Milford Sound Cruise with Optional Kayak Tour
5
Milford Sound Cruise with Optional Kayak Tour
By Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Cruises
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About
Most visitors to Milford Sound simply take a sightseeing cruise around the UNESCO-listed landscape. This all-inclusive tour provides a kayaking option for those who want to explore the beauty of the fiord via sheltered Harrison Cove, accompanied by a naturalist guide. Admission to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory is also provided with a picnic lunch. Upgrade to include a guided kayak excursion around Harrison Cove.
Ages 15-99, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Milford Sound cruise takes passengers aboard a smaller vessel
- Picnic lunch, naturalist guides, and marine life: not to be missed
- Milford Underwater Observatory included
- Upgrade for the option to kayak around tranquil Harrison Cove
- Sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- Picnic lunch
- Local guide
- Visit to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
- All kayaking equipment if you choose to add kayaking to your cruise
- Entry/Admission - Milford Sound
- Entry/Admission - Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Underwater Observatory
What's not included- Gratuities
- On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour.
- Start:
- Southern Discoveries - Milford Sound Visitor Centre, Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound Highway 94, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3960MILFORD- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
- Please note the minimum age to kayak is 5 years old and must be accompanied by an adult or guardian in a double kayak.
- Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for check-in.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3960MILFORD
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Freshwater Basin, Milford Sound Highway 94, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
- 1Pass byMilford SoundBowen FallsMitre Peak
- 2
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Vikki12750 contributionsGreat tour and a big thanks to EmmaReally enjoyed the tour. Milford sound was as good as expected. Huge thanks to Emma for being so kind, helpful and efficient.Written 16 January 2025
- michaelsX7203AB0 contributionsAwe inspiring nature!Beautiful day, friendly Captain and crew, just lovely! Nature in this part of New Zealand is truly amazing. Recommended for everyone.Written 16 January 2025
- christinasO6338YK0 contributionsTour was amazing!The views were amazing. The tour guide/ driver is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Milford Sound is a must-see if you’re in Queenstown.Written 15 January 2025
- Voyager620591048680 contributionsLOVELY TRIPGREAT EXPERIENCE. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THE TOUR. STAFF WERE VERY FRIENDLY AND APPROACHABLE. WIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ++++Written 12 January 2025
- jeremymK8566CX0 contributionsUnforgettable journey!This cruise was a breathtaking experience! The scenery felt straight out of postcard. The serene atmosphere and the chance to spot seals and dolphins made it even more special. Unforgettable journey!Written 10 January 2025
- 943tatianao0 contributionsMust-do in Fjordaland!Very cool cruise and amazing views! Seen chilling seals on the rocks. We've mistaken the date during our booking and the reservation worker was kind enough to change the date for us, although we were no-show. Very client-oriented.Written 9 January 2025
- X5401UIshanem0 contributionsSpectacular Milford Sound CruiseThis Milford Sound Cruise was nothing short of spectacular. The views were breathtaking, with cascading waterfalls, towering cliffs, and playful seals along the way. The boat was spacious, well-maintained, and offered plenty of viewing options - indoor comfort or open-air decks for the full experience. This is must do unforgettable Milford Sound Experience!Written 6 January 2025
- 351zechb0 contributionsMesmerizing JourneyIn this cruise we experienced mesmerizing journey through towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush rainforests. A serene yet unforgettable way to experience New Zealand's natural beauty!Written 6 January 2025
- petertV9289SP0 contributionsBus to Milford and back is totally worth it.We seriously considered skipping Milford Sound given the time taken to get there and back versus time spent on the cruise. We then decided to catch the bus instead of driving, which I thought would lessen the experience. Thankfully we made both decisions. We actually enjoyed the scenery to and from the sound as much as being on the water, and our driver Stan really made the drive so much more enjoyable. Bring able to just relax and have a little nap when needed was far less tiring than driving would have been. If we'd driven we would personally have stopped at the major rivers, as they were more impressive than some of the coach stops, but I understand that parking spots for coaches are limited. It was an amazing experience and one that I would highly recommend.Written 6 January 2025
- Q4159OOlisas0 contributionsAwesome!We’re very lucky, the weather was awesome as well as the stuff. You could ask any question you have, he was willing to help everyone taking photos and so on. The drive was calm, exclusive the wind, and we had a wonderful time. We took the latest ferry and there were not many people because the boat was actually very small in comparison to the other ones :)Written 5 January 2025
