Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Tour from Te Anau

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Te Anau, New Zealand

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.5

· Alan_S ·

Jun 2025

Beautiful drive. Plenty of stops for picture taking. Restroom breaks were adequate. Milford sound was just gorgeous. On the boat/cruiser, you can stay warm inside or let the cool, cool breeze sway you. Plenty of history and information given. Lunch was good, but if you are a big eater, bring snacks. I would do it again, and our guide was funny and kind and informatieve!

· Paul_E ·

Mar 2026

Absolutely fantastic trip would recommend it to everyone. Brendon our coach driver was brilliant very knowledgeable and the whole day ran like clockwork

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Overview

For those looking to explore one of New Zealand's most scenic drives, the Premium Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Tour from Te Anau is the perfect option. Join knowledgeable and experienced guides on a journey through lush rainforests, glacier carved valleys, and alpine lookouts, with plenty of opportunities for short walks and photo stops along the way before embarking on your cruise. Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and lunch as you take in the stunning scenery and learn about the fiord's fascinating history and wildlife from the welcoming crew. Finish with a refreshing dance under the Stirling Falls before heading back to Te Anau.

Join knowledgeable and experienced guides on a journey through some of New Zealand's most stunning scenery
Learn about the fiord's fascinating history and wildlife from the welcoming crew
Finish with a refreshing dance under the Stirling Falls
Explore Milford Sound aboard Fiordland's only glass roof vessel, the Gem of the Sound

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Coffee and/or Tea
Lunch
Milford Sound Cruise

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Kiwi Country
63 Town Centre, Te Anau 9600, New Zealand
The Kiwi Country / Hollyford Cafe is the pick up point for all travellers on the coach and cruise tour departing from Te Anau. Please meet the driver in the cafe section of the building. They will be wearing Pure Milford uniform.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Kiwi Country

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Fiordland National Park

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Milford Sound

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Fiordland National Park

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Most travelers can participate
Please ensure that a car seat or suitable restraint is brought for all passengers 4 years and under travelling on our coach to ensure their safety and safety of others
Piopiotahi Milford Sound is a place of exceptional natural beauty, carved by glaciers and surrounded by towering peaks and lush rainforest. As part of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s most remote and rugged region, this incredible environment also brings with it a range of natural hazards. While our team takes every measure to operate safely and keep you informed, it’s important that you are aware of potential risks so you can be prepared and confident during your visit. A full Natural Hazard & Risk Register can be found on the Pure Milford website.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 53 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Alan_S

Reviews

4.5

based on 76 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

A must do experience

Paul_E, Mar 2026

Absolutely fantastic trip would recommend it to everyone. Brendon our coach driver was brilliant very knowledgeable and the whole day ran like clockwork

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Kia ora, Thank you for a wonderful review! We are so pleased you had a fantastic trip to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound. Brendan is a fantastic asset to the Pure Milford Team and we are looking forward to telling him your kind words! We hope to welcome you back in the future. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Milford Sound Wonders

Subramaniam_E, Mar 2026

It was a wonderful experience. The company was very organised. The driver was fabulous. He gave a fantastic commentary and stopped at scenic spots. The Milford Sound boat crew was also very friendly. Everything was on time. We ordered picnic lunch which came with chicken pie or vegetarian pie ( the option was given), crisps, an apple, and a muesli bar. Unfortunately, we did not get our complimentary hot beverages. We were told that the hot drink dispenser had broken down. The company should have informed us earlier so that we could have grabbed our hot drink from outside.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Kia ora, Thank you for taking the time to leave a detailed review. We are glad you had a wonderful experience in Piopiotahi / Milford Sound and you found our crew to be very friendly. We apologize for the inconvenience of the broken down coffee machine. As you can imagine from an operational point of view it is difficult to reach hundreds of passengers to inform about an operational issue. Thank you for bringing this to our attention though! We hope that dispite this small issue that you left Piopiotahi / Milford Sound with some wonderful memories. Wishing you all the best with your future travels through Aotearoa and beyond. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Milford Sound

David_N, Feb 2026

It’s a long day but worth it if the weather is good. Great scenery. If you get coach sickness be prepared to take something as there are a lot of twists and turns

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora David, Thank you for the great tips there! We are glad you enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Fiordland and Piopiotahi / Milford Sound. Wishing you all the best with your future travels through Aotearoa and beyond. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford.

