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Milford Sound Tour: Scenic Small Group Adventure
4.9
1,907 Ratings
Queenstown
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a full-day small group tour from Queenstown. Travel in comfort, enjoy scenic stops, and take a small uncrowded cruise to admire the stunning scenery.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound on a full-day small group tour from Queenstown. Travel in comfort, enjoy scenic stops, and take a small uncrowded cruise to admire the stunning scenery.
Duration:
13 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- 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…
- 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.
What's Included
- On-board WiFi
- Convenient pick up and drop off locations around Queenstown
- Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides
- 2-Hour nature cruise on Milford Sound
- Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route
- Tea and coffee
- On-board WiFi
- Convenient pick up and drop off locations around Queenstown
- Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides
- 2-Hour nature cruise on Milford Sound
- Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route
- Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
- Additional Snacks
- Bottled water
- Additional Snacks
- Bottled water
Additional Information
Milford Sound is arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand and a must-see for any traveller. Whether seen in sunshine or rain, the incredible views are guaranteed to leave you awestruck. This is a small group tour for travellers seeking an all-inclusive, uniquely-kiwi, personalised trip to Milford Sound. We keep things personal using our fleet…
Milford Sound is arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand and a must-see for any traveller. Whether seen in sunshine or rain, the incredible views are guaranteed to leave you awestruck. This is a small group tour for travellers seeking an all-inclusive, uniquely-kiwi, personalised trip to Milford Sound. We keep things personal using our fleet of modern Mercedes vans. Enjoy your journey with only 16 people, in a vehicle with premium features such as leather seats, panoramic scenic windows, Wi-Fi and Spotify. Let your Altitude Tours guide entertain you with in-depth knowledge of the area, as we travel from Queenstown through Te Anau and into the Fiordland National Park on the famous Milford Road. Enjoy many scenic photo stops at both famous locations, as well as our guide’s favourite off-the-beaten-track spots. Enjoy a 2-hour small uncrowded cruise while taking in the incredible beauty that Milford Sound has to offer! You can also add on a picnic lunch to enjoy onboard.
- Please bring walking shoes, warm clothes and rain jacket.
- Please be aware that Milford Sound is a 5 hour drive from Queenstown (one-way with sightseeing stops). This is a full day excursion, and including the 2 hour cruise on the fjord, allow approximately 13 hours door to door.
- There is an option to include a packed picnic lunch. 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.
Location
Lake Wakatipu
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(1907 Ratings)
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A4474tzhannaha
Jan 16, 2025
Absolute 10/10 - shoutout to tour guide Shelley! - Absolutely 10/10 experience - you cannot miss this tour if going to Milford Sound! Made all the better by the hilarious and educating tour guide Shelley.
The Altitude Tours small group Milford sound experience was a massive highlight of our trip. At best summary:
- Easy pickup and safe, comfy driving for the long 12 hr return day trip from queenstown. Way better than attempting the drive yourself and very comfy in the Mercedes sprinter van rather than a huge coach.
- One of the funniest but also most informative tour guides we've ever had - Shelley. So interesting to learn of her families personal history as pioneers in the region, broad history of Milford sound and New Zealand, topped off by her excellent Kiwi sense of humour to enhance the long journey. She encouraged camaraderie amongst our group which made the day more memorable.
- Shelley was also very helpful in answering any NZ/travel related questions the tour group had.
- We did not book the lunch or glass roof package and still had amazing views and easy access to food at Te Anau/pre-packed ourselves.
- A good balance of photo stops, food/coffee stops, and short (5-15 min) bush walks were had which provided enriching education on the trip.
- The cruise itself was as expected, good views inside and outside - both on the roof and bow of the boat. Only light food on board e.g. tea and cookies.
You really get the best of both worlds in terms of an educational NZ/Milford Sound tour and a fun, memorable small group experience.
#shelleythebestguideever
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mmartin90909
Jan 15, 2025
Better than Awesome! - This is a big day! (7.30-8.30)
Our guide, Alana, was super supportive and gave a lot of information at the many short stops along the way.
The weather was mild most of the way so make sure you wear something to keep the cold wind out on the cruise through Milford Sound.
We thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip but found the last part of the drive back a little long.
Check the quicker options for the return journey.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David
Jan 15, 2025
Great Tour, Fantastic Tour Guide - As a 787 Pilot for a major international airline, I have had the opportunity to see many parts of this world over the past 30 years and my trip to Milford Sound was one of my favorite memories. I give “Altitude Tours Milford Sound Experience” my highest rating.
