Milford Sound, a must-do trip in New Zealand
Experience a leisurely, small group, day trip to Milford Sound from Te Anau, including a boat cruise along the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea. Our relaxed timetable ensures the best opportunity to enjoy walks, scenic stops and explore this iconic landscape from mountains to sea, with a local nature guide.
Scheduled group trip
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Adult From
NZ$275
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Child (5-15)
NZ$210
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Infant
NZ$125
Private Milford Experience
Milford Sound Coach
Embark on a captivating journey from Te Anau along the awe-inspiring Milford Road, a route renowned for its scenic splendor. Your adventure is guided by a knowledgeable local driver/guide. Their wealth of stories, insights, and genuine passion for the region transforms the landscape into a living narrative, to enrich your experience and create a memorable day, whatever the weather!
Traveling in style aboard a modern touring coach, you'll have the comfort and convenience to fully immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Fiordland. With a limited group size of maximum 15 people, each traveler receives personalised attention and ample opportunities to engage with the surroundings.
Milford Boat Cruise
Upon arriving at Milford Sound, join a 2-hour small boat cruise that takes you on a leisurely journey from Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. This intimate cruise offers exceptional viewing opportunities to immerse yourself in the beauty of the fiord's natural wonders. Relax on deck or in the comfortable cabin as you soak in the serenity and grandeur of one of New Zealand's most iconic natural attractions.
As you glide along the tranquil waters, be captivated by the majestic waterfalls cascading down rugged cliffs, the lush greenery of the rainforest, and the towering mountains that frame this picturesque landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for the diverse wildlife, including seals basking on rocks, and graceful dolphins in the waters.
Walks
Exploring on foot with a walk in Fiordland is a must, even if it is only a few hundred meters. After your boat cruise, discover more with our overland tour through the breathtaking landscapes of Fiordland, where every step unveils a world of natural wonders waiting to be explored. Our expert local guide will lead you on a series of captivating walks and scenic stops, immersing you in diverse environments while offering fascinating insights into the unique native flora and fauna.
Short Walks and Scenic Stops
Regardless of the season, whether in the vibrant hues of summer or the serene beauty of winter, our tour promises a range of short, guided hikes and scenic vistas that showcase the best of Fiordland. With our National Park concession and flexibility, we can venture into lesser-known areas such as the Gertrude Valley, Lake Gunn, and Hollyford Valley, ensuring you experience the region's hidden gems.
Your guide will tailor the day to the weather and seasonal highlights, guaranteeing an authentic and enriching experience. Join us on this immersive journey to uncover the secrets of Fiordland, where every short walk and scenic stop leaves a lasting impression and creates cherished memories of this pristine wilderness.
The tour was great!
The tour was great! Loved Geoff giving us the local perspective of the Milford Rd and Te Anau. We really appreciated the explanation of the sites and we were impressed on how he timed the stops to basically to beat the huge tour groups. Please thank Geoff for us!
An amazing experience
Even though it was raining most of the morning and the first part of our cruise the scenery was amazing. Normally only 3 main waterfalls to view but due to the rain there were heaps, and the clouds hanging over the top of the mountains looked amazing too. Neil, our guide for the bus trip to and from Milford Sound was very experienced and had excellent knowledge of the best points to stop for photos and his knowledge and love of the wildlife and fauna made the trip even better. We had an excellent day.
My wife and I had a phenomenal day!
My wife and I had a phenomenal day and it was one of the more memorable parts of our honeymoon in New Zealand. We were left feeling as though we had been privileged with an experience of the Milford Sound and Milford Road that was unique and better than those of the other hundreds of tourists we saw with other tour companies. The distinguishing factor, without a doubt, was our tour guide, Douglas, who was experienced, friendly, brimming with local expertise, and was clearly dedicated to ensuring that we had the best experience possible that fit our personal preferences. By the end of the day, we felt like we had even made a new friend.
Seamless and informative tour
Doug from Trips and Tramps ran a seamless and informative tour to Milford and back. The stops were carefully thought out and local information was awesome.
My friend Emma and I had a WONDERFUL experience with our trip to Milford Sound.
My friend Emma and I had a WONDERFUL experience with our trip to Milford Sound. Guide Jeff made it especially memorable and enjoyable.
Breathtaking tour - Becs was an amazing guide
Definitely the best decision to choose a small group. There were 6 in our party. Our guide, Becs, was very knowledgeable about the history, geography flora and fauna in the area. It was really interesting and enjoyable. Her experience showed in knowing the best places to stop and getting us where we needed to be on time. Our guide on the boat was also knowledgeable and interesting. We managed to see a tiny penguin and some seals as well as amazing scenery.
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with you.
Geoff was a fountain of knowledge and looked after us extremely well. We would recommend you tour to anyone looking to see the magnificent Milford Sound.
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Deer Flat
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Eglinton Valley
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Gertrude Valley
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Gunns Camp
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Mirror Lakes
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Humboldt Falls
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Homer Tunnel
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Key Summit, Routeburn Track
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Lake Gunn Nature Walk
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Marian Gantry
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Milford Sound
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Milford Sound Terminal
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Mirror Lakes
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Monkey Creek
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Pops View
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Te Anau
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Te Anau Downs
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The Chasm
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Queenstown
PRIVATE MILFORD SOUND EXPERIENCE
If done right, the journey to Milford Sound can be as rewarding as the final destination. With a Private Milford Sound Experience, you can fully immerse yourself into the heart of Fiordland National Park and give this World Heritage Area the full attention it deserves.
