Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown

based on 1341 reviews

Duration:13 hours (approx.)
Location: Fiordland & Milford Sound, South Island

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Infant (Age : 0 to 3)

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Premium small group tour including boutique Milford Sound cruise with Cruise Milford, the number 1 Trip Advisor rated cruise company, and picnic lunch from Queenstown. There is no better way to see this most famous of attractions.

Highlights:
• Milford Sound Cruise with Cruise Milford
• Fiordland National Park
• Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Hollyford River, Homer Tunnel & Mitre Peak
• Wildlife Spotting

While the destinations you will be visiting are truly spectacular, Cheeky Kiwi Travel believe it is our small groups, our guides, the journey and little details that set our tours apart. Secret stops, wildlife viewings, specially designed vehicles and other pleasant surprises ensure our tours are an experience to remember.

Our tours are led by our passionate tour guides, notorious for bringing your journey to life by sharing stories and background knowledge, and run in modern, comfortable minibuses that are packed with extras, ensuring your comfort and safety.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Queenstown
Your tour starts in the stunning city of Queenstown. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventure today but also point out and guide you past some of the area’s top highlights.
2. Lake Wakatipu
Departing Queenstown we wind our way around Lake Wakatipu, with amazing views of ‘The Remarkables’ Mountain Range and the lake, stopping for photos is a must.
3. Devil's Staircase Lookout Point
Continuing around the lake we will pass through Devil’s Staircase. This elevated windy part of the road is famous for dramatic photos and setting the scene for the day to come.
4. Lake Te Anau
After more amazing mountain, river and farmland views we arrive in Te Anau, home to Lake Te Anau, New Zealand’s second largest lake. While in this idyllic town we will stop for a break and maybe meet some of the local animals or wildlife. Continuing along the lake we stop at Te Anau Downs, the starting point for the Milford Track, to hear the stories and admire the views.
5. Eglinton Valley
Leaving Te Anau and entering Fiordland National Park we stop in Eglinton Valley. With views worthy of Lord of the Rings, this valley follows the path of an ancient glacier through Fiordland. One of the first major attractions as you enter the park, it really sets the scene for a journey that only get more impressive the deeper you get.
6. Mirror Lakes Walk
Our next stop on this epic adventure is Mirror Lakes for a short stroll to see the famous reflections of the Earl Mountains. Get the right day, take a good picture and no one with be able to tell which way is the right way up for the photo.
7. Lake Gunn
Continuing along the Milford Road we come across Lake Gunn. Named after a famous explorer and popular for fishing, often we will stop at Lake Gunn for some photos and to enjoy the peace.
8.
A short drive away we start passing the Hollyford River a gorgeous and powerful river full of large boulders and rapids. Feeding into the river at Falls Creek is the first of our extremely impressive waterfalls of the area, one of many to come.
9.
Climbing in altitude we go deeper into the Darran Mountains and these views require another stop to admire and take photos. We are also entering the area where Kea (the world’s largest alpine parrot) like to live. Start keeping an eye out for these large, cheeky and colourful birds that never fail to thrill and entertain when found.
10. Homer Tunnel
To make our way back down towards the sea we enter the mind-blowing hand-built Homer Tunnel, hearing the incredible history and stories. Emerging from the tunnel the valley descends sharply towards Milford Sound and on a rainy-day hundreds of waterfalls cascading down the mountain side.
11. Milford Sound
Following the valleys to the sea we arrive at Milford Sound where you will board your cruise with Cruise Milford (the No. 1 Cruise operator in Milford Sound on TripAdvisor).
12. Milford Sound
The Cruise Milford experience offers a boutique cruise on a smaller boat which is less crowded and a crew that offers a much more informative and personal tour of Milford Sound. The smaller boat means you get closer to the wildlife and nature including the New Zealand fur seals basking on the rocks, massive rock faces rising for hundreds of metres out of the sea and the waterfalls cascading from an ancient rainforest high in the mountains. This cruise is unbeatable.
13. Pops View Look Out
Next we pull over to admire the elevated amazing views of the divide in the Southern Alps, close to the start of the Routeburn Track. While here the guide will tell you the stories of ancient Maori explorers.
14. Queenstown
Sadly we must start to head back to Queenstown but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip and many stops and breaks along the way.
15. Mitre Peak
While on the boat cruise you will be able to marvel at the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak, the iconic Milford Sound mountain, with its steep triangular peak rising high up above the reflective waters of the Milford Sound.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
• A moderate amount of walking is involved.
• Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
• Children aged 7 years and below are required by law to travel in a child safety car seat. If you don't have a car seat one can be provided (See Exclusions) Please advise at time of booking.
• Scenic flight weight restrictions are 116 KG
• Scenic flights cannot be confirmed without full names and weights of all travellers
• If you have dietary requirements. Please kindly indicate it to the special requirements at the time of booking

