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Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight

Offered by Altitude Tours Milford Sound Experience

From

$899.00 per person

4.9 (348 reviews)

Confirmation: INSTANT_THEN_MANUAL

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Booking handled by our partner, Viator

10 hours (approx.)Pickup Available Mobile or paper ticket accepted Offered in: English

Day trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound by Mercedes van and small-boat cruise, returning by scenic flight via Te Anau and Fiordland National Park.

Tour Overview

Meet your local guide near your Queenstown accommodation and travel in a premium Mercedes van with a maximum of 16 seats, leather seating, panoramic windows, Wi-Fi and Spotify playlists. The drive to Milford Sound passes through Southland farming country and the town of Te Anau, where there is a brief lakeside stop for refreshments beside Lake Te Anau.

From Te Anau, the route follows the Milford Road into Fiordland National Park. Along the way, your guide shares local knowledge and stops for short walks and photo breaks. In Eglinton Valley, you’ll visit Mirror Lakes and Knobs Flat, with time for a short nature walk at Mirror Lakes. The journey also includes the Homer Tunnel, the 1.2 km tunnel through the Darran Mountain range at Homer Saddle on State Highway 94. Keep an eye out for the kea as the landscape changes through mountains and winding rivers.

At Milford Sound, board a small boat for a nature cruise beneath the fjord’s towering peaks. An onboard nature guide helps point out waterfalls and wildlife that may include dolphins, penguins, fur seals and native birdlife.

The return to Queenstown is by fixed-wing scenic flight, approximately 45 minutes, with aerial views of Milford Sound, Queenstown, snow-capped mountains, glaciers and braided rivers before your transfer back to the meeting point.

What's Included

  • Plenty of stops and photo opportunities
  • Small group tour helping you escape the crowds
  • WiFi on board
  • Convenient pick up and drop off locations around Queenstown
  • A breathtaking fixed-wing scenic flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown
  • Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides
  • A packed picnic lunch is included as part of your tour.
  • 1-Hour 45-Minute nature cruise on Milford Sound

Not Included:

  • To reduce single-use plastic, we do not provide water bottles. We recommend anyone travelling NZ to have their own reusable water bottle. There are several locations to refill during the day.

What To Expect

  1. 1

    Lake Wakatipu

    Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. You'll travel in style in a premium Mercedes van designed for touring with only 16 seats onboard. The first leg of our journey to Milford Sound transports you from Queenstown through the picturesque Southland farming country and the charming town of Te Anau, where we'll make a brief stop by the lakeside for refreshments.

    Pass by without stopping

  2. 2

    Lake Te Anau

    Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island. It is the largest lake in Australasia by fresh water volume.

    30 minutes

  3. 3

    Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)

    From here, we welcome you to the Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Road. This corridor to the fjord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its majestic mountains, winding rivers, and the cheeky Kea bird. Throughout the journey, your guide will make multiple stops for photo opportunities, and short walks, and will entertain you with fascinating local facts and stories.

    3 hours

  4. 4

    Eglinton Valley

    Within the Eglinton Valley you’ll also find the famous Mirror Lakes and Knobs Flat.
  5. 5

    Mirror Lakes Walk

    Enjoy a beautiful short nature walk and view the famous Mirror Lakes

    10 minutes

  6. 6

    Homer Tunnel

    The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2 km long road tunnel in the Fiordland region of the South Island of New Zealand, opened in 1953. New Zealand State Highway 94 passes through the tunnel, linking Milford Sound to Te Anau and Queenstown, by piercing the Darran Mountain range at the Homer Saddle
  7. 7

    Milford Sound

    Upon reaching Milford Sound, embark on a 2 hour nature cruise that takes you beneath the towering peaks of the fjord. This small boat cruise, accompanied by a knowledgeable onboard nature guide, allows you to explore the edges of the fjord, revealing its impressive waterfalls and unique wildlife, which may include dolphins, penguins, fur seals, and native birdlife.

    2 hours

  8. 8

    Milford Sound Scenic Flights

    After your cruise, you will be introduced to your pilot, who will take you to the skies on a truly incredible scenic flight back to Queenstown. Travelling on a fixed-wing plane, this flight is approximately 45 minutes and offers aerial views of Milford Sound and Queenstown, alongwith the impressive snow-capped mountains, glaciers and braided rivers in between.

    45 minutes

    Admission: Included

  9. 9

    Queenstown

    Arrive back in Queenstown and be transferred back to your meeting point by the flight company

    Pass by without stopping

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup available

Please select your preferred pickup location when booking through Viator.

Pickup details

Please note that your selected pickup location may not be exact; we will pick up either at or near your requested location. After you book, our team will contact you to provide your exact pickup location details. If you are unsure of the best pickup point, please inform the activity provider of your accommodation, and we will advise the most suitable pickup location. The departure time applies to the central Queenstown pick-up, however, times can vary, depending on your location.

Important Information

YOUR PICK UP • After booking, you will receive a message from one of our team confirming your exact departure location and time, and asking you any questions relevant to your booking. Please keep an eye out for this and please do not hesitate to ask us any questions prior to the day. • Please be at your departure point 10 minutes prior to your departure time. Our guide will wait up to 5 minutes. Any late arrivals that miss the tour will be fully charged. WHAT TO BRING • Please bring walking shoes, warm clothes, and a rain jacket. • We would recommend you bring extra snacks or come prepared to buy food/drink during our stops in Te Anau. • For those who added on lunch at the time of booking: If you added on a packed picnic lunch, this will include a chicken sandwich. You can request a vegetarian sandwich or stipulate dietary requirements up until 5pm the day before departure. • To reduce single-use plastic, we no longer provide water bottles and recommend all travelers bring a reusable bottle with them. There is an option to purchase a reusable bottle onboard if you come unprepared. FLIGHT • In the event you are unable to fly, you will be transported back to Queenstown on our premium van and refunded the flight portion of your fare.

Additional Info

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
  • Please bring walking shoes, warm clothes and a rain jacket.
  • The flight back is weather dependant and in the case where flights are cancelled due to weather, you will return to Queenstown by van and be refunded your flight portion of your ticket.
  • A packed picnic lunch is included. The default choice is chicken, however you can request a vegetarian lunch until 5pm the day prior.
  • Please bring a reusable waterbottle on tour with us. There are multiple locations to refill during the day.

Cancellation Policy

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