We are happy with this trip. It was a really wonderful day! Really worth it. Service was good and attentive from the moment we bought our tickets until our return. Professional staff, enthusiastic guide, funny driver. He drove very smoothly on the difficult road. On the way there were three stops for people to take pictures, a little sightseeing and three stops for you to go to the toilet. Food on board is fresh, yummy. You should order food soon because they sell out very quickly.

Lovely Japanese lunch onboard. Freezing cold on the deck during winter but the views were fantastic. A must visit although the trip from any town to Milford sound is really far. We spotted dolphins and seals along the way.Commentary on board was pretty good too.

We took the bus tour of the Milford sound followed by a cruise. Though the bus journey was long, our driver Bruce was excellent, cheerful and had great banter and constantly gave us a running commentary along the journey. The cruise itself was excellent, there was ample room on the boat and the running commentary was very informative, though a little quiet in a few parts of the boat. We decided to upgrade on the return and forgo the bus trip and take a private plan back to Queenstown. This was facilitated by Bruce but provided by True south flights. This was an exceptional experience and made the day. Overall we had a great day, highly recommended

Simply amazing. One of the best experiences in my life. The staff is excellent, and the scenery was breathtaking. Don’t be afraid to splurge for the premium cruise. It is worth the extra price! Also, try to go when it rains. You won’t be disappointed!

Our recent tour to Milford Sound was fantastic. It’s a beautiful place once you arrive but the journey there is also fabulous. Our tour guide Dean was a bundle of knowledge and not only kept us informed along the way, but also stopped at some great places. He also has a great sense of humour and kept us laughing along the way. Milford Sound is beautiful with its many waterfalls and giant mountains. I was also lucky enough to see some dolphins! Thanks for the great day. I highly recommend this tour to everyone!

A real treasure at the end of a long drive. You certainly will have all expectations fulfilled when walking into the centre. Efficient and knowledgeable staff, clean and very well presented all around. The charter to see the Sounds provided a fantastic experience.

Excellent trip on the TSS Earnslaw. Pianist playing while we sailed out. Fantastic BBQ lunch with a great variety of choices for meat, salads, vegetables and deserts. Well worth it. We had a beautiful sunny day and sat by the window. The sheep dog demonstration is great too.

This was really amazing. We booked a cruise and got in for the ride. It was about a 2 hour ride with free hot drinks. It had other food too, but it costs. The cruise goes on into the sea and you get to see the beautiful view and waterfalls( many small ones and few big ones). There's a spot where they take you near one falls to get sprayed by the water.

Amazing experience. We took the bus from Te Anau with our driver Brian who was lovely. A few stops along the road to Milford Sound for some photographs and a restroom break. And then the boat trip was just amazing, we had some of the best weather, clear blue skies and no clouds. We even say the rarest penguins in the world and some sea lions but the scenery/landscape is just spectacular. I will forever remember this trip as one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen!

Went on a Milford Cruise , we joined Mitre Peak Cruise which we were very happy. The terminal was clean and spacious. Great service! But you have to walk in which took us around 7mins with a slow walk. There’s a Paid Car Park at the front part near the information centre.

I had an amazing time. Absolutely stunning scenery. Beautiful boat. Great tour guide lady on the microphone. If you haven't done a cruise in Milford sound I couldn't recommend this enough. Well worth it.

I really can't say enough about our RealNZ experiences! We did the Doubtful sound, Milford Sound and Glow Worm Caves tours and they were all incredible! Doubtful was by far my fave, so peaceful and beautiful, it's just perfection! I'm so happy I chose RealNZ, the people were outstanding! The bus drivers were so kind and funny and you can really tell they love their jobs and this beautiful country. The boat crews were also incredible, literally the kindest, most knowledgeable staff. Regarding the tours themselves, absolutely stunning scenery and please don't be sad if you see a rainy day for your forecast, it just brings a different kind of beauty! 10/10 I would recommend all of the tours! ❤️ *Please remember the glow worm tour is a cave, so if you are claustrophobic keep that in mind. ❣️

Incredible day - totally worth the price. Staff and crew very professional and friendly. Amazing views, helpful booking service over the phone and amazingly one of the best pizzas I’ve had recently! Seals were a bonus :)

Beautiful nature, great place, very scenic one. A must visit place. Very scenic views on the way of journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound.

RealNZ had a large ship here at Milford sound. Luck that the weather is 10/10 condition. Must visited landscape in Southern island.

This was my favorite thing in the whole NZ trip. The la escapes are amazing and the guide knew so much about nature and its environment. The food was also really good. Just an unforgettable experience.

Absolutely amazing, we got lucky with the weather. Fantastic tour operations, knowledgeable staff on boat. We saw a lot of dolphins, seals and even penguins. I’ve never seen penguins swim, but that was really cool. Breathtaking views. Dress warm or bring layers, maybe even bring a small towel to dry the seats for the first ride of the day as the seats on the deck were wet. I would recommend sitting on the upper deck and the starboard side of the boat for the best viewing (that is just my personal opinion). We got the warmth of the sun as we headed out in the morning. Again dress appropriately, bring layers and a wind breaker, you want to be outside not sitting inside.

Absolutely amazing from start to finish spectacular views and waterfalls. The Milford Mariner was great beautifully clean. Well presented and the staff were awesome

Must do activity as it is well organised and put together. Great skipper to sail with and be on board. Super sightseeing and a wealth of knowledge. A monumental experience in My life.

Peanut has been the best tour guide I have ever had. The whole experience was amazing. I would 100% recommend to anyone visiting NZ

Wow! My recent boat tour to Milford Sound with RealNZ was absolutely incredible! From the moment I stepped onto the coach bus for the ride to Milford Sound, I knew I was in for a treat. The journey itself felt like a scenic tour through Jurassic Park, with breathtaking waterfalls and stunning landscapes at every turn. The boat tour itself was the highlight of my trip. The scenery was simply stunning, with majestic mountains rising from the deep blue waters, and the waterfalls were absolutely breathtaking. Our driver was not only friendly and polite but also incredibly knowledgeable about Milford Sound, adding depth to the experience with fascinating insights and stories. Overall, I can't recommend this tour enough. If you're looking for an unforgettable experience surrounded by natural beauty and accompanied by friendly and knowledgeable staff, look no further than RealNZ's boat tour to Milford Sound. It truly exceeded all my expectations!