- allisonb3700 contributionsRolling with Roland - an amazing experience at Milford Sound.This was an awesome experience which was made extra special by the fantastic coach driver Roland, who was a mine of information, entertaining, and informative. Roland drove exceptionally well and safely and made several stops to provide the guests with great photo opportunities. The views of the lake as we drove from Queenstown were extraordinary but nothing compared to those on the cruise. I didn't have lunch included but food and drink were available on the boat and also at the first stop if you wanted to stock up.Written 5 January 2025
- Bots_070 contributionsGood company to tour withOur bus picked us up from our hotel on time. Driver Jarrod was friendly, funny and had some interesting facts along the way. The bus was very comfortable and the scenic stops were beautiful. Unfortunately we had terrible weather and while the cruise was lovely we didn't get to see much! It is a long day though, 13 hours in total. But we would recommend this tour company.Written 3 January 2025
- RamanGNoida0 contributionsCannot miss outShortlisted this Tour Company from other reviews on TA Forums. Good decision. Excellent tour. All went on time. Driver cum Guide , Roland, gave us a good commentary through out our journey. A comfortable bus with a sun roof. We stopped at a number of places for a photo. We were on a boat with only about 80 passengers . So not crowded at all. The lunch box was also ok. There is complimentary tea and coffee on the boat.Written 3 January 2025
- Lisa K0 contributionsAmazing Day Trip!Had a fantastic day with many majestic views. Junior our tour guide and driver was so fun and a great story teller! So may breathtaking views along the way and ultimate Milford Sound was awe inspiring. Bus was comfy. Don’t hesitate to book this experience!Written 2 January 2025
- Adhithi0 contributionsLiving in a fantasy realityIt was raining heavily the night before and most parts of our drive till little after Teanou. We thought this will take a big toll on our beautiful cruise trip but jut the opposite happened. We got picked up by a shuttle bus from the coffee shop at the car park. And thousands of small waterfalls were there instead of 2! We stopped at monkey creak and mirror lake after the Fiordland national park for some photos. The cruise itself self was amazing! Take a rain jacket with u so u can enjoy going under the waterfalls.Written 1 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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5.0
38 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Stevie G
Ballygowan13 contributions
Beautiful day for our first hour of our 2 hour cruise out on the Lady Bowen, and then the rain was intermittent (well they do get more rain than the Amazon here, so be mindful!) Raincoats are provided on board or you can stay inside and look out. Great pieces of commentary from our nature guide on board and our smaller boat was able to get in close to the shore line to check out a couple of groups of fur seals and one of the glacier fed waterfalls. We were dropped off at the Discovery Centre and 14 of us headed out with our two guides for about an hour around the more sheltered Harrison Cove - don't forget your bug spray for those sand flies which can appear around Milford! On return to the centre, we went down to the underwater observatory for a look at some of the local sealife that visit the artificial coral framework which rings the observatory, ranging from molluscs to scorpion fish, with staff on hand to give an overview and answer any questions. We were picked up by the Lady Stirling for our final leg and were back at the ferry terminal 10 minutes later.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dowling Family
2 contributions
Dec 2021
Great personal service and excellent commentary. The cruise was extremely comfortable despite the inclement weather and the staff were happy to take family photos for us.
Sadly the weather conditions meant it was unsafe to go kayaking, but we appreciated their professionalism.
The underwater observatory was fascinating and we were treated to sightings of triplefin, scarlet perch, leather jackets, marble fish, a sting ray, black coral and more.
Highly recommend.
Sadly the weather conditions meant it was unsafe to go kayaking, but we appreciated their professionalism.
The underwater observatory was fascinating and we were treated to sightings of triplefin, scarlet perch, leather jackets, marble fish, a sting ray, black coral and more.
Highly recommend.
Written 27 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maru Reyes
Paris, France52 contributions
Milford Sound is a magical place, the ride was spectacular. The customer service is very good, since we called several times and they responded to all our demands. As a remark, we would add that the lunch is small for the price of the tour, maybe hot food could be better. And the kayak was good but it is limited in space to go around.
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esther Rimmer
4 contributions
My partner and I did the sound cruise, underwater observatory and kayak tour which included a packed lunch. It was absolutely amazing and took my breath away. This trip exceeded my expectations and I will definitely return. A special shout out to all the crew who made this trip even more enjoyable. Each and every staff member was absolutely lovely, very helpful and knowledgeable and made the experience even more enjoyable. particularly Maia Jacob and Dave (hopefully I’ve got that right), many thanks to you guys! I would definitely recommend doing the kayaks if your a keen adventurer, you get to experience the sound in a completely different, unforgettable way. Loved it!
Written 18 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora Esther
Wow reading reviews like this really makes our day. Seeing kiwi's get out and explore Milford and love it just as we do means the world to us. We're so stoked you loved your kayak experience, it's pretty special being on the fiord in a kayak. Thank you so much for your awesome review, we'll be sure to pass on your feedback to the team.
