with Jayden and how he handled the difficult driving condititions. His calm humourous manner made the day enjoyable. Jayden you have a great future ahead of you and we wish you all the best!
  • 939marielr
    939marielr
    0
    0
    Really Awesome
    My partner and me live at Queenstown but this is our first tour to Milford sound and I have to say that it was amazing!! The bus driver, Paulie, was sooo sweet and kind, very professional and punctual. All the histories that he talk about were really interesting. I felt I have learnt more about New Zealand now! We are so happy!! 100 % recommend !! Thanks a lot for that. Muchas gracias Mariel and Marcelo
  • RobPWhite
    RobPWhite
    0
    0
    Great value. Great experience
    My wife and I chose to do a day trip to Milford Sound and it was brilliant. Ian the driver made it so pleasurable there and back. The stops en route captured amazing scenery. The boat trip with lunch was spot on. Definitely worthwhile. Thanks awesomeNZ👍
  • GSAJ
    GSAJ
    0
    0
    Definitely Recommend
    Decided not to drive ourselves to Milford Sound on the recommendation of others. Picked up this day tour from Te Anau on not the best of days weather wise, however this was more than rewarded by the commentary provided by Paulie our driver. Covered everything from the local history, farming etc through to geography interspersed with a subtle bit of Irish humour. A very professional driver who provided ample opportunities to stop and take photos plus ask any questions. This tour was incorporated with the Jucy cruise at Milford Sound which capped an enjoyable day out. Would definitely recommend.
  • oscarvdb
    oscarvdb
    0
    0
    Awesome day with Ian
    Picked up at our holiday park in time. Very friendly and knowledgeable and good and awesome driver (Ian). Would definitely recommend.
  • MarshaD132
    MarshaD132
    0
    0
    Professional and thorough!
    We went with our Ohio State University Alum. Assoc. as recommended by our New Zealand guide to the tour of Doubtful Sound. The bus driver and the boat crew were excellent! We were well-informed and always felt safe.
  • WoodlandsMike
    WoodlandsMike
    0
    0
    Bad customer service!
    Not their fault, but the tour got canceled because flooding washed out the access road to Milford sound. That happens. The problem was that the tour company never notified us of the cancellation and failed to respond to my inquiry the day before as to whether the tour was still on. When I finally reach them while waiting for a 7am pickup, their only response was “we are busy and behind”. They offered no assistance in processing the cancellation or a refund. I had to contact Viator directly to resolve the matter because the tour operator was frankly just unhelpful. Not a good experience or customer service.
  • myspaceMattia
    myspaceMattia
    0
    0
    Milford Sound Sundowner
    The day was just awesome! It all started at 9am, which is perfect if you like to snooze in a bit more. We hooped on the bus in Queenstown and our bus driver, Ian, entarteined us with local facts and jokes. He was an excellent driver and we didn't have any kind of problems. The day just flew past: during the drive we saw beautiful sceneries and stopped to some special spots to visit and take pictures. Once we arrived in Milford we went straight onto the cruise which was amazing. On the way back Ian still entertained us and showed us a Kea, a typical New Zealand parrot. Overall it was a fantastic tour, and most of it thanks to our awesome driver Ian!!
  • newzealandlife
    newzealandlife
    0
    0
    Good commentary and plenty of leg stretching breaks
    We did the Te Anau to Milford Sound leg and really enjoyed our 'getting there'. Stopped enough on the bus trip and the commentary was informative. Bus driver Ian was fantastic and showed us the best features on the way. Boat trip was on a 'Juicey' Boat and the staff were really good. Food on the boat was OK but It would be nice to have bran muffins or scones rather than just cookietime cookies to have with the free! cup of tea. The boat trip was cold but quite good.However I really think the bus trip there was for me better than the boat tour but that may be because of the cold weather didnt show milford sound at its best.The boat had a warm area to sit in and I cant fault the friendly staff.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

5.0
352 reviews
Excellent
307
Very good
24
Average
11
Poor
3
Terrible
7

Sue Q
11 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
After spending a total of 12.5 hours to get to and from Milford Sound, we were told that as we were the last boat of the day to be sailing out, we would be turning around after only 40 minutes on the water. And this included time queuing for the so-called inclusive lunch, which turned out to be a totally tasteless chicken pasty, and a bottle of soda......what a rip-off.

The Sound is undeniably beautiful, but in our opinion the time and expense do not warrant such a very short boat trip. The one redeeming feature of the day was the Awesome coach driver, the fantastic Mike, who gave superb commentary for much of the outbound leg of the journey about the local flora, fauna, history of the area and characters of note. He made the day both educational and endurable, so thank you Mike, you are a star!