This experience was a lot better than I expected. Ticket purchase online, check-in, the bus ride and the boat tour were seamless. It was all very comfortable, not over crowded and very civilized. Our bus driver, Reynald, was excellent, providing interesting commentary along the way. Same for the nature guide on the boat and the sound system was good. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Decided to take the Milford Sound Cruise and Coach from Queenstown. The trip didn't disappoint in any way. Luke was an informative driver which made the coach part enjoyable and the cruise was absolutely amazing. Fortunately for us it was a perfect day weather-wise and the sights were quite breathtaking. Would highly recommend taking this tour

One of best tours I've done. Since not staying in Queenstown CBD, most other tour companies have you pay own expense to get to frankton bus station. However, RealNZ arranges and pays for pickup taxi to bus station included. The bus was gorgeous with the large windows on side and top, another feature most other tour companies didn't seem to have. There was ample space within the bus with gorgeous views. On the way to the sound, the bus driver gave commentary on the area which (if not choosing to fall asleep since pickup was early 😆) seemed to be very interesting. The driver also stopped several times for breaks and scenic stops. Once on the boat, more gorgeous views. Having clear skies probably helped. But for RealNZ specifically, from online booking with 10% off code, to pickup, to on the trip, to the ride back was fantastic.

We went to Milford Sounds tour from Queenstown with Realnz was very impressive experience. Our driver Dani was very sweet for stopping as many as spots for photo shooting on the way to Mildford Sound as long as the time was allowed for catching the cruise. My 73yo mum easy to get carsick but she was satisfied with Dani’s driving. Sitting was comfortable even it was a long trip from 6:55am to 7:30pm. Cruising in the Mildford Sound was amazing. We got very lucky to have a sunny day, saw dolphins seals and incredible sceneries. Very informative staff on the cruise. Great service driver, bus and will highly recommended!

I could not rate our trip with RealNZ highly enough! We had a terrible experience with an alternate operator the day before but turned out for the better. The day started with a happy friendly greeting at the pickup point and just got better from there. The trip was long but made all the more enjoyable by the very informative commentary by Brandon, our brilliant bus driver. Given RealNZ had four buses heading to Milford that day, he made every effort possible to make every stop uncluttered by other buses and tours. His patience was tested at times but remained professional and courteous under the pressure of time constraints. Once at Milford Sound, the cruise spoke for itself. Again, very informative commentary and plenty of time for us all to take in the majesty of the area. Again, could not rate our experience highly enough! Brandon, mate, you’re a fantastic tour guide.

What a fantastic day trip! The bus tour component was such a great start with our very knowledgeable and friendly driver Luke. He really set the scene for what was such a magical day. We boarded The Mariner and enjoyed the magnificence of Milford Sound from the top deck. We saw dolphins, fur seals and of course the waterfalls with the lovely nature guide commentary teaching us about local maori legends which were greatly received. Luke mentioned the possibility of flying back which we chose, so he organised the bookings during our stop at Te Anau and met us off the boat to direct us to the right counter. 10/10!

We visited Milford Sound on a very windy and rainy day, so we didn't get to see the clear blue waters and experience the peaceful cruise. However we did experience something very different. Both on the cruise and on the coach journey, the rain had created hundreds of stunning waterfalls cascading down the mountains, so there is always something to see on this trip. Johnny the bus driver was very accommodating with commentary and stops along the way.

I wasnt a big fan of the cruise, partly the weather was terrible and bucketing down rain. Ship felt like it was about to sink and almost impossible to go on the viewing deck without being thrown overboard by the turbulent waves. The best part of the cruise was the amazing soup they serve on board and the staff were also very friendly too! The soup is definitely a must try!

This was a spectacular day trip. Bus super comfy, driver very experienced. The cruise was absolutely amazing. Must do and definitely recommend taking bus so you can take 1 million photos on the way. Stopped at all the good places and met a Kea who wanted to come on the bus with us.

Great experience! The staff are nice, there's 3 platforms to watch the surroundings. There's sitting area inside the boat. Make sure to buy the ticket with the underwater observatory, great experience! There was super strong wind so bring hat or something to cover your ears and good jacket.

Nice, clean and detailed commentary on board with huge knowledge about mountain 🏔️ and waterfall. No speakers outside was downfall, could not hear anything when you out on deck. Well presented staff, helpful and caring while on board. Under water observatory was nice thing to do actually but due to weather was not able to see much things in marine. Enjoyable, recommended.

4 stars for the experience in the cruise, 2 stars for the toilet. The smell of this place was not good at all, even in the lobby you can smell something fishy there. The cruise was clean, view was amazing

The cruise was really good and worth it. If the weather is raining on the day and the days prior to the trip, this will be good as you will experience more waterfalls in Milford Sound. If you lucky, you can see dolphins and penguins, but the cruise captain will alert you as he would have the best view of the ocean. You won’t go out deep into the ocean especially if there is bad weather or if the sea is tough. There is food (cold and hot) and drinks on the cruise, a bit pricey, but that is expected. PLEASE NOTE. Car park if 10/15 min walk from the cruise/ferry terminal (unless you come in a coach as they will park near the terminal in the coach car park.) parking in very expensive, we paid $30 for 3 hours. But that is not cruise company fault.

Went with Southern Discoveries for our cruise and it was amazing! We went with the lunch option and the food was delicious! The crew on board were lovely to deal with and the captain was extremely skilled. Would definitely recommend this. Make sure you get your food and eat fast because not long after the cruise starts. All in all, amazing experience!

I really do believe everyone who visits the south island should definitely make time for a Milford sounds boat cruise , you will definitely not be disappoint as it's next level stunning ❤️🌄

A nice company and the trip was run by friendly staff. We had a good time but sometimes we’re left wondering what was happening next. While the kayak was fun and informative it is for the complete novice only and stays in a nice but hidden bay. It misses going out into the sound and requires virtually no paddling. Not recommended for seasoned kayakers.

It was a cool experience, we had luck that it was a very clear day but because of that there werent many waterfalls - the tour guide was very friendly and liked what he does- very authentic - you could learn a lot in the science center Just a bit expensive

The cruise was absolutely amazing! The sea was pretty calm the whole way through and the view is amazing! We saw dolphins and seals, beautiful waterfalls and mountains! I highly recommend the cruise!

Hard not to give Milford Sound a 5 star review. Of the 40 countries I have visited, this is the most awe inspiring place I have been in the world. Our trip on the Southern Discoveries ship was fabulous even though it was raining. Fun fact - rain makes waterfalls and even though the weather for our trip was gloomy, waterfalls were everywhere. So don’t despair if the weather is rainy as it rains 250 days per year here. We also did the stop at the underwater viewing and I’d honestly say that’s probably something you could skip if pressed for time. The drive from Te Anau takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes without stops. But why hurry? The drive there is stunning so plan on 2.5 hours and be happy you arrived early. We booked the 10:30am tour and glad we did. The boat was only half full at most. By the time we returned at 1:30pm, the lot was full of tour busses. Book ahead of time in high season.

