Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Te Anau, New Zealand
- 9 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Discover one of the jewels in the crown of New Zealand's spectacular South Island on this full day Milford Sound hiking tour with cruise. Travel along the Milford Road from Te Anau and enjoy panoramic views over the beautiful countryside. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise through the fjord and out to the Tasman Sea, and gaze over soaring clifftops and plummeting waterfalls. Afterwards, enjoy short guided walks and explore Fiordland's spectacular natural scenery with a local nature guide.
- Informative, friendly and professional guide
- Small group ensures personal service
- All-inclusive tour
- Hotel pickup included
What's Included
- Small-group transport (max 15 travelers) in a modern minivan with local guide
- Milford Sound sightseeing boat cruise (small vessel)
- Guided & self-guided nature walks along Milford Road
- Te Anau accommodation pickup & drop-off
- Picnic lunch (vegetarian & gluten-free available with advance notice)
- Queenstown pickup (tour departs Te Anau only)
- Personal expenses
- INFANTS - Sorry we do not cater for children under 5 years
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.8:00 am
What To Expect
1
Milford Sound
2
Trips & Tramps
3
Lake Te Anau
4
Mirror Lakes Walk
5
Homer Tunnel
6
Lake Gunn
7
Eglinton Valley
8
Fiordland National Park
9
Te Anau Downs
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates in all weather – please bring a good rain jacket and practical shoes.
- Bring any required personal medication.
- Tour departs from Te Anau, not Queenstown. Allow 2.5 hours driving time if coming from Queenstown.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 768 reviews
TimandAmy_E, Apr 2026
Not to be missed. Better than expected and we had high expectations. Ben, our guide, was terrific, both highly knowledgable and accommodating
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled to hear the experience exceeded your expectations. Ben will be delighted to know he made such a positive impact—he truly loves what he does. Hope to welcome you again soon!
Francis_L, Apr 2026
Had an awesome day led by Jeff. He had so much knowledge about everything NZ along with a great sense of humour. Kept us entertained all day. He took us to some great hiking and photo spots which we would have never known about on our own. The cruise was so scenic. Great to be on a smaller boat. Highly recommended tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks so much for the lovely review! We’re glad you had an awesome day with Jeff—his knowledge is only matched by his legendary Dad jokes!
Great to hear you enjoyed the hidden hiking and photo spots, and the more personal feel of the cruise. Really appreciate the recommendation!
John_P, Apr 2026
The trip includes a guided drive to and from Milford Sound from Te Anau and a two-hour boat cruise on the sound, including a tasty picnic lunch. The drives down and back include a number of photo stops and several interesting short hikes. Our Fiordland Trips and Tramps driver/guide was charming, and knowledgeable about local culture, history, and horticulture.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for the lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the Milford Sound experience, from the scenic drives and walks to the cruise and picnic lunch. It’s great to hear your guide made the journey even more memorable with their knowledge and charm
Kammy_H, Apr 2026
This was a wonderful tour. Our guide, Ben, had a great sense of humor, was very knowledgeable about the area and a safe driver over very winding mountainous roads. The lunch was both nutritious and tasty. The cruise was enjoyable but it's hard not to enjoy with such beautiful scenery.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
It sounds like Ben struck just the right balance of humour, knowledge, and steady driving on those classic Fiordland roads, always appreciated! Great to hear the day flowed so well, from the journey through to the walk, cruise, and a satisfying lunch along the way.
Milford really does make it easy to be impressed, but having a guide who brings the landscape to life makes all the difference. Delighted you had such an outstanding day exploring this special part of New Zealand.
Malik_K, Apr 2026
We had an incredible day touring Milford Sound. Our tour guide, Phil, was an incredibly friendly person. He did a great job with teaching all of us on the tour what he could, and pointed out lots of spots along the way.
Would recommend the experience to anyone wanting to travel to Milford Sound!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks so much for your review and recommendation! Phil is one of our many friendly, knowledgeable local guides. We're glad you had such a good day with us visiting Milford Sound :)
Christopher_H, Mar 2026
Our trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound was a highlight of our 3 weeks in NZ. Our guide, Mel, was informative and knowledgable regarding the Fiordland National Park and many of the features. The cruise on Milford Sound was also very enjoyable.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We’re really glad this was a highlight of your NZ trip, it’s a special part of the world. Mel will be chuffed to hear your kind words, she loves sharing her knowledge of Fiordland. Great to hear you enjoyed the Milford Sound cruise as well!