On balance we would not have taken this trip if we had known how very little time we would spend in the Sound, as balanced against the horrendous travel time/ distance (600km round trip). If you do decide to go, don't waste your money on the lunch option but instead take your own food, or buy something at the coffee stop restaurant/bakery at Te Anau.
Written February 26, 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 Sue Q, At this stage our tours are operating in convoy from the 21st of February until the 15th of March as per the New Zealand Transport Agency, this is due to the tunnel heading in and out of Milford Sound only opening twice per day. I do apologise that you weren't made aware of this, as a result of what has happened all of the cruises have been shortened. Although we are pleased to hear that you found Milford Sound to be beautiful, and that Mike provided you with terrific commentary as well as interesting facts on history of the area! Time definitely flies by on the coach when you have such a terrific coach driver that has a lot of information to share with you on the journey to and from Milford Sound. However if you wish to get in touch with us regarding the above, as all agents and passengers should have been notified regarding our convoy in and out of Milford Sound impacting the cruise timings, please contact us directly at information@awesomenz.com. All the best for your future travels, Cheyenne and the team at AweseomeNZ
Written February 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carmen G
5 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
This will be the highlight of our 14 day trip to the South Island NZ. We left early at 7.30am. The Coach was very comfortable, the glass roof was incredible and made the views more accessible. Our driver Mike was absolutely fantastic.His knowledge and information, occasional jokes kept us all entertained the whole way there. This trip was actually Awesome. Wonderful views, stunning scenery of lakes and mountains.we had a few stops too. One was at Te Anau and Mirrored Lakes. When we arrived at Milford Sound, we boarded our boat for our cruise.A light lunch was served (large Pastie and drink). We saw seals and got close up to waterfalls. Unfortunately our cruise was cut a bit shorter but that was due to some flooding on the road down that had occurred earlier and we had to go in a convoy of coaches as no cars or vans were allowed to go through only the Coaches. We had to leave a bit earlier to get back okay.All in all, a highly recommended trip to all visitors in Queenstown! Thanks again Mike for making our trip a memorable one.
Written February 27, 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 Carmen G, It is so good to hear that you have enjoyed your Milford Sound tour with Mike! The scenery is indeed beautiful and pictures can never justify how amazing Milford Sound truly is. All the best for your future travels, Jerome and the team at AwesomeNZ
Written February 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ClavelV
3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Truly a unique and memorable experience. The scenery was just stunning, surreal and beautiful! The bus driver Santiago was funny and full of fun and real facts (the add on was the Lord of the Rings and other movie locations). He deserves a 5/5 star!!
Written March 1, 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 Clavel_Syd, Thank you for writing this amazing review. We are glad we could make your trip memorable and unique. The scenery is truely amazing and beautiful. Santiago is one of our best and always entertains the passengers. We hope you travel with us again. All the best for your future travels, Sam and the team at AwsomeNZ
Written March 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

swendy2019
Charlotte, NC10 contributions
Jan 2020
Our guide was Paulie, who absolutely made this trip. He was incredibly knowledgeable and provided dialogue with a sense of humor. He provided details & information that made for an interesting ride. Definitely worth the time and money!
Written January 20, 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 swendy2019, Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback for our driver Paulie, it looks like you had a fun time on your way to Milford Sound. All the best for your future travels, Jerome and the team at AwesomeNZ
Written January 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

