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Milford Sound Premium Coach & Cruise from Queenstown with Lunch

Offered by Southern Discoveries

From

$345.00 per person

4.7 (621 reviews)

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: German, Portuguese, Japanese, English, Chinese (China), French, Spanish

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound by low-emission coach with stops in Te Anau and Mirror Lakes, then join a Nature Cruise from Freshwater Basin.

Tour Overview

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound on a premium, low-emission coach, with glass roof panels, reclining seats, extra legroom, air-conditioning, USB charging ports and an onboard toilet. Departures include coach pick-up from the Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre at 6.30am or 7.00am, depending on your tour option. Along the way, a local driver shares commentary on the area’s history and ecology, with short walks and photo stops on the Milford Road.

The journey includes a break in Te Anau, a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound, where you can stretch your legs and grab a coffee. Other stops may include the Eglinton Valley, shaped by glaciers and the shifting Eglinton River, Lake Gunn, and the Mirror Lakes, where an easy walk reveals reflections of the Earl Mountains when conditions allow. You may also pass the Cleddau River, stop at a glacier-fed spring in the upper Hollyford Valley, and travel through the Homer Tunnel.

In Milford Sound, connect straight onto a Nature Cruise from Freshwater Basin. On the water, look out for Mitre Peak, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls, along with rainforest, sheer rock faces and native wildlife such as fur seals, penguins and dolphins. Free tea and coffee are included, and selected departures offer picnic lunch pre-orders or the To Kai buffet.

What's Included

  • Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries
  • Informative commentary provided by local coach driver
  • Return transport from Queenstown to Milford Sound on premium glass-roof coach
  • USB charging ports on board coach
  • Milford Sound Nature Cruise of up to 2 hours
  • FREE tea and coffee onboard the cruise
  • Spot diverse wildlife while on the cruise
  • Freshly prepared Lunch

Not Included:

  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Appropriate child restraints are not provided by the operator and must be supplied by yourselves.

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre

    6.30am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (if you selected the 6.30am tour option) 7.00am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (if you selected the 7.00am tour option) • 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

    Pass by without stopping

  2. 2

    Queenstown

    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.

    15 minutes

  3. 3

    Te Anau

    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.

    30 minutes

  4. 4

    Eglinton Valley

    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.

    15 minutes

  5. 5

    Lake Gunn

    Lake Gunn is a strikingly beautiful lake in the South Island of New Zealand.

    Pass by without stopping

  6. 6

    Mirror Lakes Walk

    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.

    10 minutes

  7. 7

    Cleddau River

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  8. 8

    Monkey Creek

    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.

    10 minutes

  9. 9

    Homer Tunnel

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  10. 10

    The Chasm Walk

    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.

    20 minutes

  11. 11

    Milford Sound

    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.

    2 hours

  12. 12

    Mitre Peak

    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 without stopping

  13. 13

    Bowen Falls

    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 without stopping

  14. 14

    Sinbad Gully

    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 without stopping

  15. 15

    Stirling Falls

    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.

    Pass by without stopping

  16. 16

    Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre

    Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound.

    15 minutes

    Admission: Included

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

110 Beach Street

110 Beach Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

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Please head inside the Southern Discoveries office situated at the above address (110 Beach Street, Queenstown) to check in for your trip. Please make sure you arrive at least 15mins before your departure time.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Important Information

* 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. *Please make sure you are at your required pickup location at least 15mins prior to departure. *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. *A smaller vehicle which does not feature a glass roof may be used with smaller groups for a more personalised experience.

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • 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.
  • Please make sure you arrive at least 15mins before your departure time.

Cancellation Policy

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