Private Milford Sound Tour with Cruise & Lunch from Te Anau
Overview
This fully-guided, private day trip combines the amazing return journey to Milford Sound with a boutique Milford Sound Cruise aboard the No.1 Trip Advisor rated cruise company, Cruise Milford.
Highlights:
• Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford
• Fiordland National Park
• Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel and Mitre Peak
• Wildlife Spotting
While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Our tours are led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.
Highlights:
• Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford
• Fiordland National Park
• Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel and Mitre Peak
• Wildlife Spotting
While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, we at Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our guides, the journey and the little details that set our tours well apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and many other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.
Our tours are led by our famously passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing their stories and rich background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses packed with extras ensuring your comfort and safety.
Inclusions
- Private and Fully Guided Tour
- Cruise Entry (cruise is not private)
- Lunch - Picnic Lunch
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Entry/Admission - The Chasm Walk
- Entry/Admission - Mirror Lakes Walk
- Entry/Admission - Eglinton Valley
- Entry/Admission - Milford Sound
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Te Anau, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Southland Region, South Island
Your tour starts in stunning idyllic town of Te Anau, after maybe meeting some of the local animals or wildlife we continue along the lake. Stopping at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track, you will be able to hear the stories and admire the views.
Stop At: Eglinton Valley, Milford Sound New Zealand
Leaving Te Anau and entering Fiordland National Park we stop in Eglinton Valley. With views worthy of Lord of the Rings, this valley follows the path of an ancient glacier through Fiordland, one of the first major attractions as you enter the park. It really sets the scene for a journey that only get more impressive the deeper you get.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Mirror Lakes Walk, Milford Road, , Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Our next stop on this epic adventure is Mirror Lakes for a short stroll to see the famous reflections of the Earl Mountains. Get the right day, take a good picture and no one will be able to tell which way is the right way up for the photo.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lake Gunn, State Highway 94, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Continuing along the Milford Road we come across Lake Gunn. Named after a famous explorer and popular for fishing, often we will stop at Lake Gunn for some photos and to enjoy the peace.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka, Southland 9679, New Zealand
A short drive away we start passing the Hollyford River, a gorgeous and powerful river full of large boulders and rapids. Feeding into the river at Falls Creek is the first of our extremely impressive waterfalls of the area, one of many to come.
Stop At: Darran Mountains, Southland 9679, New Zealand
Climbing in altitude we go deeper into the Darran Mountains and these views require another stop to admire and take photos. We are also entering the area where Kea (the world’s largest alpine parrot) likes to live. Start keeping an eye out for these large, cheeky and colourful birds that never fail to thrill and entertain when found.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Homer Tunnel, 94 S.h., Milford Sound New Zealand
To make our way back down towards the sea we enter the mind-blowing, hand-built Homer Tunnel, hearing the incredible history and stories. Emerging from the tunnel, the valley descends sharply towards Milford Sound and on a rainy-day hundreds of waterfalls can be seen cascading down the mountain side.
Stop At: Milford Sound, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
Following the valleys to the sea we arrive at Milford Sound where you will board your cruise with Cruise Milford (the No. 1 Cruise operator in Milford Sound on TripAdvisor). The Cruise Milford experience offers a boutique cruise on a smaller boat which is less crowded and a crew that offers a much more informative and personal tour of Milford Sound. The smaller boat means you get closer to the wildlife and nature (including the New Zealand fur seals basking on the rocks), massive rock faces rising for hundreds of metres out of the sea and the waterfalls cascading from the ancient rainforest high in the mountains. This cruise is unbeatable.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Mitre Peak, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
While on the boat cruise you will be able to marvel at the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak, the iconic Milford Sound mountain, with its steep triangular peak rising high up above the reflective waters of the Milford Sound.
Stop At: The Chasm Walk, State Highway 94, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
After your cruise, do not fear the adventure is not over, there is the return journey with many more amazing stops. One of the stops during this journey (weather and timing dependent) is The Chasm. A spectacular bush walk and dramatic views of powerful waterfalls and water sculpted shapes in the rocks.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pops View Look Out, Milford Sound New Zealand
Next we pull over to admire the elevated amazing views of the divide in the Southern Alps, close to the start of the Routeburn Track. While here the guide will tell you the stories of ancient Maori explorers.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Te Anau, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Southland Region, South Island
Sadly we must start to head back to Te Anau but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip and many stops and breaks along the way.
Duration: 5 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Te Anau, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Southland Region, South Island
Your tour starts in stunning idyllic town of Te Anau, after maybe meeting some of the local animals or wildlife we continue along the lake. Stopping at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track, you will be able to hear the stories and admire the views.
Stop At: Eglinton Valley, Milford Sound New Zealand
Leaving Te Anau and entering Fiordland National Park we stop in Eglinton Valley. With views worthy of Lord of the Rings, this valley follows the path of an ancient glacier through Fiordland, one of the first major attractions as you enter the park. It really sets the scene for a journey that only get more impressive the deeper you get.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Mirror Lakes Walk, Milford Road, , Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Our next stop on this epic adventure is Mirror Lakes for a short stroll to see the famous reflections of the Earl Mountains. Get the right day, take a good picture and no one will be able to tell which way is the right way up for the photo.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lake Gunn, State Highway 94, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Continuing along the Milford Road we come across Lake Gunn. Named after a famous explorer and popular for fishing, often we will stop at Lake Gunn for some photos and to enjoy the peace.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Hollyford River / Whakatipu Kā Tuka, Southland 9679, New Zealand
A short drive away we start passing the Hollyford River, a gorgeous and powerful river full of large boulders and rapids. Feeding into the river at Falls Creek is the first of our extremely impressive waterfalls of the area, one of many to come.