I think i had a great tour with southern discoveries. They offered a splendid coach with glass ceiling. The guide as well as driver was super nice. He even made a stop to let us see sceneries and take some photos. Their lunch boxes were great but i guess they are a little bit overpriced for what they have

We had a great experience with this company! We did the Milford sound cruise and kayak option which included a stop at the underwater observatory. The cruise was great! Amazing views of Milford sound, great captain who took us up close to many waterfalls and pointed out wildlife (seals and penguins!). Provided lunch was simple but filling. The kayak experience was also great, very well organized, no prior experience needed. The only thing to note about the kayaking though is that you basically just to a big loop in sheltered Harrison cove, where there aren’t many (if any at all) falls. The scenery is beautiful, and we got lucky and saw penguins! The underwater observatory was a cool addition, but not something I would specifically pay extra for had it not already been included.

Really fun and beautiful cruise. We took the one with the buffet meal and my daughter took the vegetarian picnic/ boxed lunch. The buffet was ample, but they only serve it the first 30 minutes of the cruise, so eat fast. There were 2 main meat dishes, 1 main vegetarian dish, 3-4 sides (all vegetarian), garlic bread, 3 types of salad, fruit, and 2 desserts. Plus tea, coffee, and water for everyone. The boxed lunch was a sandwich, apple, orange, chips, protein snack, cheese/ crackers, and 2 pieces of chocolate for dessert. The captain did a good job of showing us some seals and various birds that were nearby. He went up to several waterfalls (if you are outside, you WILL get wet). The audio system in the boat wasn't great, or maybe people were just talking too loudly, so we couldn't hear most of what he was saying but the views were jaw-dropping good! The people working were very friendly.

The cruise we were on was called the spirit? Anyway, it was good and often I get seasick but I didn’t this time. Saw plenty of seals and dolphins. Lunch was generous portion. Loved the underwater discovery center Driver was kind and knowledgeable too

We had a really great experience with the cruise and kayak tour! We even saw a penguin while on the cruise. Highly recommend both, we would have loved to kayak a bit longer. Jared was a great guide! Make sure to bring a water bottle for a chance to fill it up with glacier water.

The whole experience was amazing. Our driver, Roland, was just perfect with his commentary along the way and provided a number of stops for us to take photos, have toilet breaks and get our morning coffee! Everything was so well organised, from initial pick up, to coach trip, to cruise, to fly back. Everything communicated and co-ordinated to perfection . The lunch on board the cruise is definitely worth doing and worth paying the extra to reserve front seats in the coach (if this is important to you). Our pilot Megan gave us a wonderful experience on the flight back to Queenstown - so professional and great fun. An all round great experience and would really recommend this as a 'must do'. #southerndiscoveries #SDShareandWin

- Been told to wait at the front of hotel Copthorne at 7:45am and it’s 8:36 still no show for the driver nor the bus - Called the provider couldn’t call through can’t even leave a VM - Called Jucy, outside of business hours until 9am - another 23 mins to 9am and I wonder what you gotta say - if bus got delayed or you could have emailed same if the trip got cancelled Very interesting and waiting out in the cold IS NOT FUN 8:47 Jucy cruise bus gone straight pass the hotel pick up point. 9:10 finally call through, staff advised unsure what happened but unable to contact the driver as she is driving and unable to pick us up, will call back once get in touch with the driver (driving and unable to make contacts) 11:04 call back received advising the pickup location had been changed to Stanly St (?), outbound calls had been made and VM had been left on the phones on files advising the new pickup location. The number we left was the one from Aus so didt it. - A rescheduled tour had been offered. But I doubt anyone would be able to take as the natural of planned holiday is to have most of the days booked. - normally they wouldn’t do anything if the customers are “no show” but due to our particular scenario a full refund will be processed A lot of things could have been done to have this situation avoided however none of them happened (eg an email notification, email is left on the book for a reason. A detour at the original pick up location to see if there’s anyone there? Well I must admit the oversea number I had left on the file isn’t helpful but I don’t suppose everyone to have a local number to travel overseas?) Don’t know what to say at this stage but I guess what I want is to share our story here and hopefully no other guests that wishing to enjoy NZ holiday need to go through this. And I guess our 90mins wait out in the cold is just the way it is. Thanks to the reception girl that was trying to help, but this is poorly organized we all gotta admit and I disagree the driver is the best.

Spacious and awesome boat. Commentary was good and the coffee machine was complimentary. Staff (particularly Adam) were friendly, and the skipper stopped at marine life he spotted along the way. We seen seals, penguins, dolphins and the falls. Downsides: not sure why they didn't go out to the lighthouse when the other boat infront of us did and also another big boat our friends were on also did... plus weather conditions that day seemed fine. The speakers were not clear out the front of the boat, and we were all having trouble understanding the information that we did want to know (but didn't want to have to stand inside to understand). Other than these 2 things, it was awesome.

The whole trip with Jucy - from Te Anau to Milford sound including the cruise - was fantastic! Our driver was great, stopping regularly for photos and giving us information / answering our questions. The boat crew were also courteous and a lot of fun. The highlight of our southern road trip.

We went on the 1.45pm premium cruise and it was worth it! The location was already amazing, then you add a very comfortable catamaran you'll get a five star rating!! We also got buffet food, there were hit and miss so can't really say much about it. Highly recommend getting a close up photo under the waterfall. You will get soaked but it's such an awesome experience! Loved it!

Wow.. Just Wow. Such a splendid way to experience the pristine sounds. The boat was nice and clean with friendly staff and a knowledgeable captain who shared interesting facts throughout the trip. We got to see rare penguins as well. Great Crew on a modern safe craft.. .

Only paid 39NZD per person for a 2 hour cruise and was worth the price. The ferry was small but surprisingly had comfortable and spacious seating, and at the same time had an open top deck for best views. The cruise also came with bottomless tea and coffee as well, perfect for the cold outside. Overall a great experience. Consider taking a JUCY cruise if on a tight budget, it won't dissapoint.

Bought tickets in Queenstown and drove out to Milford Sound the following day. Thoroughly enjoyed everything here, the scenery is amazing and definitely an experience everyone should have on their bucket list. The Missus and I definitely plan on returning. The ship itself is good, quite new and the interior is kept clean. Didn't try the toilets so can't comment on that. Food is limited to the basic canteen type stuff, I had a hotdog while Missus had a banana muffin. Decent food but nothing to write home about. Tour of Milford Sound is great, commentary from the pilot (skipper?) and lots and lots of photo opportunities. You'll feel like a master photographer here, pretty much any photo looks postcard worthy (I'll control myself and only upload 4 here - took around 500 all up!). Ship takes you to different points of interest around here, one of the final places they visit is the largest waterfall that is fueled by a melting glacier (a lot of the waterfalls around here are only fueled by rainfall so in dry times like when we went a lot of the other waterfalls are small or non-existent). The ship gets really close so those who want to brave getting wet can get wet at the front of the ship. Definitely recommended.

