Milford Sound Cruise with Optional Kayak Tour
Overview
An all-inclusive nature experience with excellent wildlife viewing, this package gives you the longest, best value daytime cruise experience in Milford Sound. This cruise option enables you to really explore the beauty of the fiord. With a Cruise of Milford Sound, a delicious picnic lunch and visit to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory included - it’s the ultimate Milford Sound experience. Be sure to include 90 minutes of kayaking in the beautiful and serene Harrison Cove to complete your Milford Sound experience.
Our Milford Sound Underwater Observatory allows you to experience this amazing world beneath the surface. You’ll descend 10 metres underwater into a large, fully air-conditioned viewing area where windows with excellent clarity open your eyes to this underwater haven. Unlike an aquarium, the fish are free to come and go; it’s the people who are contained.
Our Milford Sound Underwater Observatory allows you to experience this amazing world beneath the surface. You’ll descend 10 metres underwater into a large, fully air-conditioned viewing area where windows with excellent clarity open your eyes to this underwater haven. Unlike an aquarium, the fish are free to come and go; it’s the people who are contained.
Inclusions
- Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- Picnic lunch
- Local guide
- Visit to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
- All kayaking equipment if you choose to add kayaking to your cruise
- Entry/Admission - Milford Sound
- Entry/Admission - Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Fiordland National Park is in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for the glacier-carved fiords of Doubtful and Milford sounds. A beech forest trail on the sandy Milford shore offers views of towering Mitre Peak.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: 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.
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: 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
Stop At: Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, Milford Wharf Harrison Cove, Milford Sound New Zealand
Our Milford Sound Underwater Observatory is a unique opportunity to visit New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory, accessible only by boat. Descend by spiral staircase to 10 metres beneath the water’s surface. - See rare black coral growing in its natural habitat and meet colourful sea creatures - Relax as our guide tells you more about the unique history, geology and wildlife of Milford Sound - Learn about the story of Milford Sound and our conservation efforts with entertaining videos and easy to read information panels
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Fiordland National Park is in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for the glacier-carved fiords of Doubtful and Milford sounds. A beech forest trail on the sandy Milford shore offers views of towering Mitre Peak.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: 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.
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: 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
Stop At: Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, Milford Wharf Harrison Cove, Milford Sound New Zealand
Our Milford Sound Underwater Observatory is a unique opportunity to visit New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory, accessible only by boat. Descend by spiral staircase to 10 metres beneath the water’s surface. - See rare black coral growing in its natural habitat and meet colourful sea creatures - Relax as our guide tells you more about the unique history, geology and wildlife of Milford Sound - Learn about the story of Milford Sound and our conservation efforts with entertaining videos and easy to read information panels
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
- Please note the minimum age to kayak is 5 years old and must be accompanied by an adult or guardian in a double kayak.
- Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for 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 8 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
MurielH113
January 2022
We loved it! The boat was luxurious and had plenty of space to stand outside. The captain gave interesting commentary, the views were epic. Kayaking was lovely, great guides that know so many cool facts, and a great way to feel closer to the surroundings.
We loved it! The boat was luxurious and had plenty of space to stand outside. The captain gave interesting commentary, the views were epic. Kayaking was lovely, great guides that know so many cool facts, and a great way to feel closer to the surroundings.NZGetOutThere
December 2021
Great personal service and excellent commentary. The cruise was extremely comfortable despite the inclement weather and the staff were happy to take family photos for us. Sadly the weather conditions meant it was unsafe to go kayaking, but we appreciated their professionalism. The underwater obs...
Great personal service and excellent commentary. The cruise was extremely comfortable despite the inclement weather and the staff were happy to take family photos for us. Sadly the weather conditions meant it was unsafe to go kayaking, but we appreciated their professionalism. The underwater observatory was fascinating and we were treated to sightings of triplefin, scarlet perch, leather jackets, marble fish, a sting ray, black coral and more. Highly recommend.estherrimmer
March 2021
My partner and I did the sound cruise, underwater observatory and kayak tour which included a packed lunch. It was absolutely amazing and took my breath away. This trip exceeded my expectations and I will definitely return. A special shout out to all the crew who made this trip even more enjoyabl...
My partner and I did the sound cruise, underwater observatory and kayak tour which included a packed lunch. It was absolutely amazing and took my breath away. This trip exceeded my expectations and I will definitely return. A special shout out to all the crew who made this trip even more enjoyable. Each and every staff member was absolutely lovely, very helpful and knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. particularly Maia Jacob and Dave (hopefully I’ve got that right), many thanks to you guys! I would definitely recommend doing the kayaks if your a keen adventurer, you get to experience the sound in a completely different, unforgettable way. Loved it!travellerfam5
November 2020
We loved this trip. The cruise was perfect. We'll paced and time taken to stop and take in the wildlife. Great commentary on the boat, very informative but had is smiling the whole time. The kayaking was wonderful. Our guide was great, we felt in good hands and his genuine love of the environment...
We loved this trip. The cruise was perfect. We'll paced and time taken to stop and take in the wildlife. Great commentary on the boat, very informative but had is smiling the whole time. The kayaking was wonderful. Our guide was great, we felt in good hands and his genuine love of the environment was infectious. Everyone should do this it was an absolute highlight and not strenuous. We had amazing up close penguin encounters, a real day to remember.wanderingdman
January 2020
Beautiful day for our first hour of our 2 hour cruise out on the Lady Bowen, and then the rain was intermittent (well they do get more rain than the Amazon here, so be mindful!) Raincoats are provided on board or you can stay inside and look out. Great pieces of commentary from our nature guide o...
Beautiful day for our first hour of our 2 hour cruise out on the Lady Bowen, and then the rain was intermittent (well they do get more rain than the Amazon here, so be mindful!) Raincoats are provided on board or you can stay inside and look out. Great pieces of commentary from our nature guide on board and our smaller boat was able to get in close to the shore line to check out a couple of groups of fur seals and one of the glacier fed waterfalls. We were dropped off at the Discovery Centre and 14 of us headed out with our two guides for about an hour around the more sheltered Harrison Cove - don't forget your bug spray for those sand flies which can appear around Milford! On return to the centre, we went down to the underwater observatory for a look at some of the local sealife that visit the artificial coral framework which rings the observatory, ranging from molluscs to scorpion fish, with staff on hand to give an overview and answer any questions. We were picked up by the Lady Stirling for our final leg and were back at the ferry terminal 10 minutes later.welzer1986
December 2019
A cool trip, informative and exciting... we would do it again! Southern discovery’s did. a great Job!
A cool trip, informative and exciting... we would do it again! Southern discovery’s did. a great Job!