Milford Sound Coach and Scenic Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown
Overview
On arrival in Milford Sound cruise in comfort and style on our Milford Sound Nature Cruise while you enjoy some of New Zealand's most iconic and beautiful scenery. Cruise the length of this famous fiord and out to the Tasman Sea, stopping at waterfalls and points of interest along the way. Enjoy a freshly prepared Lunch with FREE tea and coffee onboard your cruise.
Inclusions
- 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 - Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre, St Omer Wharf 110 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
7.00am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre
• Travel on a premium glass-roof coach, equipped with reclining seats, extra legroom, air-conditioning
•USB charging ports and onboard toilet
• Experienced, local coach drivers provide engaging and informative commentary, and show you the best short walks and photo stops along the Milford Road
• Coach connects with our Milford Sound Cruise
• FREE tea and coffee
Stop At: Queenstown, Queenstown, Otago Region, South Island
Queenstown, New Zealand, sits on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu. It's from here you will set off on a day trip with Milford Sound's original Cruise operator, Southern Discoveries, from Queenstown into Milford Sound to enjoy a beautiful experience of Milford Sound on a premium, low-emission coach with a delicious & freshly cooked international style buffet onboard your cruise. Discover the native wildlife, towering waterfalls and majestic mountains of the fiords in Milford Sound.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Te Anau, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Southland Region, South Island
Te Anau is a beautiful town on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is home to endangered, flightless takahē birds and abundant trout in Lake Te Anau. Enjoy a short break here on your way to Milford Sound, in order to break up the journey, grab a coffee, and stretch your legs.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Eglinton Valley, Milford Sound New Zealand
This beautiful valley is glaciated with steep sides and a flat floor. It's between half a kilometre to two kilometres wide and has a shingle riverbed floor, which is constantly being changed by the Eglinton River. This is an incredible stop you will make as apart of your journey to Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: Lake Gunn, State Highway 94, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Lake Gunn is a strikingly beautiful lake in the South Island of New Zealand.
Stop At: Mirror Lakes Walk, Milford Road, , Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Enjoy a stroll among small lakes with stunning reflections of the Earl Mountains, should weather be permissive on the day. This is an easy, short walk off the Milford Road.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Cleddau River, Southland 9679, New Zealand
The Cleddau River is a beautiful river of New Zealand. It flows into the head of Milford Sound. You'll see many parts of this river as you journey along the Milford Sound road.
Stop At: Monkey Creek, Milford Sound New Zealand
Take in great views of the upper Hollyford Valley while you fill up your water bottle from this glacier fed spring. Friendly Keas (a New Zealand alpine parrot) love this area so it's a great stop for some kea spotting.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Homer Tunnel, 94 S.h., Milford Sound New Zealand
At an altitude of 945 metres above sea level and 1.2 kilometres in length, the unlined road tunnel allows access through sheer rock to Milford Sound with a gradient of 1 in 10. Completed in 1953, traffic lights control the traffic flow through the tunnel. An incredible part of your journey along the Milford Road.
Stop At: The Chasm Walk, State Highway 94, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
Should weather and time permit, enjoy a short walk here as a part of your Milford Sound day trip with Southern Discoveries. Dramatic views of a rock chasm and waterfalls formed by the rushing waters of the Cleddau River. This is an easy walk along a well maintained trail and is approximately 20 minutes in length.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Milford Sound, Milford Sound, Southland Region, South Island
Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins. Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory offers views of rare black coral and other marine life. Southern Discoveries cruises are the best way to explore.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Mitre Peak, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Mitre Peak is a beautifully dramatic mountain in the South Island of New Zealand, located on the shore of Milford Sound. It is one of the most photographed mountain peaks in the entire country.
Pass By: Bowen Falls, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound 9679 New Zealand
The stunning Lady Bowen Falls is Milford’s highest waterfall. It plunges 162m from a hanging valley into the head of Milford Sound and provides electricity for the Milford Sound township by feeding a small hydroelectric scheme, as well as being the water source for the settlement.