Excellent cruise interior, staff were friendly and informative, Captain Callum was very welcoming and caring about the customers. He was not only driving the boat, but he also pointed out things we shouldn't miss out. We went on another Doubtful Sound cruise, hubby and I both agreed that Captain Callum was a much better commentator than that cruise captain. Clean and neat, great complimentary hot drinks, good food options. On top of all of these luxuries, we got to see seals, a penguin and a pack of dolphins.

We booked through Juicy Cruises and were picked up by coach at Te Anau. Our driver Karl, a very knowledgable and proud kiwi kept us informed along the journey and made the journey memorable. A bit misty on the sounds but awesome experience that we`d highly recommend.

I had the pleasure of experiencing this cruise and it was unforgettable. The relaxed ambience on board was very inviting (and not overcrowded!), which made it easier to appreciate the breathtaking scenery of Milford Sounds (nothing short of a fantasy movie, Lord of the Rings anyone?). The skipper's knowledge of the area was impressive, and he would inform us of what to expect in advance, ensuring that we didn't miss anything. The crew and staff were accommodating and always available, and the tea, coffee, and cookies provided during the cruise were a welcome touch (and a necessity if you were brave enough to accept the waterfall challenge). Overall, the experience exceeded my expectations, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and memorable experience. The vessel used for the cruise was well equipped and suitable for families, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas (I took my 2 kids there and they approve this message!, of course it is not a playground so be mindful of safety and others). In conclusion, if you're looking to enjoy the stunning scenery of Milford Sounds while learning about the area's history and taking great photos, this cruise is the perfect choice.

Milford was my highlight in NZ. Best time is in rainy weather so you can see many of waterfalls! I have never ever seen so many waterfalls at one moment.

10/10 BEST boat tour to see Milford Sound!! If you are trying to find the best tour when going to Milford Sound, look no further! Cruise Milford is a family run business and we had an excellent time cruising with them. We saw seals on our tour and also had tea and cookies as well. It was such a pleasant experience and special that we got to see Milford Sound on an unusually sunny day. Highly recommend booking with them for this once in a lifetime cruise through the 8th wonder of the world!

It is spectacular. Info Centre is quite clean and modern. Ample parking is available.But If you drive there, you have to pay $25. Scenery from the cruise is amazing. It is beyond description. You must see. Must do it.I guarantee the satisfaction.

Unforgettable once in a lifetime experience. Stunningly beautiful mountain ranges and breath-taking views of Milford Sound as we are nearing to land were just amazing.

We booked online and everything went smoothly. We called once to move our booking the next day and they were super fast in serving our request. When we arrived the check in was super easy. No queue at their desk and they were very friendly and polite. During the cruise, we got lots of informations from our captain. NOTE: the only thing that they should improve is the sound system / microphone on the boat. The sound was not clear and we couldn’t understand many of the interesting facts the captain was telling us. However, the views were so amazing that I couldn’t resist giving a 5 stars review. Milford Sound is definitely amazing and worth the trip!

Wonderful experience! Our captain was professional, funny, and had an incredible knowledge about New Zealand and Milford Sound. The cruise was comfortable and smooth. Highly recommend this company if you are wanting to see the incredible beauty of Milford Sound!

Visiting Milford Sound, especially during a heavy rain, is an experience of a lifetime. The rain transforms the landscape into a mystical wonderland, with waterfalls cascading dramatically from the cliffs, creating a breathtaking panorama. The mist and the lush greenery add a surreal quality to the already stunning scenery. The cruise was comfortable and the guides were knowledgeable, enhancing the experience with interesting facts and stories. Despite the rain, or perhaps because of it, the beauty of Milford Sound was magnified, leaving an indelible impression. Truly a five-star, unforgettable adventure!

A great way to explore Milford Sound. We were incredibly lucky with the weather on the day but the smaller boat and restricted numbers made were a big plus. The boat is very spacious and there is plenty of room to roam around upstairs and downstairs, inside and out, without constantly having to push past people to get a photo.

Beautifully breathtaking and right here in NZ. Pictures do not do it justice. Staff on board were friendly and really made us feel like we’re on a private tour. Awesome to see a female captain steering boat. Highlight of our QT trip

An awe-inspiring experience. Almost didn't come, but SO glad we did. A bucket list worthy experience. The staff were lovely, friendly and informative. We saw seals and 7 rare penguins (I forgot their name😖) and got up close to a impressive waterfall. Would DEFINITELY recommend for sure!!!

With Cruise Milford only allowing a 50% capacity onboard, to what they are allowed to run, gives a very personal experience. This is the reason we 100% recommend this company. We felt as if our family were the only ones on board, allowing us to roam around the boat freely capturing breathtaking photos whilst being guided by a very experienced team. You’ll be pleased you booked with Cruise Milford as you watch the other boats be filled with 200 + passengers.

The trip was enjoyable. Staff was helpful and kept refilling drinks and snacks. There were biscuits, coffee, and tea supplied. The ship was not too full so there was a lot of space to move around. We were lucky to be there on a sunny day. Separately, parking is $10 per hour and one typically spends three hours there.

This smaller size boat is a great way to enjoy Milford Sound from the water. Compared to some of the larger ships, you'll feel closer to the water and nature. And given that you'll see sea life and appreciate getting close to the waterfalls when the captain brings the boat near them, this is the best boat to choose to tour the Sound. Do bring foul weather gear. We had rain, wind, sunshine, calmness...it was like four seasons in one day. And that's typical on Milford Sound. The crew offers hot beverages as well as cold, and I highly recommend the tea and coffee! Be sure to bring your camera. This is one of the most beautiful, scenic places you'll ever see. This boat took us far out in the Sound, almost to the open ocean, and then back to the port. It was a marvelous day on the water. Being on the water, you won't have to worry about bugs but remember to wear long pants for when you're back on land. Those nasty sand flies go for your ankles~!

Brilliant cruise! I was worried it won’t be fun as the weather was cloudy but it was brilliant! Not too many people compared to other boats it looks like a private tour! Fun info and comments along the way, amazing stops for seals and waterfalls (only me and two other kids were the brave ones) and you have free tea, coffee and biscuits.

Our Cruise Milford tour was great. It was a nice sunny day - which was unusual it's usually rainy. The views and waterfalls were scenic and beautiful. Our guide was very informative and the length of the tour was a good amount of time to be engaged and see the sights without growing tired/seasick.

