Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ
5
Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ
By RealNZ
About
from per adult
$66.72
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120, max of 180 per group
Duration: 80–120 minutes
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
Features animals
- Landing and facility fees
What's not included- Parking Fees
- Departure details
- RealNZ - Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand Please arrive 20 minutes before departure to check in. In the height of summer, please allow up to an hour to find parking and walk to the terminal. From the paid-parking area, the terminal is a 10 minute walk away.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2264P41- Most travelers can participate
- Cruise aboard the Milford Haven or Milford Mariner
- Restaurant quality food available for purchase
- Bring sensible clothing and footwear for cool and wet weather
- Travel time: Allow 5-6hrs from Queenstown and 3hrs from Te Anau
- Parking fees apply as per the Milford Sound Tourism LTD
- 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 180 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
Community- Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
- How much is Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ?
- Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ price starts from $68.76. Discover and book Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ on Tripadvisor
- What is the Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ cancellation policy?
- Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ 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 Cruise - RealNZ on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ?
- Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ is hosted by RealNZ. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact RealNZ on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 1h 20m. Discover and book Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ 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: 2264P41
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You'll start atRealNZ - Milford Sound Visitor TerminalMilford Sound Visitor Terminal, Milford Sound 9679, New ZealandPlease arrive 20 minutes before departure to check in. In the height of summer, please allow up to an hour to find parking and walk to the terminal. From the paid-parking area, the terminal is a 10 minute walk away.See address & details
- 1Milford SoundStop: 2 hoursGet closer to nature on a Milford Sound Day Cruise with RealNZ. Discover glacier-carved cliffs rising from the ink waters below – when you’re travelling by boat, there’s plenty of time to take it all in before framing up the perfect shot to preserve the moment.Read more
- You'll return to the starting point
+
–
About the operator
- tona000Amazing experience and seamlessSuch a beautiful trip. Easy pickup. So glad I went with RealNZ. It seemed to be the only bus with a glass roof, which was definitely needed to appreciate the soaring views of glaciers and mountains along the way. Driver Nathan had great commentary, learnt a lot along the way. Appreciated the photo stops and comfort stops. Milford Sound cruise was seamless, and breathtaking. 100% recommend.
- pengyeww00Nathan the RealNZ!Our tour guide, Nathan, was just excellent! He literally narrated non-stop for the entire trip to Milford Sound, filled us in with all the interesting and worthy sights/things to take note. Obviously he wouldn't have done it without good knowledge of what is going on, not to mention on all the wonderful pit stops he made. Wonderful trip! Make sure you get Nathan of RealNZ.
- S579FValexv00AmazingWe had a fabulous day out and our driver Nathan just made our trip! Such amazing knowledge of the area and enthusiasm despite the long day. Would highly recommend!
- Connector1419913230400Amazing Milford Sounds Coach & Cruise Day Trip!Our day trip coach driver/tour guide Nathan was a wealth of knowledge and loads of fun to be with our entire 10hrs Milford Sounds day trip! Super friendly, very passionate with sharing his knowledge and very attentive towards us travellers. We felt very safe, and came back from our trip full of knowledge of the entire route heading to and fro Queenstown to Milford Sounds! Great awesome experience on the RealNZ cruise, the boat was very large, plenty of space for people to take pics and nice sparkly clean toilets. Awesome experience getting up and close to the waterfalls but skipper was amazing to get us close enough without drenching us passengers! Can't recommend RealNZ enough!
- Betsy R00Best way to do Milford Sounds from Te Anau!This combo was ideal for our group of 7, ranging in age from 12 to 76. The drive into Milford sound was made so much more interesting with frequent stops and commentary from our awesome driver, Russel. We would have missed so much if we had driven ourselves. Scones and coffee/tea were provided on the way in and a great lunch, including a yummy sandwich, apple, slice, chocolate bar, and fancy juice was provided as well. The cruise itself was incredible and seemed like the best boat experience in Milford. we even got to do some small hikes on the way out that we definitely wouldn’t have known to do. Awesome experience!!!
- Niederleon00Doubtful Sound experienceDone this trip with RealNZ and I gotta say it was the best trip in Fiordland National Park. If you are a fan of pure nature, there is nothing better that Doubtful Sound. You will think you've returned 5000 years back. Stunning!!
- traveller169400Must doReally excellent cruise and incredible views. Staff all friendly and very knowledgeable, especially our bus driver, Ryan, across from Queenstown who made sure the journey was as good as the cruise
- 552ehsank00Not baby friendly tourI found this trip not child friendly as a) No info. on bringing child seat b) No nappy changing facility at stops c) Poor time management (we were late for the cruise) d) We could not get pram from box as the driver was no where to be found after reaching Milford Sound. We had to carry our child all along the cruise.
