Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown
Overview
Available languages
13 hours
Mobile ticket
Milford Sound is arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand and a must-see for any traveller. Whether seen in sunshine or rain, the incredible views are guaranteed to leave you awestruck. This globally award winning small group tour is for travellers seeking an all-inclusive, uniquely-kiwi, personalised trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound and back.
Our fleet of modern Mercedes vans are fitted with leather seats, panoramic scenic windows, Wi-Fi and Spotify. Enjoy a small-group journey with 15 people maximum for ultimate comfort and undivided attention from your guide.
Let your Altitude Tours guide entertain you with in-depth knowledge of the area, as you travel from Queenstown into the Fiordland National Park on the famous Milford Road. Enjoy many scenic photo stops at both famous locations, as well as your guide's favourite spots.
Enjoy a 1hr 45min boutique uncrowded cruise and picnic lunch while taking in the incredible beauty that Milford Sound has to offer!
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please bring walking shoes, warm clothes and rain jacket.
Please be aware that Milford Sound is a 5 hour drive from Queenstown (one-way with sightseeing stops). This is a full day excursion, and including the 1hr 45min cruise on the fiord, allow approximately 13 hours door to door.
A packed picnic lunch is included in your experience. The default choice is a chicken, however you can request a vegetarian lunch until 5pm the day prior.
Please bring a reusable water bottle on tour with us. There are multiple locations to refill during the day.
The cruise operator requires all passengers need to be able to board and disembark the vessel without assistance in case of an emergency.
What To Expect
Start your day by meeting our friendly local guide at or near your Queenstown accommodation. You'll travel in style in a premium Mercedes van designed for touring with only 15 seats onboard. The first leg of our journey to Milford Sound transports you from Queenstown through the picturesque Southland farming country and the charming town of Te Anau, where we'll make a brief stop by the lakeside for refreshments.
Lake Te Anau
Lake Te Anau is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The lake covers an area of 344 km², making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island. It is the largest lake in Australasia by fresh water volume.
Options
6.30am Glass Roof Van & Lunch
Cruise : This tour includes a 1 hr 45 min nature cruise on Milford Sound Packed Picnic Lunch: This tour includes a packed picnic lunch. The default option is chicken; please get in touch if you would prefer a vegetarian Glass Roof Mercedes Sprinter: This option connects to our 6:30am departure which offers a guaranteed glass-roof top van. Pickup included
7.30am Departure & Lunch
Nature Cruise: This tour includes a two hour nature cruise on Milford Sound Packed Picnic Lunch: This tour includes a packed picnic lunch. The default option is chicken; please get in touch if you would prefer a vegetarian Standard Van: Our 7.30am departure is conducted in out standard premium Merceds touring vans Pickup included
6am Summer Departure & Lunch
Nature Cruise: This tour includes a 1 hr 45 min nature cruise on Milford Sound. Packed Picnic Lunch : This option includes a packed picnic lunch box. The default selection is chicken, with options to change to vege. Standard Van: This tour is conducted in our standard premium Mercedes touring vehicles. Pickup included
What‘s Included
Packed picnic lunch is included
WiFi on board
Convenient pick up and drop off locations around Queenstown
Tea & coffee available on the nature cruise
Knowledgable and friendly local driver/guides
1hr 45min nature cruise on Milford Sound
Off-the-beaten track scenic photo stops en route
To reduce single-use plastic, we do not provide water bottles. We recommend anyone travelling NZ to have their own reusable water bottle. There are several locations to refill during the day.
Pickup points
Mercure Queenstown Resort
21 Sainsbury Road, Fernhill Queenstown New Zealand
The Rees Hotel, Luxury Apartments and Lakeside Residences
377 Frankton Road, Lake Wakatipu Queenstown New Zealand
Hotel St Moritz Queenstown - MGallery Collection
10-18 Brunswick Street, Queenstown New Zealand
Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview
88 Frankton Road, Queenstown New Zealand
QT Queenstown
38-54 Lake Esplanade, Queenstown Queenstown New Zealand
Kamana Lakehouse
139 Fernhill Road Queenstown New Zealand
Rendezvous Heritage Hotel Queenstown
91 Fernhill Rd Queenstown New Zealand
Queenstown Holiday Park Creeksyde
54 Robins Road, P O Box 247 Queenstown New Zealand
Crowne Plaza Queenstown By IHG
93 Beach Street, Queenstown New Zealand
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,611 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wonderful Experience
arshdeep s,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had best experience on tour to milford.
Excellent
991ofeliac,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amy , our tour guide is so knowledgeable and very friendly. We have the best time even it's a long day . Great job.
Bloody brilliant
Culture31393254236,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the day tour with Nev, he is a great bloke, very knowledgeable and a great sense of humor. Looked after us well with plenty of photo stops along the way. Was an absolutely magic day would highly recommend!!
Absolutely stunning Fjords!
SofiaE441,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing. The tour guide - Amy - was lovely and gave us an incredible drive from Queenstown up to Milford Sound with great explanations of the area and the way there, and tips for the ferry ride as well. We are greateful for an amazing experience we had also on the helicopter flight for the way back - once in a lifetime!
Milford sound - spectacular
Vicky A,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If you are proned to motion sickness sit at front of the van and maybe take a travel motion tablet apart from that the tour has spectacular scenery and the boat ride was wonderful, saw a mother dolphin with her two babies they swam alongside our boat out through the sound and followed us back our tour guide was wonderful I called him Milo he was very knowledgeable & friendly
Beautiful Milford Sound
F9391STwendyc,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great day and absolutely beautiful experience and our host was amazing , thank you James , got us to Milford sound and back safely with the odd joke or two. The day went perfectly and awesome scenery.
Absolute 10/10 with Altitude Tours!
Aujie B,Jun 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00If you are looking to experience Milford Sound without the stress of driving the winding roads yourself, do yourself a favour and book with Altitude Tours. From start to finish, the entire day was seamless, comfortable, and spectacularly beautiful. We traveled in a premium, modern Mercedes minibus which made a massive difference for a long day of driving. The large windows were perfect for taking in the dramatic landscapes, and the smaller group size felt incredibly personal—miles away from those massive, crowded tour buses. A massive, special shout-out goes to our amazing tour guide, Katy. She truly made the trip unforgettable. Katy is an absolute gem—incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and her storytelling brought the history and geography of the region to life. She timed all the must-see stops perfectly so we missed the big crowds. She was also very considerate about scheduling toilet breaks, and we never felt rushed during the stops. A bonus experience happened when she spotted a group of Kea on the way back. She made a quick stop so we could safely get up close and watch these cheeky, intelligent alpine parrots check out the bus—an absolute highlight of the trip! The cruise itself through the fiord was breathtaking, getting us right up close to crashing waterfalls. The best surprise of all was a pod of dolphins joining us alongside the boat, leaping through the wake. If you're on the fence about which company to choose, go with Altitude Tours and cross your fingers that you get Katy as your guide. Couldn't recommend them more highly!
Wonderful trip to Milford Sound
B7537HEmiked,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful day. Our guide Sinchan was superb, knowledgeable entertaining and just plumb competent.
Must Do Trip!
H7644MIkarenm,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic trip! Sinchan made the trip really interesting with a side of good humour. Great knowledge on everything from History to Culture, Wildlife and Geography. Cultural stories and the Māori language was a pleasure to hear.
Queenstown to Milford Sound
V9307IQrobynm,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Weather very poor which spoilt it a bit. Driver very safe and kept us amused with anecdotes and Māori legends
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