Lovely drive, with a good...

Lali_C, Feb 2026

Lovely drive, with a good number of stops and interesting information given by the driver. Beautiful cruise and yummy little packed lunch, I had the vegan GF salad wrap. Other options were pies. Free coffee, tea and Hot chocolate on board. Beautiful scenery 👌 .

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora Lali, Thank you for taking the time to leave a detailed review! We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your scenic drive along with the informative commentary through Fiordland. We are also glad to enjoy your sailing through the Fiord and enjoyed your lunch and the complimentary hot beverages. We hope you left Piopiotahi / Milford Sound with wonderful memories, and we hope to welcome you back in the future. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Well worth it!

Lucy_S, Feb 2026

Excellent trip, interesting and fun driver, Sebastian. Stunning scenery and very good value for money.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora Lucy, Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind review! We are pleased to hear you found Sebastian interesting and fun and that he contributed to your tour. It is always a pleasure knowing that our passengers enjoy the beautiful scenery through Fiordland National Park and Pioiotahi / Milford Sound. Wishing you all the best with your future travels through Aotearoa and beyond. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford.

A not to be missed experience.

Timothy_W, Jan 2026

It is well worth the money the driver was helpful and informative all through the trip. He made the experience a total pleasure.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Kia ora, Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind a review! We are pleased to hear that you found your driver to helpful and informative. We hope you have left Piopiotahi / Milford Sound with lasting memories and we hope to welcome you back in the future. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Bad driver, bad customer support

Acaina_L, Dec 2025

On December 22nd I booked a tour to Milford Sound, through Viator, departing from Te Anau. The driver was incredibly rude to us, despite us being on time. Everybody else had marked seats but us, so we had to seat separately the entire time. It's worth mentioning that this ruined the whole day for us. We came to New Zealand to see the Sounds and unfortunately we don't have time to do the tour again. After being informed via email, Pure Milford acknowledged that this is not ideal, bur out of character for the driver. They also said that drivers might be contractors working for the tour, but employed by a different company and they ask passengers to mark seats in order to "keep families together". Apparently, we're not a family.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Kia ora, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are sorry to hear that your trip to Milford Sound did not meet expectations, particularly given how important this experience was during your time in New Zealand. We apologise for the manner in which you felt treated by the driver and for the seating situation that left your fmaily being separated for the duration of the trip. This is not the experience we aim to provide, and we fully understand how disappointing this must have been. Our seating approach is designed to be flexible and collaborative, relying on both drivers and passengers to help keep groups together where possible. Unfortunately, this can sometimes mean that not everyone is able to sit exactly where they would prefer, which can lead to disappointment. contrarily, when seats are strictly reserved, we also receive feedback from guests who are unhappy with that arrangement. We understand that, in this instance, the outcome was not fair or satisfactory for you. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Great experience, rain or shine!

Henry_L, Nov 2025

Our coach tour guide was super friendly, and kept us engaged on the ride to Milford Sound. It was fantastic to learn about the facts surrounding the fiordland. Our cruise was on a rainy day and it was a bit choppy on the water, but the crew were great in keeping everyone safe when it got windy. A great way to experience Milford Sound up close!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Kia ora, Thank you so much for your great review! We are so glad to hear that you had a great time with our coach tour guide. The team loves sharing all the facts about Fiordland, and we are pleased that you enjoyed learning more along the way. It’s also wonderful to hear that despite the rainy and windy conditions, you felt safe and well looked after by our cruise crew! Milford Sound can be unpredictable, but it adds to the adventure, and we’re glad you got to experience it up close. Wishing you all the best with your future travels through Aotearoa and beyond. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

HIghly recommend.

