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.
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.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
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.
7:00am Departure with Buffet
8:30am Departure with Picnic
6:30am Departure with Picnic
628 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Tracey Z,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
Absolutely stunning scenery at Milford Sound with a great crew on the boat. Very comfortable coach travel with extremely informative guide Peter and driver Jack. We had a thoroughly memorable day and highly recommend the tour.
Lori L,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
It is a long day but the amazing scenery and commentary makes it seem shorter! Around every corner we found incredible, dramatic views!!
Donna H,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
Very beautiful part of the world, and plenty to see on the way. It is however a very long day of mainly coach travel. There were a couple of lovely stops for pictures. The down side was the morning stop at a cafe that celebrated hunting with masses of antlers and a taxidermied baby dear- it was truly horrible.
JeanYves G,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
We had a very informative time on the bus and the boat ride. Ellie was an excellent guide and Jack was a very safe and steady driver along a very windy road.

Clement K,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
Greg was a great tour guide The bus ride is quite long Milford sound itself was beautiful The buffet was a typical mass market buffet, so don't expect too much. But again, the driver Greg was phenomenal
Robert G,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
What an incredibly beautiful day this was. Breaking up the bus trip on the way to the ship, with beautiful sights, was perfect. I couldn’t recommend this more highly.







Christine R,Mar 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
I thought we wouldn’t have a good day because of the rain but actually it turned out to be a great day. We saw so many waterfalls, it was stunning. Nick our driver and Peter our guide were very knowledgeable and entertaining, thank you for a great day.
Paul F,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
Its a long day but well worth it! Commentary was informative and the Milford Sound cruise was amazing
John R,Mar 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
It is a long day, around 5 hour coach journey each way from Queenstown. The coach journey is surprisingly good, with incredible views; the driver (Greg) was knowledgable and added a lot of fun to the day. The boat trip was excellent as was the onboard buffet. We were fortunate, insofar as the weather was in generous spirit and the Sound was pretty much like a mill pond. The trip was very well organised, the coach and boat journeys ran like clockwork.




Alyssa C,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
Excellent narration by driver/tour guide. Beautiful and diverse scenery- Worth the all day itinerary!
Operated by Southern Discoveries