Milford Sound Premium Coach & Cruise from Queenstown with Lunch
Overview
Available languages
12 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
The best way to experience Milford Sound from Queenstown. We take care of the driving while you sit back and enjoy the stunning views from our premium coaches with panoramic windows, glass roofs, and USB charging ports. Your friendly driver shares stories about the area's history and unique ecology, with well-timed stops to snap photos of the amazing views. Our free multi-lingual commentary app is available on both the Coach and Cruise in eight languages.
Arrive in Milford Sound feeling refreshed and ready to cruise the fiord. Get ready for unobstructed views of thundering waterfalls and the towering cliff faces. Our premium Nature Cruise comes with options to pre-order a picnic lunch or choose the To Kai buffet on selected departures.
This trip takes care of all the transportation, including round-trip travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound and a seamless connection to your cruise. All you have to do is enjoy the experience.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
6.30am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (if you selected the 6.30am tour option) 7.00am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (if you selected the 7.00am tour option) • Travel on a premium glass-roof coach, equipped with reclining seats, extra legroom, air-conditioning •USB charging ports and onboard toilet • Experienced, local coach drivers provide engaging and informative commentary, and show you 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, sits on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu. It's from here you will set off on a day trip with Milford Sound's original Cruise operator, Southern Discoveries, from Queenstown into Milford Sound to enjoy a beautiful 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.
What‘s Included
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.
Options
8:30am Departure with Picnic
8:30am Departure with Picnic
6:30am Departure with Picnic
6:30am Departure with Picnic
7:00am Departure with Buffet
7:00am Departure with Buffet
Reviews
617 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great way to see Milford Sound
bret k,Mar 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Coach ride was very informative and a lot of fun. Cruise was great. Saw several dolphins. The Milford sound is an incredible place. So much epic beauty!
It is better to go to...
Deborah C,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00It is better to go to Milford after heavy rain. The bus stopped in places that's not worth it. Mirror lakes yes beautiful and on the way back the farm was cool. Boat was nice. Food was average.
Great journey excellent driver & very informative. Loved Milford Sound!
Margaret P,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Had a great journey! Loved the bus trip with a great driver Vaughn. Very informative. Loved the Milford Sound cruise!
Day trip Milford Sounds
Graham W,Mar 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00My personal mission was to simply see Milford Sounds. It was great. Just the boat part felt all rather rushed after a relatively long coach journey & you sort of waste half hour of the 2 waiting for the buffet. I’d of preferred a packed lunch handout upon boarding so free to roam but some might argue with that just a heads up that all ;)
Long drive with some...
Anand U,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00Long drive with some scenic spots along the way followed by a 2 hour lunch and cruise and return back. The lunch was Chinese cuisine with no vegetarian main course despite booking one in advance. The driver had a strong local accent and it was difficult to understand what he was saying (but he was talking a lot).
Incredible Nature & Views
Alyson E,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It starts with a long bus ride, but the views and stops along the way make it enjoyable. I took many pictures from the bus, and they all came out pretty well. The cruise around the sound is beautiful. We had the best weather, so the visibility was incredible all day. We even got some rain and fog at the end of the cruise to give us that experience. I give it 5+ stars. Our driver and tour guide were fun and informative. We always felt safe on the bus.
Long bus ride for a short boat ride
Relax61044000760,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Milford Sound was good but a little underwhelming compared to the expectations. The bus ride to get there was 6 hours from Queenstown. Two total hours of stops to take in the views. Once you arrive at Milford Sound, you immediately jump on the tour boat, wait in line for food that was plentiful but not necessarily good. The two hour boat ride was over in less than an hour and forty minutes. You see the full Sound but they turn around before you reach where the ocean enters the waters of the Sound. Wonderful waterfalls especially if it's raining and most days it is raining. Back on the bus and heading back to Queenstown it's a four hour bus ride with one stop. The waterfalls as you leave through the valley of a thousand waterfalls was spectacular. Would I do it again, not on the bus. There must be other ways to get to Milford Sound and be careful when you choose the ship to tour the Sound. Three stars good but not great.
Awesome guide and driver!
DJ J,Mar 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Bus #1 Awesome guide and driver! Very patient and knowledgeable. Explained everything clearly and made the journey enjoyable. Thank you for the great experience!
This is a breathtaking...
Meryl T,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00This is a breathtaking tour with outstanding scenery of mountains, Forrest’s, streams & lakes. We were lucky to score a very fine day which is a bit unusual! Be prepared for a very long day & looking forward to getting off the bus by the end, but well worth it for the experience. Coach was very comfortable with an experienced driver.
Great Milford Sound Tour
Frank P,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Yoda was both a terrific, knowledgeable, very interesting, Guide as well as a terrific Driver. Highly recommend him. The Milford Sound sight seeing boat ride and buffet lunch were really nice. Milford Sound is truly a special place.
Related Experiences
Operated by Southern Discoveries