Alan_S, Jun 2025

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Kia ora, Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the beautiful drive and had plenty of opportunities to soak in the scenery (and snap some great photos!). Piopiotahi MilfordMilford Sound really is something special! We're also happy to hear the commentary and history added to your experience and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to your guide! Thanks for the helpful tip about snacks too. We would love to welcome you back anytime for another adventure! Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Very nice

TAMIZAN_N, Jan 2025

Excellent tour guide Includes several stops and lookouts Cruise was beautiful and very nice boat Needs a few more food options

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Kia Ora, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! We are thrilled you enjoyed your time in Piopiotahi Milford Sound. Thank you for your suggestion! Something to take on board. We hope to welcome you back in the future for another adventure. Nga Mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Amazing once in a lifetime experience

Rebecca_F, Jan 2025

Beautiful journey on road and at sea. Friendly and interesting guides. Highly recommended Don't try driving on your own as road is very challenging!

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Kia Ora, Thank you for your kind review! We agree, the road can be challenging for visitors and we are pleased that you opted to sit back and relax and enjoy a Coach and Cruise Tour. We hope to welcome you back in the future and wish you all the best with your future travels for 2025! Nga Mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Cancelled tour

Marree_W, Sep 2024

Cancelled due to snow. One hour into trip and bus driver returned ti puck up point. Disappointed but understand road conditions not favourable.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Kia Ora, Thank you for your understanding despite the disappointment. Safety is always our top priority, and we appreciate your patience in these challenging conditions. We hope to have the opportunity to show you our tour under better circumstances! Nga Mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Bucket list memories

Diane_W, Sep 2024

Loved our glass top bus and the views were absolutely amazing.Driving through untouched rain forest. Then being surrounded by Enormous snow capped mountains, water falls and dolphins and seals. The best day.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Kia Ora, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the coach and enjoyed all the wonderful beauty Milford Sound has to offer! We’re glad you had such a fantastic time and we hope you made some wonderful memories. We hope to welcome you back for more adventures in the future! Nga Mihi, The Team at Pure Milford.

Best Day Ever.

Kylie_H, Sep 2024

Great Driver Joe, best of all the seasons in one trip from blue skies to snow in 4 hours. Lunch was awesome go the Chicken and Mushroom Pie option.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Kia Ora, Thank you for the fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that your driver made your trip memorable with such varied weather and that you enjoyed the Chicken and Mushroom Pie. We’ll be sure to pass on your compliments to him and the team in the Galley. Looking forward to having you on board again for another great adventure! Nga Mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Yeah ok wouldn’t do it again tho

Julianne_K, Jun 2024

Bus trip had a driver with such a heavy Scandinavian (?) accent we missed most of what he was saying. We didn’t stop at Mirror lake & the stops seemed to be just pullover on the side of the road - not sure on what we were looking at but that may have been the weather. Lunch was a pie with chips fruit & a muesli bar ( if the teens were boys they would have been starving) The other groups had huge sandwiches , snacks and a drink. . The bus ride limited numbers but the cruise had heaps more people (2-3 times) One drink machine which meant the wait time was ages. We managed to grab a drink just as they were closing it

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Kia Ora, Thank you for sharing your feedback. It is really important for us to receive all levels of feedback so that we can continue to improve our service. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the stops. Mirror Lakes is certainly a popular spot. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we cannot guarantee stops, sometimes due to road conditions, weather, and time constraints. We apologize for any disappointment with the lunch provided. We aim to offer a satisfactory meal after a long bus trip, and usually find that a hot pie, packet of chips, muesli bar, ANZAC cookies and a piece of fruit is enough to sustain our hungry guests! A café on board is available where you can purchase additional food if you require, Our complimentary tea and coffee are popular amongst our passengers, but we do have a Cafe/Bar on board selling a variety of refreshments who those who would prefer not to wait. As Piopiotahi Milford Sound is a very popular tourist destination, we operate at 70% of our maximum capacity to ensure it doesn't feel too crowded so we are surprised and disappointed to hear you felt that our cruise was too busy. Regardless, we hope you enjoyed your time on the water and enjoyed the spectacular scenery. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. Ngā mihi, Pure Milford Team