Enjoy every second of this bespoke experience can be catered to your individual interests, without the stress of having to be in the driver’s seat. Under the care and guidance of our knowledgeable local guides, you will uncover the hidden gems of Fiordland for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Relax and explore the spectacular alpine, sea and forest scenery of Milford Sound. Let us tailor the day to suit your requirements, incorporating the logistics of walking, photo stops, scenic flights and a boat cruise to create a most memorable day. We will also schedule the day to ensure a more wilderness experience and get you off the beaten path.
On your private day excursion, we offer a range of options to tailor the experience perfectly to your preferences. One of the exciting choices you have is to include a 2.5-hour hike to Key Summit on the Routeburn Track in the afternoon, adding an extra layer of adventure and scenic exploration to your day. If a longer hike sounds great to you please let us know.
Note the day doesn't include the boat cruise in the cost, this is an additional charge and treated as an add on. We choose to cruise with Mitre Peak Cruises, however you may like to do another option, please just reach out to discuss.
Meals
A picnic lunch is included, and includes a chicken and salad filled roll, sweet baked museli slice, and a piece of fresh fruit. Most dietary requirements can be catered for if details are provided prior to the day of travel. Hot drinks are available on board the boat.
Schedule
This trip departs daily, year-round (excluding Christmas Day 25 December)
Schedule
8.00 am Te Anau accommodation pick up, return 4.30-5.00 pm
Note return time will vary, depending on weather and group motivations on the day.
Pick up from all major Te Anau accommodation provided. Our default pick up is the Fiordland Community Events Centre, 20 Luxmore Drive, Te Anau. This offers plenty of free all-day parking for people located out of town or if accommodation is unknown at the time of booking.
What to bring
We recommend you bring comfortable walking shoes, day pack containing warm clothing including thermal hat and gloves, sunhat and sunglasses, waterproof jacket, filled reusable water bottle, and camera.
We Provide
We provide a professional driver/guide, all transport from Te Anau with walking and photo opportunities, plus a Milford Sound Boat Cruise, and lunch. Tea and coffee are provided on the boat.
Rates
Our rates change annually from 01 October, please check the booking system to confirm the rate during your travel time.
Infant - 0-5 years inclusive
Child - 6-15 years inclusive
Adult - 16 years +
Walks (5-40 minutes in length at a leisurely pace) and scenic stops will vary each day. Your guide will consider the seasonal highlights, weather conditions, and motivations of the group onboard. Rest assured you will enjoy a day of discovery and have a unique day out to maximise your Milford Sound experience!
Stops along the way may include (but not limited to);
1. Te Anau Downs – A photo opportunity before we leave the shores of Lake Te Anau. This sheltered harbour, is also where the Milford Track departs.
2. Lake Mistletoe – This 30- minute walk allows you to explore a wetland as you walk around a small lake.
3. Te Anau Downs Station – Deliver the mail to this historic station, we have the mail contract along the Milford Road!
4. Eglinton Valley – Here we stop for photos and the opportunity to explore this glacier carved, frost cleared valley offering unrivalled views.
5. Mirror Lakes – An easy, 10-minute short walk to view the scenery and bird life. On a still day, the reflections of the mountains are amazing on the wetland, givoing rise to their namesake.
6. Deer Flat – A tranquil setting alongside the Eglinton River, prefect for a cuppa and yarn year-round.
7. Divide Shelter – This feature marks one end of the Routeburn Great Walk Track and has toilet facilites (a classic New Zealand longdrop, you have been warned)!
8. Lake Gunn – Enjoy a 30 to 40-minute nature walk through ancient, native beech forest, alongside an idyllic lake. The moss and towering trees create a beautiful backdrop to the trail and a most scenic walk any time of the year.
9. Pops Lookout – A scenic stop offering spectacular views over the Hollyford Valley and surrounding mountains as located at the main divide of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
10. Lower Hollyford Valley – Get off the sealed road and travel down this scenic road under the tree canopy.
11. Gunns Camp – Explore this historic camp destroyed in the floods of February 2020. Learn the history and see for yourself the power of nature in this beautiful, ever changing valley.
12. Marian Gantry and swing bridge – no visit to Fiordland is complete without experiencing a swing bridge! This sturdy version allows us to access a 30-minute walk through the lush rainforest alongside a series of spectacular waterfalls.
13. Christie Falls – Get a photo of this powerful, cascading waterfall alongside the main highway.
14. Monkey Creek – Fill your reusable water bottle with the pure water and spot the cheeky kea birds who love to hang out in this alpine setting.
15. Gertrude Valley – On a clear and calm day step into this alpine setting to discover the native plants, and in the warm summer months the pretty alpine flowers.
16. Homer Tunnel – This rustic tunnel pierces the shear rock and at 1.2 km long, makes quite the talking point. The spectacular views as you emerge from the darkness offer an incredible reveal as you travel to the West Coast of New Zealand.
17. Tutoko Bridge – Walk across this historic bridge and enjoy magnificent views of Mt Tutoko, the highest mountain in Fiordland National Park.
18. The Chasm – An easy walk to view dramatic, water-sculpted shapes in the rocks (currently only partially open, but a great place to see keas).
19. Milford Foreshore – Take this short 400 metre walk along the sandy foreshore to enjoy classic views of Mitre Peak. You could even get the chance to have a scenic swing, ask your guide to find out more!
20. Key Summit, Routeburn Track - For guests on the private tour wanting a longer hike option, a 2.5-hour guided walk to Key Summit on the renowned Routeburn Track is offered from 01 October to 30 April. This walk ascends 400m through lush beech rainforest and into the alpine environment with panoramic views of the surrounding Fiordland mountains, alpine lakes, and deep bush clad valleys.
If you wish to add this option on private tours, please indicate this at the time of booking!