- Y7756QJmikek00Milford Sound in the Rain is Unforgettable!Our super bus driver/guide was SO right that the heavy rain we were having would make our cruise on Milford Sound an EPIC trip! The combination of rain and Milford Sound, along with hanging out on the bow of the Milford Haven and getting drenched, made for an awesome experience and life-long memory! If you have any flexibility in your Milford Sound tour dates, shoot for a rainy day. And get outside! And to reiterate, our Real NZ bus driver/guide provided wonderful commentary while providing a comfortable and safe ride. Its a long day from Queenstown, but his commentary and music made for a great trip. Thank you!
- 18Anna1000A great trip with memories to cherish for a long timeTook the coach trip then Milford Sound cruise with RealNZ. It was a five hour coach drive to get to Milford Sound but the time flew because Paulie, our driver, provided an excellent commentary all the way. His knowledge and love for his adopted country really came through, especially all the work that is being done to protect and reintroduce native species of plants and birds. The coach was very comfy with a glass roof so you had great views of the mountains and waterfalls. Would highly recommend this trip with this company which also invests some of their profits into conservation work. A truly memorable day.
- jadewN2325BD00great experience!our guide/driver (luke) was great, informative commentaries and steady drive. glass ceiling bus is really nice, got to ferry on time, u could purchase food in the ferry, gotta get on ferry quicker in order to secure seats indoor. really nice view in milford sound!!!
- CoffeeLyd00Amazing Overnight CruiseWhat I expected was a long bus ride to Milford Sound. What I got was one of the best tour guides I've had since traveling NZ the last 3 weeks! Our driver, Brandon, was absolutely fantastic. Brandon was extremely knowledgeable and insightful about an array of topics I didn't even know I was interested to hear about - from the trees, to wildlife, to history along the way to Milford. He broke up the drive with several pit stops, a lunch break and several scenic stops so we could soak in the beauty of Fiordland. On the way back, he even treated us to a long scenic walk through a forest that can only be described as enchanting and magical. And the best thing was, he knew when to talk and when we needed a break and bit of silence to enjoy the drive/views. The cruise was also wonderful. Our nature guide, Ben, gave us great commentary on our way to our docking spot and would point out wildlife (dolphins, seals) as they came into view. I was also able to get on one of his tours later in the day where he took 14 people on a smaller boat and we were able to learn more about the nature and wildlife in the area. He also gave an informative and hilarious slideshow presentation later in the evening on the history of Milford Sound and surrounding wildlife. They served us dinner and breakfast on the cruise which were both decent. Coffee/tea was always available. I've never been on a cruise so be aware the cabins are hobbit sized - ha! Some highlights were being able to see the stars and taking a quick sail through the torrent Tasman sea! I live in a very light polluted area, so I had forgotten what it was like to see a sky full of stars! Overall, this experience was very enjoyable and I would recommend it!
- jennyhB7913UE00Milford Sound experiencePete the bus driver was super friendly and professional and also very informative and knowledgeable. I fel very safe traveling on his bus to Milford Sound
- 379jackiek00Milford MajicI had a wonderful day. Our driver/guide, Paulie, provided us with an insightful and informative commentary about the area, flora and fauna with stops for photos along the way. It is such a great drive there and the Milford Sound Ctise was breathtaking. I would highly recommend this tour.
- Nigel_Flowers00Breathtaking Views - Incredible TripTook the coat the Coach from Te Anau, Pete and Luke (drivers) were excellent, great commentary and picked good stopping points for pictures. The cruise is amazing, the views simply stunning - even had dolphins escort us! Coach and Boat crew were outstanding!
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
59 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
5
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
lillywr
London, UK45 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We did the overnight cruise of Milford Sound, leaving from Queenstown.
The experience was absolutely fantastic, right from our pick up in Queenstown through to the return journey. Our driver Brandon make the road journey to and from Mildord Sound really enjoyable and comfortable. Brandon gave some really interesting commentary on the history of the country, New Zealands nature and wildlife. Absolutely fascinating! He also ensured that we were as comfortable as possible and had the opportunity to take regular comfort/food breaks.
