• Southern Discoveries - Queenstown Visitor Centre - 6:30 am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (if you selected the 6:30 am tour option)

7:00 am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (if you selected the 7:00 am tour option)

• Travel on a premium glass-roof coach, featuring reclining seats, extra legroom, and air-conditioning
• USB charging ports and onboard toilet
• Experienced local coach drivers provide engaging and informative commentary, showcasing 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, is located on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu. From here, embark on a day trip with Milford Sound’s original Cruise operator, Southern Discoveries, from Queenstown into Milford Sound to enjoy a wonderful 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 charming 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, to break up the journey, grab a coffee, and stretch your legs.
• Eglinton Valley - This stunning 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 reshaped by the Eglinton River. This is an incredible stop you will make as part 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, weather permitting on the day. This is an easy, short walk off the Milford Road.
• Cleddau River - The Cleddau River is a beautiful river in 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, making it 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 - Weather and time permitting, enjoy a short walk here as 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 the 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.

• 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

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

Discover the ultimate way to explore Milford Sound from Queenstown. Relax as the driving is handled by our team, allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking scenery from our top-of-the-line coaches, featuring panoramic windows, glass roofs, and USB charging ports. Our amiable driver will share fascinating stories about the region’s history and unique ecology, with perfectly timed stops for capturing stunning photographs. Additionally, our complimentary multi-lingual commentary app is accessible on both the Coach and Cruise in eight different languages.

Arrive at Milford Sound rejuvenated and ready to embark on a cruise through the fiord. Prepare for uninterrupted views of majestic waterfalls and towering cliffs. Our premium Nature Cruise offers the option to pre-order a picnic lunch or select the To Kai buffet on certain departures.

This journey includes all transportation, ensuring a smooth round-trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound and an effortless transition to your cruise. Simply relax and savor the experience.

• 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.

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