Stop At: Darran Mountains, Southland 9679, New Zealand
Climbing in altitude we go deeper into the Darran Mountains and these views require another stop to admire and take photos. We are also entering the area where Kea (the world’s largest alpine parrot) likes to live. Start keeping an eye out for these large, cheeky and colourful birds that never fail to thrill and entertain when found.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Homer Tunnel, 94 S.h., Milford Sound New Zealand
To make our way back down towards the sea we enter the mind-blowing, hand-built Homer Tunnel, hearing the incredible history and stories. Emerging from the tunnel, the valley descends sharply towards Milford Sound and on a rainy-day hundreds of waterfalls can be seen cascading down the mountain side.
Stop At: Milford Sound, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
Following the valleys to the sea we arrive at Milford Sound where you will board your cruise with Cruise Milford (the No. 1 Cruise operator in Milford Sound on TripAdvisor). The Cruise Milford experience offers a boutique cruise on a smaller boat which is less crowded and a crew that offers a much more informative and personal tour of Milford Sound. The smaller boat means you get closer to the wildlife and nature (including the New Zealand fur seals basking on the rocks), massive rock faces rising for hundreds of metres out of the sea and the waterfalls cascading from the ancient rainforest high in the mountains. This cruise is unbeatable.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Mitre Peak, Fiordland National Park New Zealand
While on the boat cruise you will be able to marvel at the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak, the iconic Milford Sound mountain, with its steep triangular peak rising high up above the reflective waters of the Milford Sound.
Stop At: The Chasm Walk, State Highway 94, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
After your cruise, do not fear the adventure is not over, there is the return journey with many more amazing stops. One of the stops during this journey (weather and timing dependent) is The Chasm. A spectacular bush walk and dramatic views of powerful waterfalls and water sculpted shapes in the rocks.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pops View Look Out, Milford Sound New Zealand
Next we pull over to admire the elevated amazing views of the divide in the Southern Alps, close to the start of the Routeburn Track. While here the guide will tell you the stories of ancient Maori explorers.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Te Anau, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, Southland Region, South Island
Sadly we must start to head back to Te Anau but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip and many stops and breaks along the way.
Duration: 5 minutes
Additional information
- Infant seats available
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. If you don't have a car seat one can be provided (with 24 hours’ notice).
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- A moderate amount of walking is involved.
- 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 is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- 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.
LynBed
February 2023
Small group which made it more personalised with a very entertaining and knowledgeable tour guide. So happy with our decision to book this tour and that we started and finished in Te Anau as driving to and from Queenstown makes it quite a long day.
Small group which made it more personalised with a very entertaining and knowledgeable tour guide. So happy with our decision to book this tour and that we started and finished in Te Anau as driving to and from Queenstown makes it quite a long day.michellepjoshuah
October 2020
Our travel guide Mark was absolutely the best. He was funny, informative, knowledgeable and caring. The tour itself was the highlight of our South Island trip. I highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi Te Anau!
Our travel guide Mark was absolutely the best. He was funny, informative, knowledgeable and caring. The tour itself was the highlight of our South Island trip. I highly recommend Cheeky Kiwi Te Anau!Anabela O
July 2023
We really recommend this tour, we had a great time in Milford Sound. Our guide (Steve) is super nice and it is noticeable that he does these tours with lot of love and knowledge of the places. He stopped along the way on amazing spots and had lots of interesting informations to share.
We really recommend this tour, we had a great time in Milford Sound. Our guide (Steve) is super nice and it is noticeable that he does these tours with lot of love and knowledge of the places. He stopped along the way on amazing spots and had lots of interesting informations to share.I2181UJlauram
July 2023
Steve was a fantastic guide for our day. It turned out that our family was the only one in our group, and we really appreciated how much we were able to learn throughout the day. He used to live and work in Milford Sound, which we were curious about, so he went out of his way to share that info w...
Steve was a fantastic guide for our day. It turned out that our family was the only one in our group, and we really appreciated how much we were able to learn throughout the day. He used to live and work in Milford Sound, which we were curious about, so he went out of his way to share that info with us as well. It was a privilege to see those jaw dropping surroundings with someone so familiar with the landscape (and a Te Anau local to boot). Unforgettable!RoedieP
June 2023
The views were amazing, our driver was knowledgeable, safe and being the owner/operator, was the best guide ever!!
The views were amazing, our driver was knowledgeable, safe and being the owner/operator, was the best guide ever!!Navigator29155441018
April 2023
Our driver was excellent,Dave’s knowledge and care was way above what was expected .The whole tour was excellent but for me the drive in and out from the sound was so good with Dave’s commentary and humor was so good they should clone him.Wonderful.
Our driver was excellent,Dave’s knowledge and care was way above what was expected .The whole tour was excellent but for me the drive in and out from the sound was so good with Dave’s commentary and humor was so good they should clone him.Wonderful.