The cruise itself was the pinnacle of a trip we're doing through Australia and New Zealand right now. Having only booked this cruise a few days before going on it, we had no idea what to expect. However, any expectations we did have were completely blown out of the window. It was awesome. The staff on the boat were super nice, helpful and accommodating, again making the stay as comfortable and informative as possible in such beautiful surroundings. The fjord was really calm, so we were pretty well rested overnight in our cabin. We also got the pleasant surprise of being surrounded by bottle nose dolphins in the morning!
Would definitely recommend that anyone thinking of visiting Milford Sound should do an overnight cruise with RealNZ. It was just awesome.
The experience was absolutely fantastic, right from our pick up in Queenstown through to the return journey. Our driver Brandon make the road journey to and from Mildord Sound really enjoyable and comfortable. Brandon gave some really interesting commentary on the history of the country, New Zealands nature and wildlife. Absolutely fascinating! He also ensured that we were as comfortable as possible and had the opportunity to take regular comfort/food breaks.
The cruise itself was the pinnacle of a trip we're doing through Australia and New Zealand right now. Having only booked this cruise a few days before going on it, we had no idea what to expect. However, any expectations we did have were completely blown out of the window. It was awesome. The staff on the boat were super nice, helpful and accommodating, again making the stay as comfortable and informative as possible in such beautiful surroundings. The fjord was really calm, so we were pretty well rested overnight in our cabin. We also got the pleasant surprise of being surrounded by bottle nose dolphins in the morning!
Would definitely recommend that anyone thinking of visiting Milford Sound should do an overnight cruise with RealNZ. It was just awesome.
Written January 16, 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.
RealNZsales
This review made our day! Thank you so much for sharing your Milford Sound Overnight experience with the world. We hope you had an amazing rest of your Australia/New Zealand trip.
Written February 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Simone
1 contribution
Aug 2021
We went on the Milford Haven with Real Journeys last weekend (August 2021) and had a great time. There was plenty of room on all three decks and we didn’t feel crowded in the slightest. We spent almost all of our time on the upper deck but had the choice of seats when we went down to the lower decks to have some lunch.
Lunch was surprisingly really nice - we had the chicken and it was really yummy.
We came well prepared for the weather (as was suggested in the communication from RealJourneys) and had gloves, beanies and wind/rain proof jackets. I would recommend bringing a towel to dry off the seats on the upper deck just in case it has rained and for after the waterfall ‘shower’. I think our captain’s name was Aaron and he did a great job of getting us very very close to the waterfall and we were drenched! It was awesome.
We had a great time, the crew were all very friendly and helpful. We saw seals, we had dolphins swimming alongside the boat, we saw the 4 sister waterfalls because it had recently been raining - ticked all the boxes. We drove from Te Anau and the drive was spectacular too - perfect day.
Lunch was surprisingly really nice - we had the chicken and it was really yummy.
We came well prepared for the weather (as was suggested in the communication from RealJourneys) and had gloves, beanies and wind/rain proof jackets. I would recommend bringing a towel to dry off the seats on the upper deck just in case it has rained and for after the waterfall ‘shower’. I think our captain’s name was Aaron and he did a great job of getting us very very close to the waterfall and we were drenched! It was awesome.
We had a great time, the crew were all very friendly and helpful. We saw seals, we had dolphins swimming alongside the boat, we saw the 4 sister waterfalls because it had recently been raining - ticked all the boxes. We drove from Te Anau and the drive was spectacular too - perfect day.
Written August 3, 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.
Fiona N
7 contributions
May 2021
Our Flight from Queenstown to Milford return was perfect - Carl the pilot was friendly, informative and made the effort to take us different ways across the expansive Mountains. Our Cruise up the Sound was very enjoyable and the Captain took us where he knew we would get the best experience. Abby was knowledgeable and friendly - even offered to carry my tea upstairs for me! Forget the exhausting road trip into Milford - flying is the way to go!
Written May 8, 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.
Monika Verevou
11 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Favourite part was the scenic drive from Queenstown to Milford sound with Brian’s knowledge on the trip about the different places and sceneries. Learnt a lot of cool information and his humour and jokes just made it extra fun and awesome. He catered very well to us passengers especially with me and my partner hopping on from Queenstown an extra 2-3 hours before joining the rest of the group in another town. The drive back was hilarious he was very down to earth and the Milford sound cruise and coach tour was one to do again. We highly recommend it to those wanting to go. The landscapes throughout the coach tour and the cruise was just surreal.
Written June 20, 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.
Joy C
Dunedin, New Zealand16 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
They say Milford Sound is best seen in the rain, and they’re right! We were lucky enough to see a multitude of waterfalls, and went “under” 2 of them! The boat was older, and very cosy inside - and warm, which is important if you want to spend a bit of time outside on deck and then come in again! We went right out to the ocean, which I think may be further than other companies.