AndraGrosu
Bucharest, Romania129 contributions
The trip we had today with your company and Ian, our driver, was worth the time and money. We booked the Milford Sounds day tour, a 12 hour tour drive-cruise-drive. We were very happy to have Ian as a very knowledgeable and funny guide. He knew how to reply to all of our questions and he kept us involved during the entire drive. Even in the second part of the trip, the return toQueenstown he had the energy to make jokes. Also a cautious driver. Thumbs up for him. I highly recommend the tour and our driver guide Ian.
Written January 14, 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 AndraGrosu, We are grateful to hear that you enjoyed your tour with our driver Ian, and that he shared his extensive knowledge and humor with you on the long journey to Milford Sound and back. We are pleased that he also made you feel comfortable and safe whilst in the bus. All the best for your future travels, Cheyenne and the team at Awesome NZ
Written January 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Niamh O
3 contributions
Jan 2020
The day tour we had with Jonnie as our driver was one of the highlights of our trip. (Despite being a little drizzly in the morning). Jonnie was very knowledgeable about the area and willing to fill us in on the history, native plants, farming methods, local stories etc. He was helpful, calm, relaxed and happy to chat to all passengers during stops yet still followed the schedule for the day and allowed us to stop for some nice photo opportunities.
Written January 9, 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 niamho561, We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic tour learning about the history, and local stories with our knowledgeable driver Jonnie. Although you had a drizzle of rain in the morning, we are grateful that the sunshine came for you to enjoy the rest of your tour. All the best for your future travels, Cheyenne and the team at Awesome NZ
Written January 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Raymond Y
2 contributions
Dec 2022
The whole experience from start to finish was wonderful, highly recommended. The team at awesomeNZ responded to my queries in a timely manner.
The communication was clear and we knew where we had to be and by when.
The tour bus driver, Jayden was funny, informative and ensured we always made it back to the bus on time to keep us on schedule.
Jayden advised us that this was his first time taking the tour and it certainly did not show, he seemed like a seasoned operator and made the experience a joy.
Jayden made a few stops a long the way at some great photo stops. His local knowledge helped and provided some memorable photos for social media.
The lunch supplied was great, enough food to keep the troops fed and good variety.
The team at Pure Milford that ran the boat tour on the catermaran was professional and made the cruise comfortable and informative. They took us to all the spots that showed off Milford Sound. The weather was a little cloudy and some little rain, but that still produced some great photos.
The boat was clean and the staff very friendly and were always around making sure we were all comfortable and safe.
There was free tea, coffee and water, and food for purchase on-board.
All in all the Pure Milford cruise was value for money for the family. We got all the iconic pictures of the mountain ranges, the brooding clouds and waterfalls. The captain always keep us informed of the Milford Sound history and made mention of the headings we were taking.
The bus trip back was long with one stop in Te Anau, Jayden only made announcements when necessary, as this a long tour and he knew that pretty much all the travellers on the bus would sleep. Jayden made the welcomed announcement that we'd made it back to Queenstown. Everyone thanked Jayden for his service and looking out for us.
The one thing that also reassured us as a family, was that after each stop Jayden would count the travellers on the bus to ensure no one was left behind.
We were looking forward to this trip and it didn't disappoint. We highly recommend this.
Written December 29, 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.

Marcelo_Toniolo
Kumeu, New Zealand90 contributions
Dec 2020
I took this day tour with Awesome NZ to Milford Sound (trip + boat + lunch) and am totally satisfied.
It is a long trip that could be tiring but the bus driver (Ian) made things very easy and fun for everyone sharing his knowledge of the region and making several stops so we could stretch the legs, take photos and use the toilet.
The boat tour was great....skilled crew, we stopped ant the main points and had a good overview of the place by the boat captain. The boat itself is very comfortable providing food and drinks, toilets, indoor or outdoor seating, etc.
Anyway, thanks to you all and I would highly recommend this trip with AwesomeNZ.
Written January 10, 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.
Safari56899416608
We really appreciate the time taken to give us feedback on your day tour with us to Milford Sound! The knowledge that Ian shared with you with the photo stops definitely help break up the long journey. Glad you had a great time! Anna and the team at awesomeNZ
Written February 4, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Malin
Tomelilla, Sweden1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Friends
We did the Milford Sound tour and it was great. Ian was our driver and his humour and commentary definitely made the long bus ride go faster. He is also a very skilled driver and we made several stops to see some beautiful places along the way to Milford. Milford sound itself is beautiful and it’s absolutely worth a visit when visiting the South island. We were dropped off at our accomodation in the evening. The whole trip went smoothly and everything was well organised. Would absolutely recommend going with AwesomeNZ!
Written January 25, 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 matildamalin, Thank you for taking out your time precious to write this review. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your tour. Our drivers are all well informed and try to provide the best experience for the travellers. Yes, Milford Sound is such a beautiful place to visit. We hope to see you again for more amazing tours in New Zealand. All the best for your future travels, Kajol and the team at Awesome NZ
Written January 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carolyn T
63 contributions
This is a long day from Queenstown however between the scenery on the glass roofed bus and cruising the awe inspiring fiord you don’t really see the hours pass so it is a must do if you’ve never been to Milford Sound before.

The bus I left on unfortunately developed a fault and the other coach circled back to pick some of us up. Even with this the company quickly came up with a back up plan that didn’t affect anyone’s day. So full marks for that.

I really enjoyed the trip to and back from the fiord. Ryan’s commentary was interesting and I found his jokes amusing also. His playlist was great and not intrusive. It added to the trip and appealed to many I believe as the lady behind me sang and hummed along 🙂

The cruise itself on the Milford Haven was also very good. Again the captain had interesting and amusing commentary and as we had exceptionally good weather told us we all have to come back when its raining to experience the fiord at its most beautiful. I’ve long wanted to visit Milford Sound and I won’t forget the experience.

Thanks Real NZ
Written March 6, 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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Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown provided by awesomeNZ Milford Sound Day Tour

Product Overview: Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown

Prices From$134
Number of Reviews352
Number of Photos337
Duration750 minutes