Not for families with young children

Melissa_A, Jun 2024

The cruise part of this tour was great - the driver was entertaining and made sure we saw all the sights. Unfortunately we can’t say the same about the bus ride. We were split up as a family as the bus driver was supposed to allocate seats for groups but didn’t so as a family of 4 with 2 young children we had to sit separately. Apparently the driver ‘tried’ to negotiate with individuals to allow us to at least sit in pairs but we saw none of this. As the drive is a significant part of this tour, it was very uncomfortable and disappointing. You should never be paying this much for a tour and be made feel uncomfortable for so much of the day. I would recommend another company of you want to enjoy this tour with your family.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Kia Ora Melissa, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us both on TripAdvisor and directly with our team too. We are so disappointed that your experience did not meet your expectations and that your family was unable to sit together during the tour. This is certainly not the experience we strive to provide for our guests. We have many family groups join us on a daily basis, and so absolutely understand the want to share and enjoy the journey together. As you have mentioned, the driver had originally put reserved signs out in Queenstown in preparation for the day, so that family groups like yours could be seated together. Unfortunately, these signs were moved by fellow passengers, and/or the passengers did not follow the requests from the driver to move again. The driver also spoke with various other guests later in the tour, enquiring if they were willing to move or swap seats so that your family could sit together, however he did get any volunteers. Seating arrangements have always been a challenge for us as we either have guests who feel they have missed out if we follow a “free seating” arrangement, or alternatively have guests who resist the instructions and requests of our drivers when we follow a strict seating plan. Our drivers do their best to request that guests sit in certain areas, or to ask guests to move to accommodate groups travelling together, but this does unfortunately rely on the goodwill and cooperation from other guests too. We are glad that you enjoyed the cruise portion of the tour, and hope that you will leave Fiordland with some magical memories of Piopiotahi / Milford Sound. Ngā mihi, Kate

Magical day

Claire_C, Jun 2024

Amazing day. Well organised bus trip with lots of stops at scenic locations, even a few extras as some Kea’s were spotted in a car park and the bus driver stopped. Great educational commentary on the bus trip, loved it! The cruise was magical. Lunch packs available straight away. Captains commentary was fantastic and he spotted dolphins twice and spent a great amount of time close to the dolphins. The fjord is nothing short of magical, and we are so glad we got the coach and didn’t self drive as the roads were very steep and it was great to have the commentary. Also the Kea’s love to attack the rubber seals of cars so we were glad our car wasn’t in the Milford car park. 10/10 day and would do again!

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Kia Ora Claire, Thank you for joining our day tour to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound, and for this fabulous feedback. 10/10 would do again is the best compliment we could receive :-) It's a good thing that Milford Sound is so different every day and so it means that if (or hopefully when!) you do come back, this magical fiord will look totally different. We look forward to welcoming you back again in the future, Ngā mihi, Kate

The scenery on the bus...

Sandy_D, Apr 2024

The scenery on the bus trip to Milford sounds was absolutely awesome. Then the boat trip was super fantastic - recent rain made so many waterfalls

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Kia Ora Sandy, Thank you for joining our day tour to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound. We are thrilled you were wowed by the awesome scenery, and that you were fortunate enough to score the waterfall-filled aftermath of a rainy day :-) Ngā mihi, Kate

This was a fabulous day...

Linelle_M, Mar 2024

This was a fabulous day outing. Paced just right to see plenty and not feel rushed without it lagging. Our guides had a great sense of humour and all in all it was good fun as well as spectacular. Lunch was good as well.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Kia Ora, Thank you for joining us on our excursion to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound and for this awesome 5* review! We are delighted to struck a perfect balance for you between keeping to schedule but not too strict, and plenty of facts but keeping it light! The stunning scenery is world class, and never fails to amaze :-) Thank you once more for joining us, Ngā mihi, Kate

First class trip

debbiecarter6, Feb 2024

Wonderful day trip with amazing scenery. Very comfortable coach and great to be able to see the mountains through the roof too. The boat ride was very special, lunch was tasty and staff were first rate! Would certainly recommend.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Kia Ora Debbie, Thank you for this first class review! It is a privilege for us to be able to do what we do each day, and it really makes it all the more special with wonderful feedback like this! We really appreciate your recommendation to others, and hope to weclome you back to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound again in the future, Ngā mihi, Kate

Worthy day trip from Te Anau :)

