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.
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.
Options
6:30am Departure with Picnic
6:30am Departure with Picnic
7:00am Departure with Buffet
7:00am Departure with Buffet
8:30am Departure with Picnic
8:30am Departure with Picnic
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
654 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing day. Stopped at a lot of spots along the way there because the weather was great.
Leanne N,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00It’s a long day but well worth it. The buffet on the cruise was delicious. Milford Sound was great to see.
Wow, this is the best way to see Milford Sound
Kim G,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an amazing day. While it may seem long, the drive does take a fair few hours but with opportunities for scenic photos and a coffee/toilet break it goes by really quickly. The Milford Sound cruise, food and commentary was also really well done. I can’t comment on the bus trip home because we decided to fly back which was totally worth the additional outlay. Our driver and guide Hamish and our pilot Josh really made the day!
Milford Sound Magic
Belynda H,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Stan was a fantastic driver and guide. The whole day was fabulous with lots of waterfalls and beautiful scenery!
our first leg of the tour...
Marie C,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00our first leg of the tour was to waterstone farm, which was incredible. we were able to feed the livestock and was pleasantly surprised with the animals. the animals were gentle creatures who knew that it was feeding time, what a treat for us! at the end of the tour we witnessed the farmer sheering a sheep! took all but 2 minutes! all in all the waterstone farm did not disappoint. the extra plus was Hadish (sp?), our driver. he is a delight. he gave us time to rest on the drive out since we had an early start. got us to our destination safely and then to our next stop where we changed vehicles. onto the coach we go with Keith. i can’t say anymore wonderful things about Keith. we made stop at the most beautiful spots, on our way to milford sound. he drove the coach like a rockstar, i give drivers so much credit! then the arrival to milford sound…if i had a sound affect it would be a bright sound, possibly with horns blowing. mind blowing is truly an understatement. if you’re ever visiting queenstown, please make the trip out to milford sound, absolutely worth the trip!
Comfortable Bus Tour with Beautiful Sights
Eric R,May 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00This tour was in a big bus which makes the ride comfortable. I also appreciated the stops a long the way to break it up. Milford Sound is gorgeous and really neat to see the waterfalls. We didn't see any wildlife on our excursion. The lunch food was not our taste, I wish they would say what the menu is ahead of time. Yoda was our driver and he was very friendly.
Life changing experience!
Meghana K,May 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The entire experience was amazing!!! Would highly recommend Southern Discoveries - the entire process was easy and the whole day was planned well. We had lots of beautiful little stops along the way which made Queenstown even more special. Special shoutout to our tour guide Yoda who did a great job with the tour, giving us great local information and being so friendly! Milford Sounds itself is heaven on earth! Nothing prepares you for it honestly - overall would do it again in a heartbeat 🙏🏽
Excellent Experience
Aaleah G,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It's long, but worth it! The most spectacular views driving into the Sound can be seen from the coach. I'm glad we did this instead of flying. The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and he stopped at several places for us to get out and take pictures.
Great excursion
Jennifer F,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent trip. Keith was super fun and informative. Milford sound is beautiful. Even tho it was cold and a bit wet, I would recommend this tour again and again.
Yoda was the best!!
Nicole Z,May 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide Yoda was amazing. He gave us so much information about how the landscape and the country has changed as well as so much information about the natural resources. You could really tell he loves his country. I especially like the surprise stop at the farm on the way back. It felt like back home. (I live in the Midwest in the US.) Seriously, one of the best tour guides we’ve ever encountered!!!
Good if you get a nice day
Magdalena L,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00It was a rainy day so didn't see much. No toilets on the bus. Usb-a plugs only, couldn't charge usb-c phone. On the plus side, the coach chairs were comfortable, the guide was great and the buffet was delicious.
Related Experiences
Operated by Southern Discoveries