Milford Sound Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Milford Sound. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Premium Milford Sound Small-Group Tour & Cruise From Queenstown

• Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience

• Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour From Queenstown

• 2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

• Premium Milford Sound Tour, Cruise, & Lunch From Te Anau

There’s no admission fee to Milford Sound. It’s within Fiordland National Park, and admission to New Zealand national parks is free. However, many people enjoy taking nature cruises, scenic flights, or day trips from Queenstown or Te Anau. Expect to pay around US$100 for a 2-hour cruise, upwards of US$460 for scenic flights from Queenstown, US$215 for a day tour from Queenstown with a cruise, and a bit less for tours from Te Anau.

Yes, Milford Sound is definitely worth visiting. It's one of the highlights of Fiordland National Park, and one of the most accessible attractions, as you can get there by road, unlike many of the park's mountains and waterways. If you have your own vehicle, you can drive to Milford Sound and hop on a scenic cruise, or book a guided tour from Queenstown or Te Anau so someone else can navigate the challenging mountain roads.

Per one customer who booked the Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience, "We had a fantastic time visiting Milford Sound. We were able to see many waterfalls throughout the sound. We also were very fortunate to see a pair of dolphins following our boat cruise, as well as seals resting on the rocks. Well worth the money."

Milford Sound is a year-round destination. Its famous waterfalls are generally most impressive in the spring months of September, October, and November when seasonal rain supercharges their flow. Longer days and warmer temperatures mean the Southern Hemisphere summer—December through February—is excellent for hiking, paddling, and other outdoor pursuits.

You can visit Milford Sound in one day. Day trips to Milford Sound depart from Queenstown and Te Anau, with time to hike, cruise, and explore. While overland trips are a popular option, coming by plane cuts down on travel time and features spectacular aerial views of the Fiordlands.

Cruises on Milford Sound vary in duration. Many popular boat trips take just under two hours, enough time to travel the length of the sound to its mouth at the Tasman Sea. Longer, 3-hour cruises generally use the extra time to seek wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and rare Fiordland penguins.

Morning cruises on Milford Sound are less crowded because coach trips from Queenstown generally don't arrive until mid-day. Some avid photographers prefer taking the first cruise of the day, catching the early-morning sunlight filtered through mountain peaks. Sunsets are also gorgeous, with westerly light to illuminate tumbling waterfalls.

The official hiking season on the Milford Track is from late October through April. Long days and warm weather make the summer months of December, January, and February the most popular hiking times, so advanced bookings are necessary. March and April mean settled weather and slightly cooler days.

Cruises are a popular way to see the sound, but there's more than one way to explore. Other options include kayak tours, day hiking on the Milford Track, and nature walks. Seeing Milford Sound from above is also spectacular, with sightseeing flights by helicopter and plane departing Queenstown and Te Anau.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Milford Sound. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Fiordland:

• Doubtful Sound

• Lake Te Anau

• Lake Manapouri

• Te Anau Glowworm Caves

• Milford Track

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Fiordland and Milford Sound.