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Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau: Explore World Heritage Fiordland National Park
4.6
122 Ratings
Te Anau
Be mesmerized by the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound on this full-day tour from Te Anau.
Be mesmerized by the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound on this full-day tour from Te Anau.
Duration:
7 hours, 45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Lake Te Anau - o Te Anau is known as the Walking Capital of the World. The mountains to the left are the Kepler Mountains, home of the Kepler Track, one of the popular walking tracks in the area. Te Anau is the gateway to Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. The town has a permanent population of approximately 2,500 people but this…
- Lake Te Anau - o Te Anau is known as the Walking Capital of the World. The mountains to the left are the Kepler Mountains, home of the Kepler Track, one of the popular walking tracks in the area. Te Anau is the gateway to Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. The town has a permanent population of approximately 2,500 people but this fluctuates greatly in summer when the town gets an influx of fishermen, hunters, outdoor pursuit seekers and holiday makers. It’s a popular holiday destination. We stop here for morning & afternoon breaks and comfort stops.
- Mirror Lakes Walk - o Mirror Lakes where most of the time the nearby mountains are reflected in the lakes. Being small, the lakes have less chance of being roughened by the winds compared to their larger counterparts and the large quantity of tannins leached from the soil into the waters give these lakes a much clearer mirror effect than many of the other lakes in the region. It is here you have the opportunity to walk along a boardwalk listening for Bellbirds and Tui’s which are protected native birds, whilst watching Black Scaups dive for food on the bottom of the lake between the various species of beech trees. These forests are said to be 135 million years old. We will drop you off at one end of the walkway and you can re-join the coach in 10 minutes at the far end of the board walk if you wish to go for a walk.
- Homer Tunnel - o As we head up towards the Homer Tunnel, on the right hand side you can see the remains of a camp including the oven in which the meals and bread were cooked. The shed to the left was designed to house the snow plough and was built in 1983. After its construction it was found that the doorway had not been made wide enough and the plough was not able to be housed there. It is now kept at the camp at Knobs Flat. The building today is known as the Chapel as it is one of the few areas of this region that has never been affected by avalanche.
- Monkey Creek - o Monkey Creek is named after one of three Government employees entrusted yearly to camp here and find a path through the mountains. Eventually his monkey like climbing skills allowed him to find a path, which though not particularly safe, was used for many years for guided walking tours. It is here we have the opportunity to drink the water or full your water bottles. Because this water is flowing directly from the mountains it is one of the few remaining places it is safe to taste fresh water without contamination and you realise without chemicals doesn’t really have a taste but is extremely refreshing. Be careful filling your water bottles because the water is very cold. Also don’t be surprised if a Kea or two drop in to say hello!
- Milford sound Hwy - o Our Premium Cruise vessel has been specifically designed to capture the views of Milford Sound with its unique glass roof and large viewing decks. The ‘Gem of the Sound’ offers an outstanding experience never seen in Milford Sound with an exceptional level of comfort and hospitality. A selection of snacks and noodles can be purchased on board along with a wide range of drinks from New Zealand and around the world. Visit the stunning Milford Sound on board an equally premium vessel that will look after you and your unique experience.

What's Included
- Local guide
- 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- On-board restrooms
- Live commentary on board
- Local guide
- 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise on Milford Sound
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- On-board restrooms
- Live commentary on board
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
Additional Information
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements directly to the operator 48 hours prior to departure
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements directly to the operator 48 hours prior to departure
Location
Kiwi Country
Town Centre
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
4.6
(122 Ratings)
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Paul_n
Apr 25, 2025
Well worth doing. The... - Well worth doing. The scenery is amazing. The drivers are very professional and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Camper25710251380
Apr 16, 2025
Lovely trip to Milford - Awesome from start to finish, the bus trip to Milford and the cruise. The bus driver was very informative and a very genuine guy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marian_f
Mar 29, 2025
Stunning Milford Sound - Went from Te Anau to Milford Sound. Comfortable coach with very informative driver Dwayne. He looked after us very well. Stunning scenery. Very relaxing cruise. Decent lunch.
Review provided by Viator
Colleen_s
Mar 17, 2025
Highly recommend - Really enjoyed. Adrian is a wonderful guide and an excellent driver. We felt safe always in that bus on a stormy day. We had interesting stops to see the “belly” and the mirror waters. We kept right to schedule but never felt hurried. The lunch box on the cruise was far better than anything we expected both in taste, quantity and contents. Milford Sound was hard to see through the rain and fog but glad we got the experience. Peaceful and quiet ride back to Te Anaí.
Review provided by Viator
Robecca_f
Mar 12, 2025
Go rain or shine - If it’s raining Don’t Cancel. The rain enhances the waterfalls. We were fortunate enough for it to rain the whole bus ride to Milford. When we got to the boat it cleared off and was sunny
Review provided by Viator
Judith_b
Feb 23, 2025
Clothing and phone information - Take a raincoat and warm clothes as the weather can change quickly. Ensure you take a power bank as the bus chargers did not work.
Review provided by Viator
Erino662
Feb 19, 2025
New experiences, new places, New Zealand - This was a wonderful experience from start to finish. Ivan was brilliant as both tour guide and driver, with impeccable timing with all his jokes! The cruise was beautiful and the staff were all great on board as well. A must see in the South Island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christine_d
Feb 12, 2025
Absolutely stunning scenery - Great experience. Milford was beautiful and the coach and boat well maintained but the number of travellers on the tour made it feel a little impersonal.
Review provided by Viator
Laura
Mar 20, 2025
Nice day trip from Te Anau. - We booked this tour because unfortunately the smaller tour was already booked. We were lucky and there were fewer travelers that day.
The guide on the bus was very funny and told us a lot of information about the region.
Stopovers are a bit short, but due to the schedule they are no longer feasible.
The tour on the ship was beautiful and the Milford Sound impressive. The food we would not have absolutely needed, but was fine.
We felt the tour was well organized and everyone was friendly and accommodating. Especially for families, the trip is really a great opportunity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L2307twkj
Feb 20, 2025
Disappointing - We've done many cruises and tours around the world and we were underwhelmed by Great Sights overall.
I had been warned they are hit and miss so I probably should have booked another company.
Our driver Adrian was good. But on the boat the service was ok, but not warm or welcoming from most of the crew.
One thing I would suggest is DO NOT order the picnic lunch for $40. One of ours was a vegetarian box which contained an appalling, empty and bland sandwich, and less food overall than the non vegetarian option. Even that was pretty average for the price. The cheese and bickies were plastic cheese too. We also spoke to a couple who had gluten free and were extremely disappointed by how stingy and poor it was for the price. They didn't even get the little chocolate we did...which has no gluten.
Of course Milford itself was magic. But I would suggest another company if you're expecting a great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor