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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise & Glass-Roof Coach Tour

Offered by GreatSights

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$218.00 per person

4.6 (136 reviews)

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

7 hours 45 minutes (approx.) Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: German, Chinese, Japanese, English, Spanish

Full-day tour from Te Anau to Milford Sound through Fiordland National Park, with stops at Mirror Lakes, Monkey Creek and a cruise on Pride of Milford.

Tour Overview

Travel from Te Anau into the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park on a full day tour to Milford Sound, with time to take in some of the route’s best known natural features along the way.

Te Anau is the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park, with the Kepler Mountains rising to the left and the Kepler Track in the area. From here, the journey continues to Mirror Lakes, where nearby mountains are often reflected in the still water. If you choose to walk the short boardwalk, you may hear Bellbirds and Tui and see Black Scaups diving between the beech trees. These forests are said to be 135 million years old.

At Monkey Creek, you can taste or refill your bottle with fresh mountain water flowing directly from the mountains. The water is very cold, and Kea are sometimes seen here. Further on, near the Homer Tunnel, you can spot the remains of an old camp, including the oven once used for meals and bread, and the building known as the Chapel.

In Milford Sound, board the Pride of Milford, a premium cruise vessel designed for viewing with a glass roof and large outdoor decks. Snacks, noodles, and a range of drinks are available to purchase on board as you cruise through this remarkable part of Fiordland.

What's Included

  • Local guide
  • 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Restroom on board
  • Live commentary on board

Not Included:

  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks, unless specified (contact the operator to advise of any dietary requirements)

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Lake Te Anau

    Te Anau is known as the Walking Capital of the World. The mountains to the left are the Kepler Mountains, home of the Kepler Track, one of the popular walking tracks in the area. Te Anau is the gateway to Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. The town has a permanent population of approximately 2,500 people but this fluctuates greatly in summer when the town gets an influx of fishermen, hunters, outdoor pursuit seekers and holiday makers. It’s a popular holiday destination.

    1 minute

  2. 2

    Mirror Lakes Walk

    Mirror Lakes, where most of the time the nearby mountains are reflected in the lakes. Being small, the lakes have less chance of being roughened by the winds compared to their larger counterparts and the large quantity of tannins leached from the soil into the waters give these lakes a much clearer mirror effect than many of the other lakes in the region. It is here you have the opportunity to walk along a boardwalk listening for Bellbirds and Tui’s which are protected native birds, whilst watching Black Scaups dive for food on the bottom of the lake between the various species of beech trees. These forests are said to be 135 million years old. We will drop you off at one end of the walkway and you can re-join the coach in 10 minutes at the far end of the board walk if you wish to go for a walk.

    10 minutes

  3. 3

    Monkey Creek

    Monkey Creek is named after one of three Government employees entrusted yearly to camp here and find a path through the mountains. Eventually his monkey like climbing skills allowed him to find a path, which though not particularly safe, was used for many years for guided walking tours. It is here we have the opportunity to drink the water or full your water bottles. Because this water is flowing directly from the mountains it is one of the few remaining places it is safe to taste fresh water without contamination and you realise without chemicals doesn’t really have a taste but is extremely refreshing. Be careful filling your water bottles because the water is very cold. Also don’t be surprised if a Kea or two drop in to say hello!

    15 minutes

  4. 4

    Homer Tunnel

    As we head up towards the Homer Tunnel, on the right hand side you can see the remains of a camp including the oven in which the meals and bread were cooked. The shed to the left was designed to house the snow plough and was built in 1983. After its construction it was found that the doorway had not been made wide enough and the plough was not able to be housed there. It is now kept at the camp at Knobs Flat. The building today is known as the Chapel as it is one of the few areas of this region that has never been affected by avalanche.

    Pass by without stopping

  5. 5

    Milford sound Hwy

    Our Premium Cruise vessel has been specifically designed to capture the views of Milford Sound with its unique glass roof and large viewing decks. The ‘Pride of Milford’ offers an outstanding experience never seen in Milford Sound with an exceptional level of comfort and hospitality. A selection of snacks and noodles can be purchased on board along with a wide range of drinks from New Zealand and around the world. Visit the stunning Milford Sound on board an equally premium vessel that will look after you and your unique experience.

    2 hours

    Admission: Included

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Kiwi Country

63 Town Centre, Te Anau 9600, New Zealand

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End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Important Information

If you have any questions or comments including special Requests or if you have selected the picnic lunch option, please contact the operator directly to confirm whether you prefer the chicken or vegetarian option, or to advise of any other dietary requirements. You can contact the Operator at +64 9 583 5790. We are open from 0630-1800 Please note that Mandarin, Spanish, German, and Japanese commentary is available onboard our coach via the STQRY app. You will need to bring your own headphones, as the commentary cannot be played aloud. Alternatively, the commentary can be read directly from the screen. Free onboard Wi-Fi is available to allow you to download the app, which can be accessed here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/greatsights-nz-tour-commentary/id6743737260 or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stqry.proj2000000000063&pcampaignid=web_share

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • If you have selected the picnic lunch option, please contact the operator directly to confirm whether you prefer the chicken or vegetarian option, or to advise of any other dietary requirements.
  • While we do our best to operate with a glass-roof coach, these vehicles may not always be available due to operational requirements

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.