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
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.
3.15pm Cruise & Picnic Lunch
3.15pm Cruise & Picnic Lunch
11.15am Nature Cruise & Picnic
11.15am Nature Cruise & Picnic
11.15am Nature Cruise & Buffet
11.15am Nature Cruise & Buffet
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Buffet
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Buffet
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 only
12.45pm Nature Cruise only
1.15pm Nature Cruise & Buffet
1hour 45min Milford Sound Nature Cruise with a freshly made Buffet Lunch.
1.30pm Nature Cruise only
1.30pm Nature Cruise only
3.45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
3.45pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
10:30am Cruise only
10:30am Nature Cruise
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
1.30pm Nature Cruise & Picnic
12.45pm Nature Cruise & Lunch
12.45pm Nature Cruise & Lunch
3.45pm Nature Cruise only
3.45pm Nature Cruise only
1.15pm Cruise only
1:15pm Nature Cruise: 2-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise with complimentary Tea & Coffee
3.15pm Cruise only
3.15pm Cruise
Reviews
322 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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!
Great experience
who100,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent customer service and great communication. They were really helpful as we tried to coordinate our tour with some friends travelling with a different group. Milford Sound is beautiful and the tour guide explained the geography and history on the trip. Highly recommend Southern Discoveries.
Unreal views
282teagank,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Would recommend going especially on a wet. We went on a sunny day so waterfalls weren’t flowing as much but scenery was beautiful and the drive from Queenstown made it very worth it
Beautiful Experience
Navigate26858385928,,Jan 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautyful experience the staff was very friendly. The Crew explained and guided about each and every areas covered properly.
Amazing staff and boat to see an amazing location
Paradise66113614169,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience, despite the rainy cold weather the staff were there to make sure we had a wonderful time and experience everything this beautiful place had to offer
This is the cruise you want!
ninjaneil,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unbelievable experience. This is the cruise you want to go on. I actually hired a different cruise and I was watching the southern discoveries boat from my other boat and I said to myself "that's the boat I want to be on!" When I finished that cruise I went on the cruise with southern discoveries. It wasn't even a comparison. They are the best by far! Not even close! Their nature guide talked way more and had way more information. The boats get way closer and more involved with the things you're seeing. It is just a completely night and day experience between what these people do and the other cruise operators do.
Overcrowded Boat and Short Trip
882fatemeha,,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00This was my second time visiting Milford Sound. While the scenery was still beautiful, I was disappointed with this particular tour experience. The boat was extremely full, and there did not seem to be enough seating, especially for older passengers or those with injuries who found it difficult to stand for long periods. Considering the high cost, the trip also felt quite short.
Milford Sounds journey into unspoiled territory
Companion08760522619,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This journey was well worth it for both the drive and the cruise but make sure it’s a beautiful day so that you can see the spectacular views
Great and easy booking
806manjam,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was really nice and easy to book through tripadvisor. I was a little sketchy about buying the tickets here since they were cheaper than on the official site but it is legit and it is super easy you just say your name on the counter before you enter the ship and that is it.
Great cruise, stunning landscape
Sammo23,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great experience with Southern Discovery. We took a 9.30am cruise in late December. We were fortunate that the weather was perfect and the cruise wasn't full at all. The guides were great, as were all staff on the boat. They talked through all aspects of Milford Sound and found and pointed out a bunch of wildlife (seals, dolphins) and detoured to see them. We took our 1 and 4 year old. Our 4 year old got a little bored, but this was on us, not the cruise. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Milford Sound.
From NZ$165.00
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