The cruise was amazing. Did the 2:45pm small boutique cruise with tea/coffee/biscuits and it was great. We stayed outside the whole ride but there was enough space inside to sit if we got cold. We saw dolphins and seals relaxing on their rocks and the boat stopped to not scare them off and to let us watch them. The boat took us under a fall so we got a bit wet (they warned us) but what an experience! Milford Sound is just exceptionally beautiful with all the magnificent mountains (they are so vertical and impressive, it looks more like cliffs and we were right under, which was simply amazing). The boat guide told us many interesting facts about the fjord, throughout the whole ride. Expensive but well worth the money in my opinion,it is an amazing way to discover this place (although our cruise started in the clouds before we got some blue sky, so we did feel a bit disappointed as we could imagine the potential of the sound, but not see it all.. lucky for us, the clouds disappeared quite fast.)

There are so many cruises you can choose, but we picked Cruise Milford as a local company and a smaller boat. They truly delivered! A very intimate experience with plenty of space (as we saw the hoards of crowds boarding the other large boats we knew we made the right choice). And a bonus: because their boat is smaller we could get up close to some of the waterfalls and it was such a magical experience all around. Recommend to all!

Our 9:45am, mid-November cruise of Milford Sound departed with only about 15 other people, so it almost felt like we had the boat to ourselves. Got to see a few NZ fur seals and fjordland crested penguins. Greatly appreciated the informative and entertaining commentary, which was audible inside, up top, and on the front deck. Milford Sound is beautiful, but the cruise was also fun - getting up close to the waterfalls was a rush. You are given time to get inside if you don't want to participate but if you're on the front deck you will get wet. Another fun thing is to ride the waves on the front deck at the sea mouth - hold on tight. Would have been happy to leave a review on TripAdvisor but took too long to leave a review (!) and the link expired. Small boat, clean & in good condition. Crew were nice and offered to take photos. Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits. The tour took 2hrs. Definitely recommend this operator.

The views were absolutely stunning and our guide John had some interesting things to say about the history and Maōri origin of the places we saw. After a bus ride to the terminal (interrupted by several short but beautiful walks both on the way there and back!) we boarded a catamaran to take us through the sound and again we were floored by the surrounding vistas. The operator provided a lunch packet which was very nice and we had a fantastic day in and around Milford Sound!

We have done Milford Sound a few times now with each family member, on various cruises, kayaks and flights, and I have to say that Mitre Peak Cruises is by far the best cruise. It's a smaller boat with fewer people so it's way more intimate. The cruise lasts 2 hours, and the staff are friendly and informative. This time around I came with my infant baby and because he was sleeping I stayed inside for most of the cruise, the lovely young woman who was working (didn't catch her name) kept coming over to me to explain what we were seeing and what was being said over the megaphone! I appreciated the personal touch! Bonus: we saw penguins! (11am cruise on 28/10/23)

My sisters and I took this cruise last week and we had an absolute blast. Olivia was our skipper. She was brilliant. Her sense of humor was magnificent. Her funny comments while she was explaining the facts about the area added another layer of beauty to the scenery. Boat wasn’t crowded which was another bonus. Thanks to everyone specially Olivia.

We had a such an amazing cruise with Mitre Peak. We went on the early cruise, scored a glorious sunny day, and there were only an about 20-30 people on the boat. The skipper’s commentary was perfect because it was interesting but not constant. It really was a perfect outing and they could get so close to the waterfalls. Take a rain coat, like we did, and then you can stand on the bow and get wet by one of the stunning waterfalls. It was such a rush.

A great 2 hour trip down the fiord to the Tasman ocean. The boat was comfortable with plenty of different viewing options. It is accessible to wheelchairs and prams. You can purchase hot drinks on board, not sure of food options. We took our own lunches onboard. All the features were pointed out, and history of how the geographical features were formed was explained. We saw Dolphins, Seals and various bird life.

It was absolutely beautiful, and even though the staff were visibly sweating and tired they tried and succeeded at being so kind, friendly and informative so everyone was able to have a good time. The 'shower' underneath the waterfalls made sure people got the chance to interact with the scenery instead of standing around taking pictures for an hour and a half. The bonus coffee and tea was also a perfect way to warm up during the morning cruises.

Milford sound is worth all the hype, i guess its one of the few places that amuses everyone coming to see it. I want to thank mitre cruise for having me on board and allowing me to enjoy the 8th wonder of the world that is milford sound. Mitre cruise is the most economical cruise in milford but that doesn't hinder you from seeing everything that the others do. The boat being smaller than other ls around, you would enjoy the waterfall upclose and under it. I would highly recommend mitre cruise for anyone is looking for an economical ride in milford. You won't be disappointed as you will enjoy all the perks of other big boats minus the breakfast (you stille get complimentary tea/coffee). When we went, there was no problem of sandflies anywhere except where we parked our car but its recommended to have an insect repellant. My only recommendation to mitre cruise will be about the speakers on board as i had trouble understanding some of what the captain was saying (maybe cos i was always standing on the deck). 100% worth the money and 100% recommended 👌.

One of the smaller boats in Milford Sound meaning less people. Captain was very knowledgeable and friendly. He even took the time to take the boat up close to dolphins and seals. And he takes you right into the waterfall. If you're at the front of the boat, you will get drenched! Such a memorable experience!!

We had a great time cruising in Milford sound with Mire Peak. Our skipper was Olivia who was professional and funny (I know these two don’t usually go together). She had a funny story for every waterfall and got us as close as possible to them to take photos or splash of their goodness. She was knowledgeable and gave us good information about the region and animals we sighted. The boat was not crowded (35 to 40 passengers) and we had the opportunity to move around freely. Highly recommend!

This was like taking a boat through Jurassic Park!! There are so many waterfalls that are absolutely gorgeous. The dolphins and sea lions were one of my favorite parts of our cruise. The boat has plenty of room for all to get great views and be comfortable The staff was very helpful and friendly

Super cool experience at Milford Sound with Mitre Peak cruises! We loved how the boat was smaller so that everyone had a great view throughout the 2 hour trip! Even though it was a smaller boat it felt very spacious and we got a more personalized experience this way. The commentary throughout the tour added to the experience and we were able to get up close to some beautiful waterfalls as well as a friendly fur seal. Highly recommend!

I was so excited for this cruise but became terribly worried at the dock as it seemed there was going to be a lot of people. However, there were two cruises leaving at the same time. It turns out the cruise was very reasonably sized, heaps of room. The trip was fantastic and I have been recommending it to everyone I've seen since. The only reason I have not given 5 stars is that I could not really hear the captain telling us about the sights, features, and history of the sound. This may be due to the fact I spent the entire trip standing on the front of the boat though. I don't think it detracted much from the overall experience but the info I did hear was really interesting so perhaps I did miss something.

