Milford Sound Tours

Milford Sound Scenic Tour & Cruise

ADULT
From NZD $309
DURATION
Full Day (12-13 hours)

TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award Winners 2024! 

This places our tour in the top 1% of experiences worldwide.

Join us for a spectacular Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown. With small groups limited at just 15 people, you’ll have the space to take it all in without the crowds.

Our tours fill up fast, so don’t miss out!

Book now Gift Voucher
  • Glass roof vans get you there in comfort
  • Mirror Lakes on the Milford Road
  • Small Group Milford Sound Day Tour

    A top rated Milford Sound tour departing daily from Queenstown at 6:30am & 7:30am.

    Join Altitude Tours for a top-rated small group Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown. Escape the crowds and get up close and personal with some of the most iconic scenery and wildlife in Fiordland.

    Your Adventure Begins 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 15 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 Lake Te Anau, where we’ll make a brief stop by the lakeside for refreshments and a morning coffee.

    Welcome to the Fiordland National Park. From here, we welcome you to the UNESCO world heritage site – Fiordland National Park and the renowned Milford Sound Road. This corridor to the fiord unveils a different side of New Zealand, with its incredible granite mountains, glacier rivers, and the cheeky Kea bird. Throughout the journey, your guide will make multiple stops for photo opportunities, iconic locations, short walks, and will entertain you with fascinating local stories, commentary and insights.

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

    The Journey Back After your cruise, rejoin the van and enjoy the return journey to Queenstown. Sit back, relax, and take in the views. This day tour spans approximately 12-13 hours, and our smaller vehicles and attentive guide ensure your comfort and entertainment throughout the journey. 

    Choose to travel back to Queenstown by road, or upgrade to a scenic fixed-wing plane or helicopter flight for a spectacular 45-minute experience over the Southern Alps back to Queenstown.

    Choose your departure from Queenstown:

    • Departure One: 6.30am (Glass Roof Upgrade)
    • Departure Two: 7.30am
    • Early Bird Departure: 6.00am (Glass Roof Upgrade) – only available December – March

    Looking for an even more luxurious experience? Discover our Milford Business Class.

    Standard Departure

    ADULT
    From NZD $309

    TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award Winners 2024! 

    This places our tour in the top 1% of experiences worldwide.

    Join us for a spectacular Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown. With small groups limited at just 15 people, you’ll have the space to take it all in without the crowds.

    Our tours fill up fast, so don’t miss out!

    Small Group Tour (max. 15 people)
    Breathtaking Small Boat Milford Sound Cruise
    Add-on a Delicious Packed Picnic Lunch
    Departs 7.30am from Queenstown
    Complimentary Wi-Fi

    Glass Roof Upgrade Departure

    ADULT
    From NZD $329

    Spectacular Milford Sound day experience from Queenstown with glass roof van upgrade

    Glass Roof Van (max. 15 people)
    Breathtaking Small Boat Milford Sound Cruise
    Add-on a Delicious Packed Picnic Lunch
    Departs at 6.30am (year-round) & additional 6:00am departure December - March
    Complimentary Wi-Fi
    TRANSPORT

    Travel in premium Gold-class comfort.

    Our Mercedes vans are fully equipped with panoramic windows extended legroom, leather interiors, and panoramic windows.

    Our 6:30am departure includes a Glass-Roof upgrade maximising your views on this incredible day tour.