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : 649jacquiv
We had Jeff as our tour guide and had an amazing time. We loved Jeff’s fun personality and knowledge of the area and wildlife. His driving was great and you felt safe. Lots of great stops for pictures. The boat cruise was enjoyable and we were fortunate to see the dolphins and their babies. Getting up close to the waterfall and getting wet while taking pictures was fun. Don’t let the length of the day deter you from booking. Ask for Jeff 😊
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 06:46:37

Posted By : Go40593275604
Sensational! Thanks Jeff for such an epic trip, your storytelling, local knowledge and for sharing your favourite photo spots! The whole experience was smooth, fun and professional and I just loved how you went out of your way to make this experience special for everyone. Every little detail including a awesome lunch and snacks.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 05:47:01

Posted By : 905charmainea
A fantastic day was spent in Fiordland . Couldn’t fault the operator from booking , communication and delivering a great trip .
The guide ,Colin was punctual, knowledgeable and very polite and courteous.
The scenery was spectacular . Despite the early start it was necessary to cover the activities in a day
The lunch was delicious and exceeded expectations . The bus was very comfortable and roomy for the 14 guests .
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-12 05:35:01

Posted By : Rosa_H
The tour was AMAZING. We loved every spot we stopped at and loved the Milford Sound. Each spot looked magical, as if it was plucked out of a fairytale. We tried taking pictures that would do the views justice but just couldn’t.

Aside from the great views we had an amazing tour guide, Hennah. She was so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. We delighted in her stories about the natives. She drove safely and made the long drive enjoyable.

We definitely recommend this tour.

If you’re going in the month of June wear warm clothing.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 07:31:18

Posted By : JayabharathiP
Hannah was amazing, enlighted with insightful info and great Māori legends.
Ample stops and wonderful viewing spots on the way.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 05:30:23

Posted By : denisemj62
So much to see and we were very lucky having a great van full of cheery happy people.
Our guide/driver was Renee. She was such a great driver and was so full of good information. She did not talk too much but at all the right times.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-11 01:30:42

Posted By : Pioneer46750610451
This activity was just perfect! I think this is the best possible excursion to discover the Milford Sound. Our guide Cameron was amazing, he shared his passion for this place with us and made us discover unusual spots. the organization was perfect from A to Z, with the pick-up, the viewpoints, the lunch and boat cruise and the return. Thank you for this incredible day!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-10 07:26:26

Posted By : jojoey86
The tour was informative. We're able to stop on places where big tour buses can't. The tour guides where amazing. The cruise itself was fantastic, especially getting close to one of the waterfalls.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-10 01:05:07

Posted By : jessicatM6110TJ
An incredible trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Our tour guide Jeff was enthusiastic, friendly and super knowledgeable. He is also an ex-photographer and took some amazing photos of my partner and me. The stops and views along the way to Milford Sound were spectacular and we had great photo opportunities. The cruise around Milford Sound was lovely and we got up close and personal with waterfalls and dolphins. Jeff recommended for us to take the scenic flight back to Queenstown and he organised and booked it all for us. The flight was with Glenorchy Air and we could not recommend it enough! It was incredible! Our pilot Connor was also very knowledgeable and ensured we had a smooth and comfortable flight. Thank you so much Jeff and the Cheeky Kiwi team!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-09 18:16:48

Posted By : Julian_H
Highly recommended tour, the drive from Queenstown takes you through incredible scenery, culminating with Fjord National Park, followed by the cruise through Milford Sound. For the return trip to Queenstown, highly recommended to take the flight option, a surreal experience, getting a glimpse of New Zealand wild soul, 12,700 peaks, glaciers, and more. The guide has been a wealth of knowledge, mixing history with facts and fun information.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-09 12:17:24