It is a great experience for its value. The captain was so nice, explained everything and give is enough time to spot the penguins. We got really close to the water falls and seals, closer than others big cruises There is little bar for free hot drinks. You have the options to sit inside or outside We were so luck to spot some dolphins

Wonderful…!!! We have booked coach with cruise from Te anau to Milford sound. Andrew was our guide and he is so amazing. Due to the snow, road was closed for some time and Andrew kept us entertained during that time with sharing his knowledge about the fiordland. He stopped the coach at multiple tourist locations and guided through the sites. Cruise was also amazing.

Surreal day in Milford Sound - the tour was beautiful being able to get almost under the waterfalls, showing us the seals and penguins and the staff were professional and excellent!

We really enjoyed the cruise at Milford Sound. While cruising through the fjord the captain explained some facts about the landscape. He pointed out the albatrosses and even turned around to take a closer look at a seal. He drove close to the waterfalls and ensured that everyone could take great pictures. Overall, a great experience which I can highly recommend.

10/10. Decent sized boat with minimal people as we took the 0850 departure. It was a bit overcast at the start but the sun ended up shining and revealing the beautiful scenery. The commentary from the sailor was insightful and the staff were kind. Took us up close to some of the falls. Truely an amazing experience! There is also free coffee or tea for guests and toilets on the boat. Would do it again :)

We had a great cruise and lucky for us the weather was perfect! We saw so many dolphins, beautiful waterfalls and amazing scenery. Absolutely brilliant! Nice to have complimentary hot beverages available onboard for passengers too. Captain did an excellent job with navigation and interesting facts along the way. Definitely would reserve with Mitre Peak Cruises again!

We had a fantastic experience with Mitre Peak Cruises. We booked the standard 2 hour cruise and LOVED every minute. The driver provided helpful and interesting facts while we traveled, circled us around a few times to see the dolphins, and went right up to two of the waterfalls. Definitely glad we decided to go with a small boat that was more personal and maneuverable. The boat never felt crowded and we easily got a prime spot along the front railing. Would recommend to everyone!

Exceptional experience, fantastic staff and wonderful views. I would 100% recommend Mitre peak cruises. Great informative tour in Milford sound with the captain of the boat making funny jokes, one of them being he calls seals "rock sausages", gave us a great laugh 😂 definitely go with this tour company! Amazing experience and we were lucky enough to see bottle nosed dolphins at the Tasman sea! 😍😍

Our tour lasted about 2 hours. The boat sailed the entire length of Milford Sound to the sea. There were wonderful views of the sound and the mountains. We had numerous dolphins accompanying our boat for over 30 minutes. The crew gave good explanations about the nature and geography. Overall, a highly recommended tour.

By far the best boat trip on the Milford Sound. Being on a small boat with plenty of space for everyone (they only half fill the boat) meant it was great to wander around and find an outside space or inside as you wished. He smaller boat meant you could get up closer to many of the waterfalls than the bigger boats - especially Stirling Falls - which was epic.

Fantastic experience to see Milford Sound from the water. Organization was great, all equipment -including clothing- is available and the guides are very entertaining. Maria "Mos" was my guide and she is just an awesome person. I am travelling alone and would have preferred to get a one person kajak instead of one for two, because of that one star less. PS: I recommend to stay close to Milford Sound, to drive from Te Anau is about 2,5 hours and could require to wake up very early.

Amazing experience! I’ll recommend it to all my friends. It’s a must during your visit in Milford. We experienced a great day and great guide.

Nice local company that still runs tours over the winter months. Good gear and great guide! The Sunriser Classic was a great paddle part way around the sound. The views are stunning and wildlife abundant. Best way to see Milford Sound!

The fjord itself does the heavy lifting and this crew helps to set the tone perfectly. Damon was a treat to be around both witty and knowledgeable, and the whole team was superb. With their setup right at the ramp I couldn't imagine going through any other company. They probably get enough business without this review but wanted to share how excellent it was!

Desire to paddle in the serene waters of Milford Sound? I highly recommend Roscos! And yes, the green shed that you see, is the departure location. :) We were so lucky to have a beautiful sunny morning considering the fact that the previous day was raining and cloudy. It was the perfect day to paddle. 🚣😁 Rosco pioneered sea kayaking in Milford 27 years ago and they are the longest established owner-operated kayaking company in New Zealand. They have a variety of trips catering to the first timers as well as seasoned kayakers. Their guides are very knowledgeable too. Our guide was Benjamin and it was a super fun guide and shared so many personal stories making our trip more memorable. If you would like to paddle with a company that cares about conservation, then these are the folks.

We had the best time kayaking today! We had Matt as our guide, and we were very lucky to be the only two people on the tour. I was incredibly nervous, and Matt made me feel comfortable and we went at our own pace. His knowledge and experience and the love for his job shows through. We did a cruise in Milford pre-Covid and thought doing the kayaks would be something different, and boy was it! It was so calming floating down the Arthur river taking in the breathtaking views was amazing. Definitely will be back one day!

We had an amazing morning kayaking in the Fiordland National Park! Kayaking is a great way to get out on the water and to see the fjords. Would highly recommend Roscos. Chris was an amazing guide. Chris and his team really pulled out all the stops. All safely measures were in place to ensure guests were safe on the water. We saw some dolphins and a penguin as well. This should definitely be on your itinerary as a must do! Thanks so much! -Casey and Tom (from Minnesota)

Absolutely amazing experience! Kayaking throughout the Milford Sound was breathtaking and it was almost hard to concentrate on kayaking without being distracted from the beautiful views. We were able to get close to one of the main waterfalls, got great explanations on the type of trees in the area, and some great tips on how to Kayak more comfortably (even though I have experience kayaking). We also were able to see two fiordland penguins swimming nearby to us which was insane! I highly recommend this tour if you plan on visiting Milford Sound! It's a unique way to take in the views while floating on the water and going at your own pace.

We did Sunriser Classic sea kayaking trip with Rosco on November. Sitting in puddle of rainwater, struggling to paddle with numb fingers. Challenging yet unique and memorable way to explore Milford Sound. And you know what? We even spotted two penguins swimming beside us! 🐧

Had a great tour of Milford Sound with GoOrange! When we initially booked, the road was out so we were stuck booking their coach from Te Anau which was more expensive and a little frustrating, but at the end of the day we learned a lot about the area from the coach driver. And Milford Sound was of course incredible. The boat wasn’t crowded at all so everyone was able to spread out which was wonderful. The food on the boat was pretty greasy which was unfortunate but other than that everything was great!!

