Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a modern Mercedes Sprinter van with limited passenger numbers, creating a more personal day on the road and more flexibility for photo stops and short walks. Along the way, the first stretch follows the Devil's Staircase beside Lake Wakatipu, with a stop to take in the lake and surrounding landscape.

The journey continues through Te Anau, home to Lake Te Anau, New Zealand’s second largest lake, before stopping at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track. In Fiordland National Park, you pause in Eglinton Valley, shaped by an ancient glacier, then take a short stroll at Mirror Lakes to see reflections of the Earl Mountains. There may also be time at Lake Gunn and in the Darran Mountains, where kea are sometimes seen.

A highlight of the drive is the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2 km tunnel through the Darran Mountains linking the valleys of the Hollyford River and the Cleddau. At Milford Sound, board a boutique small boat cruise with passenger numbers capped at 50 percent of capacity. The cruise lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and includes complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits.

On the return, there is another stop in Te Anau, plus a pull over near the start of the Routeburn Track for elevated views of the divide in the Southern Alps and stories of ancient Maori explorers.