Pass By: Sinbad Gully, Southland 9679, New Zealand
Nestled behind the world famous Mitre Peak, the Sinbad Gully is characterised by extremely steep glacially carved walls punctuated by near vertical granite cliffs. These walls slowed pest invasion into the gully and as a result a number of unique native species remain in the Sinbad.
Southern Discoveries is passionate about preserving Milford Sound’s beauty for future generations which is why it’s a key partner in a major conservation project – the Sinbad Sanctuary Project.
The aim is to see the valley of New Zealand’s most photographed mountain (Sinbad Gully is at the base of Mitre Peak) become a sanctuary for native species.
Pass By: Stirling Falls, Milford Sound New Zealand
Milford’s second-highest waterfall is the Stirling Falls, a staggering 151m in height – three times the height of Niagara Falls, but the 1, 300m mountain behind displaces this incredible height. This is the famous waterfall that Hugh Jackman ‘jumped off’ in the movie Wolverine. The sheer drop of the Stirling Falls allows boats to get right underneath – it’s an incredible feeling to have the power of 151m worth of glacial water falling so close to you.
Stop At: Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre, Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound Highway 94, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound.
Duration: 15 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Stroller accessible
- 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.
- Most travelers can participate
- 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
- 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
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
Me and my family enjoyed very much our tour to Milford Sound last April 24, 2023. The driver Chalendra (pardon me if I spelled it wrongly) was so friendly, gave us very good commentaries and excellent in driving. I highly recommend this tour. The food was very nice as well. We also had an excelle...
Me and my family enjoyed very much our tour to Milford Sound last April 24, 2023. The driver Chalendra (pardon me if I spelled it wrongly) was so friendly, gave us very good commentaries and excellent in driving. I highly recommend this tour. The food was very nice as well. We also had an excellent weather on our tour which made everything perfect.Brad the Bus Driver - great commentary (knowledge of Queenstown, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound…) not to mention, his humour, awesome pronunciation of Te Reo Māori and Māori storytelling. Professional, Experienced driver & excellent host for 9 of the 12 hr Tour. Milford Sound is ...
Brad the Bus Driver - great commentary (knowledge of Queenstown, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound…) not to mention, his humour, awesome pronunciation of Te Reo Māori and Māori storytelling. Professional, Experienced driver & excellent host for 9 of the 12 hr Tour. Milford Sound is spectacular! We’re glad we experienced this all with Southern Discoveries. There is hot food to purchase on board, which we did to accompany our packed picnic lunch. Service from the Cruise staff was welcoming & accommodating!A great day out from the start to the finish. We had a foggy start, but it soon burned off to a cracker of a day. Driver was very nice and friendly, good at point out the history of the area either why driving or stopped. The trip up the sounds was great the the Master let you know more ab...
A great day out from the start to the finish. We had a foggy start, but it soon burned off to a cracker of a day. Driver was very nice and friendly, good at point out the history of the area either why driving or stopped. The trip up the sounds was great the the Master let you know more about the sound. it was a very calm cruise, but of cause it is not guaranteed as always weather dependent Will look at doing this again but in winter to see the difference between the seasons.The sheer beauty of the land scape was great. Waterfalls were fabulous and as a person with limited mobility I enjoyed the whole trip. The driver made the trip enjoyable and active.
The sheer beauty of the land scape was great. Waterfalls were fabulous and as a person with limited mobility I enjoyed the whole trip. The driver made the trip enjoyable and active.This was a big trip, with a lot of time on a bus however the guide Fly kept things interesting and there were plenty of photo and toilet stops along the way. The scenery was stunning. On the bus we saw a Kea, on the cruise dolphins and fur seals. The picnic lunch was generous. Definitely worth do...
This was a big trip, with a lot of time on a bus however the guide Fly kept things interesting and there were plenty of photo and toilet stops along the way. The scenery was stunning. On the bus we saw a Kea, on the cruise dolphins and fur seals. The picnic lunch was generous. Definitely worth doing. Thanks for a great day.Unforgettable experience , my family enjoyed the Milford sound cruise lucky enough to see the dolphins 👍👌🏽
Unforgettable experience , my family enjoyed the Milford sound cruise lucky enough to see the dolphins 👍👌🏽