Winkii_L, Feb 2024

We got on from Te Anau and along the ride, our friendly driver Debbie provided lots of info throughout the drive. The stops every now and then not only let us took photos at beautiful spots but also made the 2 hours drive more "digestible". Cruise and packed lunch onboard were both good. We managed to even see dolphins which I believe is not a given. Memorable visit.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Kia Ora Winkii, Thank you for joining us on our exploration into Piopiotahi / Milford Soubd and for this lovely feedback. Sounds like a dreamy day with our delightful Debbie! You are correct; dolphins are far from a given in the fiord, so to spot them on your cruise is a real treat. It was a pleasure making magical memories with you, and we hope to see you in Fiordland again, Ngā mihi, Kate

Wonderful Milford Sound cruise

Jinfin_P, Jan 2024

We have encountered a Kea bird and was great to be able to video the bird. Milford Sound cruise was a nice experience especially the captain got real close to the waterfall, the mist got us wet was a great fun!

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Kia Ora Jinfin, Thanks for choosing Pure Milford for your Fiordland adventure, and for sharing this wonderful feedback. Kea encounters are incredibly magical! They are so cheeky and inquisitive and put on quite a show :-) Great to feel the spray of Stirling Falls at the end of the cruise for a wonderfully refreshing finale! Ngā mihi, Kate

Nice tour with realy beautiful places

Jessica_F, Dec 2023

The Mirror Lakes were really awesome, 2 worlds in one place 😍 and even if we had sunny weather (we were told that it is even more impressive when its a rainy day) also Milford Sound were do beautiful and we had a clear view on all the mountains arround😊 The Tourguide gave us a lot of information about the region in a entertaining way. That was cool too.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Kia Ora Jessica, Thank you for leaving such a fantastic review! We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed the Piopotahi/Milford Sound. We are very fortunate to have very experienced and knowledgable Coach drivers! We have pleased to hear they made for an enjoyable experience! We hope you enjoyed the rest of your travels in Aotearoa. Ngā mihi, The Team at Pure Milford

Stunning views

Catherine_P, Nov 2023

A wonderful day on the bus and the boat. The views were unbelievable....thank you. This is an awesome place to visit.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Kia Ora Catherine, Thank you for joining us at Piopiotahi/Milford Sound and for this lovely 5* review. It was our pleasure to have you on board, and to share this slice of stunning paradise with you. The views need to be seen to be believed - and are yet somehow still unbelievable! We really appreciate your kind words, and hope to welcome you back to Fiordland again soon, Ngā mihi, Kate

Milford magic

Alexia_G, Nov 2023

Milford Sound cruise was spectacular.The coach trip was very informative with a very friendly and capable driver.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Kia Ora Alexia, Thank you for joining our excursion to Milford Sound, and for this wonderful feedback. We are big advocates of leaving the car at home, and allowing our experienced and professional drivers to do what they do best :-) The Milford Sound scenery is stunning, and simply can't be beaten! Thank you again for your support, Ngā mihi, Kate

Amazing

Wendy_S, Apr 2023

The whole team where fantastic looking after us all. Particularly, Ian the coach driver who went above and beyond cleaning up someone's vomit. The views on the road trip and the fjord were a once in a lifetime experience.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Kia Ora Wendy, Thank you for joining our day tour to Milford Sound, and for taking the time to share this 5* review. We are very fortunate to have a friendly, experienced and dedicated crew at Pure Milford - and Ian is no exception! It is always service with a smile, going above and beyond for even the least glamorous parts of the rule. We are privileged to have shared this once in a lifetime experience with you! Thank you once more for your support, and we look forward to seeing you in Piopiotahi Milford Sound again :-), Ngā mihi, Kate

Superbe journée à Milford Sound

Pierre_Y, Mar 2024

Notre journée a Milford Sound s’est agréablement bien passée sous un beau soleil.Les informations fournies par la chauffeuse du bus étaient très intéressantes et la croisière s’est parfaitement déroulée

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Kia Ora Pierre, Thanks you joining our coach & cruise day tour to Piopiotahi / Milford Sound! Sounds like a stunning day in paradise from start to finish, with informative commentary and spectacular scenery the winners of the day :-) Ngā mihi, Kate