The Tour through Milford Sound that we made with Go Orange was Awesome! The Nature there was so beautiful. The Crew was so friendly and the Boat looked new and everything was clean. We saw Seals and Penguins. I would definitely recommend to do the Tour with Go Orange. It was totally worth it! We were so lucky with the Weather and that we could see those wild Animals... So don't be disappointed if the Weather is bad or you can't see any Wildlife. It's not the fault of the Cruise.

Excellent cruise at Milford Sound. Great menu options, unlimited refils of tea, comfortable seating, clean bathrooms, great viewing areas and great crew. The cruise goes very near to the waterfall giving viewers the best view of it. The views are breathtaking and you want to forget everything and stay at this paradise on earth. Wr spotted some seals which was an added bonus. I would recommend 830am or 9am cruise for best views with clouds and non-crowded decks.

This cruise line is the “budget operator” in the Milford sound however we found it to be a great experience. Bacon sandwich was included with orange juice. We paid $40NZD/pp online but maybe you can find cheaper, we didn’t look very hard. The cruise was two hours and truly memorable. The drive from Te Anau to make the 9am cruise was brutal, in the dark, with rain. But with rain, comes massive waterfalls on the sound, so there is a silver lining! Photos as of March 2018.

Gorgeous couple of hours spent on the Southern Discoveries nature cruise. Loved it, wish I could have stayed all day! We saw seals and some playful dolphins. Staff are lovely and knowledgeable. The trip was smooth and pleasant (currently cold, warm clothes essential!) Free tea and coffee provided. Food and snacks can be purchased. Parking is a walk away(the one 30 mins away is free and there's space for campers.) We were told, at the moment, the morning trips (10.30am) are quieter than the afternoons (*but the drive is time consuming so give yourself LOTS of extra time or stay close the night before!)

Cruising Milford Sound was on my bucket list for my current trip around the world. Southern Discoveries provided a worthwhile and educational experience in the rain and fog which is so prevalent in the rainiest place in New Zealand. The captain offered a lot of insight, we got in close to magnificent waterfalls – of which there are hundreds during and after the rain – but the Underwater Observatory was closed due to – wait for it - excessive rain clouding the water. Good food was served, the tour departed exactly as scheduled and the cruise terminal is modern and clean with bathrooms and souvenirs.

Booked the southern discoveries cruise on 15th May at 1.15 pm. The crew was friendly and jovial throughout. Having good conversation and helping to take photos at epic sites. The cruise was stable and fun with good commentary. It was a good 2 hours for the cruise and there was free flow of coffee and tea onboard. There are 3 decks to enjoy the cruise. Lower middle and upper deck which is open air. It’s a lovely ride.

Beautiful cruise at Milford Sound, with absolutely stunning views! Tour was well run, with great extras like the tea and coffee on board the boat. The packed lunch was great, nice sandwich and 'snack box' with crisps, cheese and crackers, a square of chocolate, cookies, and fruit. We enjoyed the underwater observatory too. We had booked kayaking for the afternoon but unfortunately due to high winds were unable to go, the staff kept us informed about this and really apologised. We had enjoyed the boat trip so much we didn't mind missing the kayaking too much!

A really enjoyable short cruise, family (pram) friendly. The carrier was quite large, viewing decks on multiple levels. We saw dolphins, seals and penguins on this short trip out into Milford sound.

Great experience on and below the water. However, the parking fee and the parking fines are a bit rich. We paid for 3 hours parking $30.00. But with the time working out where to go and finding a meter that worked was more like 4.25 hours with a fine of $65.00. I did contest it, and they saw logic. So pay for 4 if you're on the water and go under as well.

We did a cruise on 16 April after the heavy rain during the night. I thought the cruise was going to be terrible with the weather but it was quite the opposite. The amount of waterfalls we saw was amazing. With a picnic lunch included and a visit to the underwater observatory this trip was well worth it. Totally recommend.

A brilliant and insightful cruise with sights you can only dream of taking in otherwise. Daniel was brilliant - informative, humorous and attentive. Allowing detours for seals and dolphins as well as a splash from the many waterfalls along the cruise. The cruise went for 2.5 hours and I could've stayed double that. A really great experience and not one to miss. Unfortunately the underwater observatory was damaged in a recent storm on our visit so didn't get the chance to experience that but would like to on our next trip based on reviews of that.

Milford sound coach and cruise trip is one of the best trip of my life and will be. There is no word for scenic beauty as we went through my eyes was did not even close for 2 minutes as i don't want to miss. Beside trip we got no.1 driver shailendra with very good sense of humour who made our trip to the extra level and we lucky to have him 😊

Brilliant unforgetable spectacular experience. Just so special. The cruise was fabulous. The long coach journey was also made both enjoyable and interesting by our brilliant driver-guide Greg, who kept us all amusingly and informatively entertained. Having an excellent driver-guide made a significant positive difference to our wonderful day's experience!

Saw seal pups and dolphins! Scenery was great. Couldn’t hear the commentary clearly if you’re out on deck, which I was a good 90% of the time. Also got to go into the floating underwater observatory area, which was very informative. The view of the black corals and fishes were underwhelming though. Went on a sunny day so the dark sea couldn’t be seen clearly. But otherwise it was a pretty good trip. Their lunch included was good!!

Wow, what a memorable experience for my first dry-suit dive — I HIGHLY recommend experiencing Milford Sound through scuba with Descend! It was a gorgeous, rare sunny day and I dove with Cody and Katy, who made it so fun, effortless, and delightful throughout the whole trip. They took care of EVERYTHING from equipment, to snacks and a delicious falafel wrap for lunch, to weighting me, to my gear and ensuring I was outfitted correctly… even helping me assemble when the dry-suit made it difficult to do so! I felt totally safe, carefree, and excited, and was lucky enough to see octopus and enormous crayfish! Our skipper Carl was also super knowledgeable and even recommended hikes nearby and stopped by for us to experience a waterfall up close. It was like a private tour of the fjord! The entire crew kept the energy going, and even afterwards as I had trouble locating my family again, they took me in as their own and helped me until I found them. Also shout-out to Simone who answered my questions via email beforehand as I was quite nervous for my first dive, but I had no reason to be as they took care of it all! I’m so grateful for this experience!!!! Wish I were staying longer so I could dive with them more!

The COVID information on your website is both clear and classy. Tricky waters well navigated. I look forward to diving with you.

Milford Sound is such a beautiful place, both above water and below as it turns out! The whole team at Descend were awesome, special thanks to Lance who made me feel very safe and comfortable for my first ever scuba dive on the Basic Diver course. Great tuition and direction throughout and some spectacular wildlife to see; from black coral and inquisitive rock lobsters to kingfish and a lucky encounter with an eagle ray too. Incredible experience that was the highlight of our trip to New Zealand. The whole day out on the boat, socialising with the skipper and crew, was great fun - and Britt's sandwich was delicious to boot! Thank you guys!