Ngā mihi,
Written 24 March 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
S1MES
London, UK5 contributions
Cruise and kayak were great, underwater observatory a little underwhelming. Milford Sound is spectacular and not to be missed. Seeing it from a kayak as well as the cruise boat adds an extra, interesting, perceive.
Whole trip took close to 4 hours so it cost an extra $50 to park! Parking here is a rip off for captive audience - would be nice if the tour could included this.
Picnic lunch offered with the cruise was very basic, others on different tours had a buffet lunch which looked a lot better.
Minor issues, all in all a great experience!
Whole trip took close to 4 hours so it cost an extra $50 to park! Parking here is a rip off for captive audience - would be nice if the tour could included this.
Picnic lunch offered with the cruise was very basic, others on different tours had a buffet lunch which looked a lot better.
Minor issues, all in all a great experience!
Written 12 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irene - Sydney Australia
2 contributions
Feb 2023
Our kayaking tour of Harrison Cove was the highlight for our family (adult children). There was a fair bit of rain during our afternoon cruise of Milford Sound and as we pulled in for our kayaking tour, I'm sure everyone on the boat thought we were crazy and we thought perhaps they were right! 2 people booked on the tour pulled out, so then there was 6 of us and our guide. We were provided with as much waterproof/warm layers as we thought we needed and waterproof bag for phones/camera. The location was serene, couldn't believe we had this wonderful location (Harrison Cove) all to ourselves. We felt so lucky, only 3 short bursts of rain, the waterfalls were at their best, our guide was terrific, the observatory was good, the picnic lunch was substantial. As the day came to an end, the sun started to appear and crowds were gone by the time we returned to the terminal.
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahki2018
Toronto, Canada19 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We had a great experience with this company! We did the Milford sound cruise and kayak option which included a stop at the underwater observatory. The cruise was great! Amazing views of Milford sound, great captain who took us up close to many waterfalls and pointed out wildlife (seals and penguins!). Provided lunch was simple but filling. The kayak experience was also great, very well organized, no prior experience needed. The only thing to note about the kayaking though is that you basically just to a big loop in sheltered Harrison cove, where there aren’t many (if any at all) falls. The scenery is beautiful, and we got lucky and saw penguins! The underwater observatory was a cool addition, but not something I would specifically pay extra for had it not already been included.
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ekta G
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Couples
We went on a kayak trip aroun Milford sound
Really expensive and felt ripped off for what it is. Think we kayaked for less than an hour. You don't really go on a journey and only round the shore that you can see from the docking station anyway. The tour guide was nice on the tour and it's not their fault. But felt this was not £100 worth
The views are lovely and it would have been way better if you could travel out of the shore (i.e not do a small curve of the bank). We were really lucky with the weather and it is lovely to be that close to the national park and nature. I just think it's really expensive for what it is
Really expensive and felt ripped off for what it is. Think we kayaked for less than an hour. You don't really go on a journey and only round the shore that you can see from the docking station anyway. The tour guide was nice on the tour and it's not their fault. But felt this was not £100 worth
The views are lovely and it would have been way better if you could travel out of the shore (i.e not do a small curve of the bank). We were really lucky with the weather and it is lovely to be that close to the national park and nature. I just think it's really expensive for what it is
Written 25 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travellerfam
New Zealand44 contributions
We loved this trip. The cruise was perfect. We'll paced and time taken to stop and take in the wildlife. Great commentary on the boat, very informative but had is smiling the whole time. The kayaking was wonderful. Our guide was great, we felt in good hands and his genuine love of the environment was infectious. Everyone should do this it was an absolute highlight and not strenuous. We had amazing up close penguin encounters, a real day to remember.
Written 24 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephan
Melbourne, Australia1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Friends
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The cruise was nice and the kayak trip through the sound was exceptional. I can highly recommend this experience, which was the highlight of our trip so far. We even spotted a couple of penguins (December 8th) which apparently all leave from November end, but we were lucky. My only recommendation is for the tour operator to think about the waste they create. We had a pre-booked and pre-packed lunch meal which came in excessive packaging that was all going to landfill. An insane amount of waste that can surely be changed with some more sustainable practices.
Written 8 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you offer transport from Te Anua, now that the road is closed to private cars?
Written 14 February 2020
I'm travelling around South Island over Christmas and a boat cruise in Milford Sound is on top of my list of things I will be doing while I am there - is it necessary to prebook a ticket or will I be okay to buy my ticket when i get there?
thanks for any help!!
Written 9 May 2018
We prebooked which I would recommend. There were people at the sound buying same day tickets. We were there in November, so springtime and not summer.
Written 10 May 2018
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