Milford Sound Nature Cruise with Southern Discoveries
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Discover Milford Sound with the experts. For over 70 years, we've shared our passion for the natural wonders of Milford Sound. Our premium catamarans are purpose-built for uncrowded comfort and unbeatable views.
More space means better memories. Enjoy ample room to roam, inside and out. Get closer to the spray of waterfalls and snap epic photos of Mitre Peak or Stirling Falls from outdoor viewing decks, or relax in the cosy interior cabins.
Immerse yourself in nature, not a crowd. We ensure a premium experience for all. Complimentary tea and coffee plus options to pre-order a picnic lunch or choose the To Kai buffet on selected departures.
Cruise with the original Milford Sound experts and discover the wonders of this unique fiord—all without feeling rushed.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
Car Parking: On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the main carpark to the Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Alternatively, you can park free of charge at Deepwater Basin Carpark and walk over to Freshwater Basin to the Cruise Terminal. This walk is approximately 30 minutes in duration, so additional time will need to be allocated in order to do this comfortably and arrive at the terminal 15 minutes prior to your cruise for check-in.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Your journey starts here, check in with friendly staff at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu)
Fiordland National Park is in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for the glacier-carved fiords of Doubtful and Milford sounds. A beech forest trail on the sandy Milford shore offers views of towering Mitre Peak.
What‘s Included
Multi-lingual app for commentary available: App Store and Google Play search Southern Discoveries
FREE Tea and coffee
Live commentary on board from our passionate skipper
Picnic lunch (if option selected)
Nature Cruise of up to 2 hours
Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Alcoholic Beverages
On arrival at Milford Sound you can park at the Milford Sound carpark at a fee of $10 per hour.
Options
3.45pm Nature Cruise only
3.45pm Nature Cruise only
11.15am Nature Cruise & Picnic
11.15am Nature Cruise & Picnic
3.15pm Cruise & Picnic Lunch
3.15pm Cruise & Picnic Lunch
1.15pm Cruise only
1:15pm Nature Cruise: 2-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise with complimentary Tea & Coffee
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Buffet
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Buffet
1.30pm Nature Cruise only
1.30pm Nature Cruise only
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
3.15pm Cruise only
3.15pm Cruise
3.45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
3.45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
11.15am Nature Cruise only
11.15am Nature Cruise only
10:30am Cruise & Picnic Lunch
10:30am Nature & Picnic: Enjoy a freshly packed Picnic Lunch onboard your Milford Sound Nature Cruise.
11.15am Nature Cruise & Buffet
11.15am Nature Cruise & Buffet
10:30am Cruise only
10:30am Nature Cruise
1.15pm Cruise & Picnic Lunch
1:15pm Cruise & Picnic Lunch: 2-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise with freshly packed Picnic Lunch.
12.45pm Nature Cruise & Lunch
12.45pm Nature Cruise & Lunch
1.15pm Nature Cruise & Buffet
1hour 45min Milford Sound Nature Cruise with a freshly made Buffet Lunch.
12.45pm Nature Cruise only
12.45pm Nature Cruise only
Reviews
331 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Eighth wonder of the world!
995jadew,,Feb 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow! What a spectacular place. You have to go here if you come to New Zealand-it is nicknamed the eighth wonder of the world, and it really is!!
Exceeded All Expectations!
X8917JUelenas,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great experience going on Milford Sound cruise with Southern Discoveries. We chose the option to be picked up and dropped off in Te Anau by a bus driver and also took the cruise. The bus driver was very friendly, accommodating and extremely knowledgeable. He stopped at all the pull offs on the road and had great commentary about each attraction. We learned so much from him that we wouldn’t have known if we didn’t go on the bus ride. The cruise was incredible! The ship went out all the way to the Tasman Sea and got really close to the waterfall, both of which were the highlight for my husband and I. They also had unlimited free coffee on board. We are so happy that we chose Southern Discoveries!
The best experience
P4442GKsuec,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have been before but this was just as good. My family from the UK came and loved it especially the great commentary. Well done Southern discoveries!!
Views
G9806GSrachelc,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Enjoyed the commentary and views. Weather was great too. Waterfalls were spectacular and great we could get so close. Thanks
Mesmerising experience provided by Exceptional staff
Meander61941171073,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful experience with Southern Discoveries. The nature cruise was absolutely mesmerising, with stunning, unforgettable views. On top of that, the staff were exceptional. One of the female crew members (sadly, I don’t remember her name) went out of her way to take beautiful photos of us and made sure everyone was well looked after. She was truly amazing and made our experience even more special.
Excellent tour
eyoung15,,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour! Informative, fun, and very well thought out. We travelled to and from Queenstown and were worried it would be a long day, but the guides did a great job balancing information with enough rest breaks to keep it enjoyable. Highly recommend.
Disappointing lack of empathy and transparency during a medical emergency
729barakt,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We had a medical emergency involving an injury just hours before our scheduled cruise. We immediately contacted Southern Discoveries and provided a formal medical certificate as requested by their own terms. Despite the clear medical evidence, our request to reschedule was initially denied. It took numerous phone calls and emails, and a great deal of persistence on our part, before they finally agreed to let us move the booking. However, even after accepting our medical documentation, they insisted on charging an additional $85 surcharge. Their explanation was that our original "BookMe" rate couldn't be honored and we had to pay the difference to a standard fare. After following up with BookMe directly, they confirmed that this extra charge was entirely at the operator’s discretion and not a platform requirement. While the cruise itself was lovely, the management's approach was opportunistic. It is disappointing to see a company use a genuine crisis as a reason to "upsell" a customer to a higher fare bracket rather than honoring the spirit of their medical exception policy.
The fjords were spectacular
Ggrund3,,Jan 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The fjords were the most outstanding part of our trip to New Zealand. They were just as good as the fjords in Norway or Alaska. The walls were straight up hanging valleys, cirque, deep water, and the naturalist aboard was very interesting. The two hours we spent, cruising around them were amazing. As far as we were concerned, this definitely was the best scenery in the southern island.
Amazing experience
Scenic720628,,Jan 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Milford sound was breathtaking. Yes you will sit hours in the bus from Queenstown there and back but it's definitely worth. The weather didn't look good at first but on the coast it's always different than in Queenstown. It was one of my best travel experience in my life and I recommend it 100%. Big thanks to our guide Peter and our driver Coppy.
Milford sound-Southern Discoveries
Z7038QFninap,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The trip with Southern Discoveries was amazing. Not only because of the beautiful nature, but the bus driver/ tour guide added a special touch by ensuring that the ride to Milford Sound went quickly and, most importantly, funny. I also liked the panoramic roof of the bus. For lunch, we had a buffet , which was exceptionally tasty compared to other trips we had taken elsewhere. I highly recommend the trip with this company; you won’t regret it!
From NZ$165.00
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