    Book Now

    The people have spoken

    The Milford Sound bus tour yesterday was absolutely majestic! We are so pleased that my choice to go with Altitude was the right one as there were so many companies to choose from. Our guide, Shelley was a gem; she made as all at ease with her humour and personal stories & knowledge of the local areas. We couldn't have had a better guide! The bus was comfy and being smaller meant there was much less fuss with boarding at stops and speed. Thank you so much for making our day even better than we could have hoped for.
    - Phoebe N
    We recently had the pleasure of using Altitude for our tour to Milford Sound. The whole experience was phenomenal! Prompt with timings, and small tour groups really gave the experience a bespoke one on one feeling. Sinchan, our tour guide was one in a million, he really loves his job and it shows! He was so knowledgeable and really did a phenomenal job at telling us about the history, the geography and geology. Highly recommend this tour for anyone considering going to Milford sound, you won’t need to deal with a bus load of 60 plus people when going with Altitude there focus on smaller groups really makes the experience all worth while!
    - Laurence Williams
    We cannot recommend Altitude tours and our tour guide Kevin enough. We did the Milford Sound tour from Queenstown. Kevin was professional, knowledgeable and most importantly fun to interact with. He looked after everyone well and made sure we are comfortable at any time. We were a small group and we had a great time. Thank you Kevin and Altitude Tours we will recommend all our friends and family to use you.
    - Tom Agmon
    Next

    Milford Sound Tour FAQ's

    Our Milford Sound Day Tours use premium Mercedes Sprinter vans, thoughtfully designed with just 15 seats to ensure plenty of space for everyone. With extended legroom, a modern interior, and those all-important panoramic windows, you’ll have the perfect vantage point for soaking in the stunning scenery.

    Glass Roof Upgrade

    For the ultimate viewing experience, choose our 6:30 a.m. departure. These custom-built glass-roof vans offer superior, 360-degree views—perfect for capturing every breathtaking angle of your journey.

    Yes, we’re happy to pick you up in Te Anau—you’ll just need to select it from the pickup list when booking online. Easy as that!

    For the early birds on the 6:30 a.m. departure from Queenstown, we’ll swing by Te Anau approximately 9:15 a.m.

    If you prefer the 7:30 a.m. start, we’ll see you there at approximately 10:15 a.m.

    Our vehicles seat 16, but we cap bookings at 15 to keep the group cozy and personal—no feeling like you’re on a packed bus here. This means you get a more relaxed, small-group experience from start to finish.

    Once we reach Milford Sound, you’ll board a small boat nature cruise, which can accommodate 60 to 75 guests depending on the weather. It’s the perfect balance: intimate on the road, spacious and scenic on the water.

    No, this is not true at all. We added this for some entertainment, good on you if you have spotted this and opened the answer. Here is a special promo code that will give you 10% off any tour. Use promo code ALT10.

    Yes! There’s no minimum age for this tour—everyone’s welcome, from tiny explorers to seasoned adventurers! However, we don’t offer child rates, so all passengers (yes, even the littlest ones) will need their own purchased seat. We’re happy to provide car seats free of charge—just let us know in advance. Unfortunately, laps don’t count, no matter how cuddly they are.

    Traveling with kids can be a wonderful adventure (and a great reminder of how magical the world looks through young eyes). That said, we like to keep it real: this tour involves around 10 hours in a van. While some little ones handle it like champs, others may find it a bit… wiggly. If your tiny traveler isn’t a fan of long drives or is prone to motion sickness, you might want to weigh your options. Many of us on the team are parents too—we get it!

    Feeling peckish on the road? We’ve got you covered with a delicious pre-booked picnic lunch for an additional $36 NZD per person.

    It includes a fresh sandwich (your choice of chicken or vegetarian—we can also accommodate vegan, gluten-free, and most other dietary requirements, just let us know when booking!), fruit, a roast veggie salad, and a selection of snacks to keep you fuelled for your adventure.

    Prefer to bring your own? No worries! Just make sure you come prepared for the journey! We do make a quick stop at a cafe in Te Anau on the way, but we can’t guarantee the lunch options they’ll have on the day and there is no food for purchase in Milford Sound or on the boat.

    We’ve teamed up with two fantastic cruise operators in Milford Sound, both offering intimate small-boat experiences. You’ll enjoy an approximately 2-hour journey through the Sound, complete with up-close encounters with towering waterfalls and expert commentary that brings the landscape to life.

    It’s the perfect way to take in the beauty of Milford—without getting lost in the crowd.

    To ensure a comfortable journey, we make several scheduled stops en route for coffee, refreshments, and plenty of restroom breaks.

    Upon arrival at Milford Sound, you’ll also find bathroom facilities available at the terminal and onboard the cruise vessel, so you can relax and enjoy the experience with ease!