Peter_K, Mar 2026
Great knowledge by the local guide, weather was perfect, small group was excellent and well worth the trip
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Many thanks for travelling with us, and for taking the time to post a review. We are glad you had such a great day.
Melissa_T, Mar 2026
Really enjoyed the time if it is raining you are going to have amazing waterfalls. Really enjoyed our time be careful with the rain and being on the second deck, it did damage the one camera with water coming sideways off the roof.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks so much—we’re really glad you had a great time and enjoyed the waterfalls 😊
We appreciate the reminder about taking care in rainy conditions and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Scott_K, Mar 2026
Great day
Well organized. Our guide Phil was very knowledgeable about the area and taught us many things about the plants and birds. He also took us to places to stop at along the way to see wonderful views
Highly recommend this experience for people looking to visit the Milford Sound
Response from Host, Mar 2026
It’s brilliant to hear you had such a great day out with us, and that Phil looked after you so well. He’s a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to Fiordland’s plants and birdlife, and he genuinely loves sharing those little details that bring the landscape to life.
Those scenic stops on the way to Milford Sound are some of our favourite parts of the journey too, it’s not just about the destination, but soaking up those wonderful views along the road. Thanks for your review!
Kathleen_S, Feb 2026
Fewer people in a van vs bus equals more time walking in the forest with a guide! We had about 25 people on the boat which I think could have held more. This was a lovely experience!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Totally agree! That’s the beauty of small groups, more time on the track and less time waiting around. So pleased you enjoyed the extra forest time with the guide, and that the cruise felt relaxed and uncrowded too. Sounds like a pretty special day out in Milford!
Francesca_P, Feb 2026
Our guide on the bus, Helen, was very helpful and knowledgeable. The boat cruise was very smooth and the view spectacular!All in all a great experience.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
We are so pleased you enjoyed your day with Helen. Milford never disappoints. See for another Adventure soon.
Gail_M, Feb 2026
Jacob was our tour guide for the day and was informative and helpful. We enjoyed our whole day. The drive to Milford Sound was just a spectacular as the boat ride on the sound. Jacob gave everyone plenty of time to enjoy all the sights.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for your review. Travelling from Te Anau means you get to spend more time enjoying the spectacular Milford Road and less time on a coach! We will pass your feedback on to Jacob :)
CarlKevin_D, Jan 2026
Great way to see Milford sound. It was nice to look out the window and not have to concentrate on driving. Our driver Jacob provided us with some good information on the drive over. Milford Sound is amazing. Lunch was also very good.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Great to hear you enjoyed the trip to Milford Sound, it really is something special. Being able to sit back, enjoy the views, and leave the driving to us makes a big difference, doesn’t it. I’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Jacob; he’ll be chuffed to know his commentary added to the day. Glad you enjoyed the lunch as well, and hopefully we’ll see you back in Fiordland again one day.
Henry_B, Jan 2026
An excellent outing thanks to great weather, gorgeous scenery, and a very personable and knowledgeable guide. The name of the tour operator is Trips and Tramps out of Te Anau and I recommend them wholeheartedly.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you had an excellent day and enjoyed the great weather, stunning scenery, and your guide’s knowledge and company. Thanks for the recommendation — it really means a lot to us. We hope to see you again on another Trips and Tramps adventure! 😊
Chrissy_O, Jan 2026
Amazing tour and guide! Phil was SO knowledgeable and make the experience so easy, informative, and fun! The tour was an ideal size (smaller group) to make it personal, but still excellent value. Our pickup was prompt and easy. The little stops on the way there and back really enhanced the trip, and Phil did an excellent job catering the stops to our tour group, including engaging our kids in a fun and educational way! 10/10 recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled you had such a great time and that Phil helped make the day fun, informative, and easy — especially for the kids! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the smaller group and the extra stops along the way. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again! 😊
Kate_H, Jan 2026
We had such a great tour guide Jacob. He showed us his favourite spots along the way and had great suggestions for other places to visit on New Zealand. The cruise was so beautiful.. highly recommended! The small group tour was great too and the lunches provided were very substantial and yummy.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your great review! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Jacob and appreciated his local tips and favourite spots. It’s wonderful that you loved the cruise, the small group experience, and the lunches too. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Jane_t, Jan 2026
A fantastic trip thanks to an amazing guide and a wide range of experiences. Took all of the stress out of driving, knew exactly where to stop for great pictures and showed some real hidden gems too
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re so pleased you enjoyed the trip and that your guide helped make it such a relaxed and memorable experience. We really appreciate you taking the time to share this
MaryTherese_K, Dec 2025
It was a great day experience. Well balanced. Driving, the cruise and some walking. Helen had so much interesting information to give about the history of NZ, conservation, wildlife, plants and fauna and Māori legends.