Our driver Alana was polite, funny, knowledgeable and very accommodating. Her informative narration during the drive made the time pass quickly. She made several stops at beautiful points of interest, and even made an unscheduled stop when she spotted a Kea (a mountain parrot) on the side of the road.
Our small group tour made stops that the big bus tours couldn’t due to a lack of parking. I watched the big busses drive by while we were out taking pictures. If you decide to pack your own lunch, do NOT pack a sandwich. Instead, grab one of the pies at “Miles Better Pies” in Te Anau. Collectively, I have been to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown more than 100 times. These are the best pies that I have ever tried. We tried the “Mince and Cheese”, “Venison and Plum Sauce” and “Lamb and Mint”. The pies were packed with meat, and the light, pastry crust was delicious. We were waited on by a lovely young lady named Primrose who happens to be the owner‘s daughter. I will always have these wonderful memories of my trip to Queenstown and hope to return one day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nomad53157853986
Jan 15, 2025
Unforgettable Milford Sound Tour with Altitude Tours! - We had an amazing day with Altitude Tours on the Milford Sound Experience. Tommy, our guide, was fantastic—personable, knowledgeable, and really made the journey memorable. His insights about the places we passed along the way were both interesting and informative, making the long drive feel much shorter and more enjoyable. He was also very considerate and accommodating, ensuring everyone’s needs were met throughout the day.
Milford Sound itself was beyond stunning—pictures truly don’t do it justice. The towering cliffs, waterfalls, and pristine beauty were absolutely breathtaking. It’s one of those places that has to be seen in person to truly appreciate its grandeur.
Overall, this tour was a highlight of our trip, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Queenstown or Fiordland. Altitude Tours provides an exceptional experience, and Tommy made it all the more special!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B5067uesamanthaw
Jan 14, 2025
The 2nd best way to see Milford Sound! - Seeing the Milford Sound was top of our list while visiting NZ and it did not disappoint! We were so grateful to have a competent and knowledgeable guide who could help us see, appreciate, and learn on all the stops along the way. We had beautiful sunshine weather with some wind. While we didn't see dolphins or penguines, we did see several fur seals, and it was so much fun getting our "glacial facial" at the end. If we did it again? We'd take the helicopter/plane out :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dana_c
Jan 14, 2025
Long day but worth it! - We had a great time on this tour - it's quite a long day, but it's worth it! Our tour guide, Jono, was incredible and tailored our experience to the things people said they were interested in. One person mentioned lupine flowers and he brought us to the most amazing field of them, where we took some of the most stunning photos of the day. He was also very knowledgable about Maori culture and taught us about NZ through that lens. The weather was a bit rainy and cloudy, but rest assured that Milford Sound is incredible even in the clouds - and the rain made the waterfalls even more magnificent!
Review provided by Viator
Jessica
Jan 14, 2025
Beautiful Milford Sound Tour & Cruise - My husband and I had a great experience on our Milford Sound tour and cruise. Our guide Andy was excellent and shared lots of interesting information during the drive. We really appreciated the small group size, built-in stops along the way, and the ability to pre-order lunch. From pick-up to drop-off everything went smoothly and Andy made it so easy for us to enjoy the beauty of Milford Sound. Overall, highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessicafranks
Jan 14, 2025
Amazing experience ! - This was a fabulous tour and I would highly recommend! The 4 hour bus ride to Milford Sound was anything but tedious (which I had worried it may be). We stopped frequently to look at various nature sites (and bathroom breaks) and our tour guide was fabulous. He had so much knowledge to share, which made the bus ride a truly enjoyable experience. The boat ride around the sound was incredible. A bit on the larger side with around 75-100 people, but we were able to get up close to the rocks at various points and see seals. Some people even saw dolphins! I would definitely recommend taking a helicopter out of Milford Sound back to Queenstown if you can. The views were incredible
Review provided by Tripadvisor
La1187
Jan 16, 2025
Ivan is great, fly back - First want to say that Ivan (our tour guide) was amazing. Super knowledgeable about the flora and birds, and more. I especially appreciate information about Māori history.
Only losing a star because we wish we had flown back. The drive back is long and we sorely regretted missing several hours of the afternoon in queenstown.
Highlights: saw seals and kea, the boat operator was great as informative, and great bus playlist from Ivan
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Howard_m
Jan 15, 2025
The cruise itself was... - The cruise itself was amazing! The bus ride getting there had some amazing views as well. Stops along the journey were well planned. Well worth the trip! Only wish more information was shared about the terrain, wildlife, and history of the area.
Review provided by Viator