The guide was (we think) new to his role and had a bit of a shaky start but he seemed to relax into it a bit later on. He gave some info on the features of the area, although could have covered more.
We loved our experience and I think it’s an integral part of any trip to Fiordland.
The guide was (we think) new to his role and had a bit of a shaky start but he seemed to relax into it a bit later on. He gave some info on the features of the area, although could have covered more.
We loved our experience and I think it’s an integral part of any trip to Fiordland.
Written April 25, 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.
Ali_Hawkins
Wellington, New Zealand2,149 contributions
Jan 2021 • Friends
I’ve done two cruises with this company - from Te Anau to Glade Wharf and then a cruise around Milford Sound. In both cases the crew displayed outmost professionalism in their focus on safety, information and amenities. The cruise is interesting, informative and comfortable. Commentary is very good. No matter the weather there’s always something interesting to see and learn. On board the longer Milford Sound cruise, coffees and tea are available from the barista bar and the cabin lounges are very comfortable. This is a great company to cruise with for both leisure and safety, I wouldn’t hesitate to go with them again.
Written January 4, 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.
Wendy M
Napier, New Zealand27 contributions
Feb 2021
Our driver, Gavin, was excellent. Great information and interacted well with all on the tour for our drive from Te Anau to Milford. Very helpful. All our contact with Real Journey people was excellent. All very helpful, knowledgeable and obliging. Highly recommend. Initially the day was light drizzle but soon realized this created amazing waterfalls, cloud affects and unbelievable beauty.
Thank you Real Journeys.
Thank you Real Journeys.
Written March 3, 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.
Suzy
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Couples
Our tour bus driver Brian was amazing. His service was incredible and his knowledge went far deeper than what you could learn by yourself! He even offered his jacket for me to borrow on our cruise because Jetstar had lost my luggage. Brian made every part enjoyable and made the incredible views that much better with his service!
The trip start to finish was smooth and very well thought out with stops to break up what would have otherwise been a very long day. The bus itself was super comfortable and had a clear roof so you could see all the amazing views from wherever you were sitting. The cruise boat was a perfect size with not too many people so you could move around easily without feeling in the way. Even the kitchen on board had great meals and drinks (including some fresh and tasty fish and chips) which I wasn’t expecting but definitely added to just how amazing the trip was.
The trip start to finish was smooth and very well thought out with stops to break up what would have otherwise been a very long day. The bus itself was super comfortable and had a clear roof so you could see all the amazing views from wherever you were sitting. The cruise boat was a perfect size with not too many people so you could move around easily without feeling in the way. Even the kitchen on board had great meals and drinks (including some fresh and tasty fish and chips) which I wasn’t expecting but definitely added to just how amazing the trip was.
Written June 8, 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.
RealNZsales
The man, the myth, the legend! Brian is a RealNZ superstar and it's so awesome to hear such positive feedback. Thank you for giving us an insight to your Milford Sound experience and sharing this with the world.
If you ever want to explore a different part of Fiordland, jump on Brian's coach again and visit spectacular Doubtful Sound! We'd all love to see you again.
Written June 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lance121
Hastings, New Zealand2 contributions
Apr 2021
THE STUNNING SOUNDS
The entire experience was one i'll never forget, we have some amazing photos to relive the experience and very fond memories.
We particularly enjoyed it when the captain noised the bow of the boat up under the waterfalls, it was spectacular. The commentary on the boat was interesting also. the scenery was breathtaking.
The entire experience was one i'll never forget, we have some amazing photos to relive the experience and very fond memories.
We particularly enjoyed it when the captain noised the bow of the boat up under the waterfalls, it was spectacular. The commentary on the boat was interesting also. the scenery was breathtaking.
Written April 28, 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.
Fafa-Ahm
62 contributions
Dec 2020
We booked the Doubtful Sound 2-night cruise on the Milford Wanderer, and it was a wonderful experience. We saw almost the entire fjord. The meals were excellent, the crew couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and efficient, and having a dedicated Nature Guide on the ship was quite a treat.
Written January 4, 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.
Buy it with
Top rated
Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ provided by RealNZ
Product Overview: Milford Sound Cruise - RealNZ
Prices From | $68 |
|---|---|
Number of Reviews | 59 |
Number of Photos | 80 |

















