The weather played ball too so all and all a great day. Thanks Helen!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We’re thrilled you had such a well-balanced and enjoyable day, and that the weather cooperated too. Helen will be delighted to hear how much you appreciated her knowledge and storytelling. Thanks for joining us!
Debra_L, Dec 2025
What an amazing day! Ben was a fantastic host/guide. Very knowledgeable, friendly and fun. We thought the trip would be good but it far exceeded our expectations. Excellent scenery, boat trip was awesome even in the rain and the packed lunch was way better than most. Thank you!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so pleased to hear Ben made the day so memorable and that the trip exceeded your expectations—even in the rain!!. Thanks for joining us! 😊
Kathy_N, Dec 2025
This was a great day to spend a day - We didn't have to drive, our group was small (7 1/2), and fun to socialize with. Our trip guide, Mel, was very nice - knowledgeable with lots of interesting information and New Zealand facts along the way. She did a great job connecting with everyone in the group. We had plenty of stops (and restroom breaks) to get out and stretch our legs, and a good lunch was provided for the boat trip. The boat trip on the Milford Sound was excellent - nice sized boat and MANY waterfalls due to a great rain the night before. So glad we chose this tour - highly recommend it!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so pleased you enjoyed the relaxed small-group experience and that Mel helped make the day special. Great to hear the stops, commentary, lunch, and that spectacular waterfall-filled cruise all hit the spot. We really appreciate the recommendation!
bobbi_l, Nov 2025
Even though it was a cloudy day, and we didn’t get to see any penguins, only seals, our tour guide was exceptional. The information he shared along the way about history and the animals in the area was outstanding. The side excursions he stopped at along the way there and back were wonderful. I highly recommend you choose this trip to Mitford Sound.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for joining us. We're pleased to hear you enjoyed the day despite the cloudy weather and lack of penguins. It’s great to know your guide’s knowledge and commentary, along with the side stops along the way, made the experience memorable. We appreciate your recommendation and are glad Milford Sound delivered a wonderful trip.
JoAnne_K, Nov 2025
Jacob was a delightful guide - knowledgeable, friendly, funny and flexible - inviting us to suggest any steops asking the way in and out of Milford Sound that we would like him to make. He was also aware of needs for coffee and toilet stops.
The trip was stacked with extraordinary scenery and the short "tramps" of around 40min enabled us to experience the joy of walking to see a beautiful lake mirroring snowcapped mountains or alongside a turbulent river smashing into and pouring over rocks.
The cruise was in a smaller boat which felt more companionable as well as engaging the sense of awe at the sheer cliffs rising above.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a memorable day with Jacob. He’s fantastic at creating a relaxed, flexible experience, and it’s great to know his knowledge, humour, and care for everyone’s comfort made your journey even better.
We’re glad you enjoyed the stunning scenery and the chance to stretch your legs on those short walks—Milford Sound is truly special when explored up close. And the smaller cruise boats really do make the fjord feel even more awe-inspiring.
Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure one day!
Kristien_B, Nov 2025
This Milford Sound day trip from Te Anau offers three ways to enjoy such a stunning landscape: by coach, cruise and foot. Our excursion began when we were picked up from our hotel by guide/driver Geoff, who was funny, charming and super knowledgeable, keeping everyone in our small group entertained. The drive and cruise were breathtaking, and the walks gave us ample opportunity to stretch our legs, breaking up the journey.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Hi, thanks for your lovely review! Great way to describe the tour - with three ways to enjoy :)
Travis_R, Oct 2025
My wife and I enjoyed this tour! Pick up from our accommodations was a great perk. Our tour guides were knowledgeable, kind, and seemed like they wanted us to have a great time! We liked that the tour guide made stops along the way based on our interests.
