Milford Sound Scenic Journey and Cruise with Buffet Lunch from Queenstown
4.7
321 Ratings
Queenstown
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a scenic journey and cruise from Queenstown. Enjoy panoramic views, engaging commentary, and a delicious buffet lunch.
Duration: 12 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre - 7.00am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre

• 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

  • 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.
  • 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 takahÄ“ 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.
  • 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.
  • Lake Gunn - Lake Gunn is a strikingly beautiful lake in the South Island of New Zealand.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

  • 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.
  • Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre - Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound.
What's Included
  • Informative commentary by local coach driver
  • Round-trip transport on premium glass-roof coach
  • On-board USB charging ports
  • Complimentary tea and coffee
  • Scenic Milford Sound Nature Cruise
  • Freshly prepared Lunch included
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Appropriate child restraints are not provided by the operator and must be supplied by yourselves.
Additional Information

Travel with ease on one of our eco-friendly coach transportations, enjoying magnificent, expansive vistas on the path to Milford Sound. The land route presents a breath-taking display of sheer mountain ranges and towering precipices, rough valleys, and an indigenous rainforest encircled by stunning waterfalls and glacial lakes. Our knowledgeable local drivers offer captivating and enlightening interpretations, pointing out the best places for brief walks and photo sessions along the Milford Road.

Upon reaching Milford Sound, embark on our Milford Sound Nature Cruise for a comfortable and stylish viewing experience of some of New Zealand’s most unique and stunning landscapes. Sail through the extent of this renowned fiord right through to the Tasman Sea, making stops at waterfalls and significant spots along the journey. Savor a freshly made Lunch complemented with complimentary tea and coffee on your cruise.

  • 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.
  • 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
Location
110 Beach Street
Beach Street
Please head inside the Southern Discoveries office situated at the above address (110 Beach Street, Queenstown) to check in for your trip.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.7
(321 Ratings)
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Grandtour55063126695
Jun 10, 2024
Loved the fiord cruise!! - Really great day with a wonderful host. Was great fun, informative, lots of stops and breaks. So much to see and take in, a great way to pack a lot into a long day without having to do any of the driving oneself!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jiye_m
Jun 7, 2024
A trip one should never miss! - Luck was on our side coz is was winter but sunny. Food was great! To add to our luck, we had a rare encounter with dolphins 🥰
Review provided by Viator
Pam_g
May 31, 2024
Fantastic day - Beautiful scenery, a lot of fun, great lunch on cruise, Shale our.guIde was wonderful who had a great sense of humour and a great knowledge of znew Zealand.
Review provided by Viator
Matthew_h
May 26, 2024
Milford Sound bus trip and cruise. - Bus driver (Roland)'s commentary was top notch. The cruise was great! I will definitely do it again. Thank you.
Review provided by Viator
Davidxf_x
May 22, 2024
Wonderful trip - We had a amazing experience with the coach and all the staff on the cruise. We also toke a lot of beautiful pictures with the lucky sunny day.
Review provided by Viator
Navigate00606815097
May 6, 2024
Queenstown to Milford Sound with Underwater observatory with picnic lunch in May - Driver is absolutely fantastic and funny. Excellent driving and very interesting narrative of the journey and places.. Picnic lunch is good. And cruise is very nice. Enjoyed as couple.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ewan_w
May 5, 2024
A beaut trip well worth the long day - A great bus driver who gave a very informative commentary as we drove from Queenstown to Milford. Coach was very comfortable. The scenery of all the trip was breathtaking. Perhaps the best on the trip was the boat trip on Milford Sound. We were very fortunate that the weather was sunny altough the wind had a chilling factor.
Review provided by Viator
Sangeun_l
May 1, 2024
Absolutely recommend - I booked it 10 hours before the tour! Luckily they’ve let me in! I was so happy I got a chance to go Milford Sound with Southern discoveries. It’s absolutely grateful all the journey
Review provided by Viator
Maryferrylou_m
Apr 29, 2024
Milford Sound Experience! - The coach ride to Milford, although very long was quite pleasant. Our driver and tour guide, Greg was very entertaining and knowledgeable about the route and the whole trip in general. Lunch served was pretty good and became better with the view of the rock formations and waterfalls. Surprisingly, the observatory was enjoyable and was a great learning experience. This is a must-try and worth every penny.
Review provided by Viator
Pearlie_s
Apr 28, 2024
Great trip to Queenstown - Incredible scenic drive from Queenstown passing through the grasslands, lakes, rivers, gorges and mountains , and forests of Queenstown. Driver guide was well versed in the history and background of the different places.
Review provided by Viator
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June 2024
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