    We don’t want to spoil all the fun, but here’s a little taste of what to expect: you’ll enjoy a couple of café stops before entering the breathtaking Fiordland National Park. Along the iconic Milford Road, we’ll make several scenic stops chosen by your guide, who knows all the best spots—often the ones the crowds haven’t found yet.

    Every day is a bit different, and that’s part of the adventure!

    The wildlife in Milford Sound likes to keep us on our toes—what you see can vary by day and season. On a lucky day, you might spot playful seals, curious kea, and a variety of native birdlife. Dolphins are frequent visitors, and every now and then, we’re treated to something truly special—like the time a baby humpback whale made a surprise appearance!

    The road to Milford Sound is usually in excellent shape, thanks to top-notch maintenance year-round. Of course, Mother Nature sometimes likes to keep us on our toes—especially in winter. You might spot a bit of snow clinging to the shady spots, adding a touch of alpine charm to the already breathtaking drive.

    That said, safety always comes first. If conditions take a turn and we feel the road isn’t safe for our guests or guides, we’ll cancel the tour. But don’t worry—we’ll be in touch before the day and do our best to move you to another date so you don’t miss out on the magic.

    Absolutely! Our guides will walk you through the flyback options on the day of your tour. You can book then and there—just keep in mind that flights are weather-dependent and require a minimum number of passengers to take off.

    If flying back is high on your wishlist, we recommend booking in advance to secure your spot and avoid disappointment.

    If you were to drive straight there it would take approximately 4 hours, but how boring would that be? We make multiple stops enroute to take breaks and enjoy the stunning scenery so our journey to Milford Sound takes approximately 6 hours. Why not entertain yourself with our Milford Sound Car Bingo?!

    We pick up from select Queenstown hotels and the main bus stop routes in Queenstown town centre and along Frankton Road. When booking, type in your accommodation and it will suggest the closest bus stop. If it doesn’t come up just check in with us and we’ll let you know where is closest for you!

    As one of our most popular tours, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis to keep things fair for everyone on board. While we don’t offer reserved seats, if you have a preference, we’ll do our best to accommodate—but we can’t make any promises.

    If you have your heart set on a particular spot, feel free to contact our friendly reservations team the day before your tour. They’ll let you know the first pick-up location and time, so you’re welcome to meet your guide there and be among the first to hop on and choose your seat.

    Yes! There is all day parking right next to the Frankton Bus Terminus (also known as the Frankton Bus Shelter) on the corner of Gray Street and McBride Street.

    If you’re returning with us by road, your guide will be there to greet you after your cruise and escort you back to the van. After a full day of exploring Fiordland’s wonders, the journey home is all about winding down. It’s approximately a 4-hour drive—so sit back, relax, and let the scenery (and maybe a playlist or two) do the talking.

    We’ll make a couple of comfort stops along the way, and you can expect to roll back into Queenstown between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., depending on your tour departure time. Just in time to kick off your shoes, browse your photos, and bask in the post-Milford glow.

    Feeling spontaneous? If you decide you’d rather soar over the mountains than drive through them, let your guide know before your cruise. They’ll do their best to arrange a flyback to Queenstown—subject to availability and weather, of course!

    No hiking boots required! While we do make a few stops along the way to stretch our legs and occasionally enjoy a short walk in Fiordland National Park, this is completely optional—feel free to stay by the van and soak in the scenery.

    When we reach Milford Sound, there’s a short walk from the terminal to the boat, but once you’re onboard, there’s plenty of comfortable seating to sit back and relax.

    If you have any mobility concerns, our friendly reservations team is happy to help—just let us know in advance so we can make a note.

    Please know that while our guides are more than happy to offer a steady arm, they’re not able to lift or physically assist guests in or out of the vehicle, so we do recommend bringing along a familiar face if you need a bit of extra support.

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    HUMBLE BRAGS

    Top Rated Milford Sound Day Tour

    Tripadvisor Best of the Best Awards 2024
    Read Tour Reviews