I felt safe with our guide driving our 15 passenger van, even though we were driving through snow, rain and wind. The van seating arrangement was a 2 / 1, and seats were a little small. Enough seating for ~15, and we had 10 in our group, so it was nice to spread out a little.
Lunch was good! A shredded chicken/veggie tortilla wrap, apple, cheese stick / crackers, and a delicious homemade granola bar.
There was inclement weather, so we had a late start and I think we took a different boat than usual, that I would consider a large vessel. 2 full floors indoors, plus a top deck with no cover. We enjoyed the free coffee on board. It was fun when the captain drove through the waterfalls- wear waterproof shoes and clothing!!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks for your detailed review! We're so glad you both enjoyed the day, the stops along the way, and our guides’ care and knowledge. Great tips for future travellers too — thanks for joining us with Trips & Tramps!
Jayne_W, Oct 2025
Small group, entertaining guide who was passionate and knowledgeable about the area. Thoroughly enjoyed the tour and cruise. The cruise was on a smaller boat that went into Tasman Sea not just the sound . Collected from accommodation on time. Highly recommend
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks so much for your kind words! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour, cruise, and small-group experience. Great to hear you’d recommend Trips & Tramps!
Kerrie_S, Oct 2025
Such a fantastic day out, our guide was fun and had lots of interesting stories and info to share with the small group. Leaving out of Te Anua from my perspective made it all the more enjoyable and more suitable for our family. The day was wet and misty, the epic mountains shrouded in cloud cover much of the time. The rainforest walk was great (I would have loved something longer but that’s a different trip) and Milford Sound lived up to expectations and was breathtaking with so much water pouring off the mountains.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thanks for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed the day, even with the misty weather — it makes Milford Sound feel extra magical. Great to hear you loved the rainforest walk too!
Jeff_H, Oct 2025
Wonderful!
Rohann was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable, friendly and personable. The views were amazing.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re so pleased you enjoyed the amazing views and had such a great experience with Ro – she’ll be delighted to hear your feedback.
David_H, Sep 2025
Stunning views. Being driven and stopping at all the good spots was great. Interesting commentary and some lovely short walks.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! Our team loves creating a relaxed and engaging experience with time for those lovely short walks and glad you enjoyed the commentary on the way in.
Sunny_S, Sep 2025
Amazing day. Wonderful guide. No need to worry about the driving and having the chance to explore quite a few interesting short walking trails to add extra fun to the trip. Smaller boat can take you closer to the waterfalls.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We’re so pleased to hear you had an amazing day with us! It’s great that you enjoyed the relaxed pace, the short walks, and the chance to get up close to the waterfalls on the smaller boat. Thank you for your wonderful review and for travelling with us.
Nigel_E, Jul 2025
We travelled to Milford Sound with Geoff and his minivan yesterday and it was up there with the top highlights from our NZ trip. Travelling from Te Anau meant we could take our time there and back to stop off at different locations that were almost more impressive than Milford. Geoff's local knowledge, dad jokes and the beautiful scenery made for a brilliant road trip. The small size of the group (inc the small boat) was just what we were looking for as well. Thanks Geoff!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks so much for the great feedback! We’re thrilled to hear your day with Geoff was a highlight of your NZ adventure. Travelling from Te Anau really does let you take in all those incredible stops along the way—and we agree, some of them are just as breathtaking as Milford itself! We'll be sure to pass your kind words (and appreciation for the dad jokes!) on to Geoff. Safe travels and thanks again for joining us!
From $185.82
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau
768
9 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$185.82
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Water Tours
- Nature and Wildlife Tours
- Full-day Tours
- Day Cruises
- Bus Tours
- Cruises & Sailing
- Day Trips
- Outdoor Activities
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Te Anau
- Water Tours - Fiordland & Milford Sound
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Fiordland & Milford Sound
- Full-day Tours - Fiordland & Milford Sound
- Day Cruises - Fiordland & Milford Sound
- Bus Tours - Fiordland & Milford Sound
- Water Tours - Queenstown
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Queenstown
- Full-day Tours - Queenstown
- Day Cruises - Queenstown
- Bus Tours - Queenstown
- Nature and Wildlife Tours - Invercargill