Absolutely amazing experience. The team/ crew take excellent care of everyone on board and in the water. They give you a one if a kind tour of Milford Sound throughout the whole day including hiking access to an area only they can take tourists (bridal veil falls). Plenty of nourishment is provided between dives and it was very yummy. I was incredibly impressed by the equipment used and they spend time beforehand making sure you are comfortable with it. Very unique diving experience and more then worth the cost! I would do this again in a heartbeat.

I had an amazing 4 dives with Descend. Staff is phenomenal and the equipment top quality. The tours of milford above water were awesome too with excellent descriptions. We even were able to explore waterfalls on land.  Katy is a Michelin chef and she also gave phenomenal briefings of equipment, marine life, and dive sites. Cody did an amazing job teaching me the drysuit specialty. Carl drove the boat so efficiently, he truly made it look effortless. Katy, Cody, and Carl were so informative about everything in the fjord. I really got to fully experience milford sound above and below water. The trip was truly amazing!

Such a professional outfit! Let me begin: 1. Carl: Skipper of the boat and so familiar with all the dive sites, could provide you with the most detailed brief of the land and underwater features. As he dives as well, his knowledge knows no limits. Great sense of humour too - not a stuffy crew member 2. Gio: what an absolute pocket rocket of energy, fun, professionalism, intelligence and skill. She looks absolutely amazing underwater - her 4000+ dives are clearly apparent when you see her manage a training session and a group of divers trying not to crash into ANCIENT coral! She also made really tasty fresh vegetable & falafel rolls - which is far better than packet soup you normally get on a boat dive. 3. Ted: the gentle giant of the group. Helped me so willingly with my sidemount kit, which was proving difficult with cold fingers! Such a quiet spoken gentleman, who amused us during lunch with his dry sense of humour. 4. The sites: the dive location is stunning! The black coral looks like a winter wonderland of white branches spanning out with its tendrils. When you realise they grow (maximum) 3cm year, you wonder in awe at the age of some of these animals - spanning the full breadth of human history: imagine something that was alive when Pharaoh Ramses was ruling Egypt! The rock wall of Cray’s Crack and the descent down to an abyssal 150m+ is intimidating and exhilarating. Let’s not get started on the lobsters! So friendly and inquisitive - not to mention humongous! 5. Simone: The communication with the head office is prompt and informed. I asked to use sidemount and DiversityNZ were so helpful with this. I asked for 10.5L steel DIN tanks as I find 12L too heavy and unnecessary as my air consumption is tiny - could they have been more accommodating? I think not I asked about another day booking and they cancelled because of the weather: I value a company that puts safety ahead of profit.

Brilliant day spent at Milford Sound with Lance and Zac. So amazing to see Milford both above and below water! They are both so informative and helpful, couldn't ask for a better crew. The diving was so good! The fresh water layer is pretty unique to descend through. The black coral, sharks, penguins, countless crayfish, seals and inquisitive blue cod were just incredible! Couldn't recommend it more!

My husband and I had a fantastic day diving with Descend Scuba! The diving far exceeded our expectations, with lots of sharks, a ray, a sea horse, an octopus, and amazing black coral. Brit and Lance made the experience incredibly enjoyable. Brit was an excellent instructor for our drysuit certification (100% worth it!!) and guiding us underwater. Lance gave a great tour of Milford Sound above water before and after the dives. And there was chocolate, a tasty wrap, and hot coffee & tea between our dives for a recharge. Mahalo!!

Incredible place to dive. My friend and I went diving here for the first time ever, and the crew was pleasant to talk with, great with instruction, and lively as a whole. We felt comfortable and at ease as we were in good hands, and if you truly want to experience Milford Sound, I strongly suggest booking with Descend even if you’ve never gone diving before. It’s easy to tell the crew members love what they do, and Simone is very obviously a great boss to work for.

Absolutely unreal experience with Lance, Simone and Mitch. From start to finish everyone had a smile on their face from ear to ear, as an instructor myself I was blown away not only by the diving but also the service and equipment provided. My girlfriend and friend both did their dry suit speciality with Lance and had a mean time diving. It was awesome to dive with someone so passionate about diving as well! Descend dont just offer diving but also a very personal tour in the fjord and have an extensive amount of knowledge about above and below the water. Once again a massive thank you to the team for the unforgettable experience! Will definitely be back!!!!

One of a kind diving! The phenomenon that is deep water emergence allows you to see deep sea marine life at 10 to 30m depth. The staff are all very friendly and the drysuits are sensational. Definitely recommend!

Super nice team and great teachers for using the drysuit. I wasn't lucky with the possible encounters. But it was still well worth it. Those black corals are something unique, and Millford Sound itself is a stunning area to see!

What an absolutely amazing experience. I come to Mildford Sound regularly with work, but I have never had the chance to dive under the icy water until recently. What an amazing treat! I had really high expectations (I couldn't help it) and everything blew me away! From the state of the art equipment to the the semi-drysuits & even the included lunch, everything was amazing! Kudos to Lance, Zach & Kam for organising everyone, from people that had never dived before, to open water, advanced and professionals, everyone was catered for and looked after! I can't wait to come and dive again - worth every cent!

Laid-back, friendly, well-organised operation, all gear in good condition. Loads of amazing macro life to see, outstandingly colourful wall dives, hundred of crayfish, and beautiful unique black coral. A fun + unique way to experience Fiordland!

I was like a dream...a wonderful dream cruising on Milford Sound. Sitting in the hot tub under the Southern Cross with NO light pollution is spectacular. The staff, the boat, the food - a top ten experience of my life.! Don't hesitate - just take this cruise!

My wife and I took an overnight cruise on our honeymoon, and it was incredible. Just the opportunity to cruise around the sound during the day was magical but seeing it overnight was truly special. The crew was friendly and very knowledgeable about the area. You can tell they’ve been hosting these cruises for a while and have all things taken care of. They accommodations and food on the trip were excellent. We even took a night soak in the hot tub on the top deck. If you’re headed to Fjordlands, this cruise is not to be missed.

Very pricey but wanted to give my family a Xmas treat, turned out to be one of those ‘must-do’ experience before one die ! The team was fantastic and friendly, we booked a van transfer as we wanted to focus on the scenery and Lance was just wonderful, stopped at many places on the way for photos, never felt rushed - like Lake Gunn, mirror lake and others. Loves his anecdotes about his beloved NZ, tried to spot him in Mission Impossible (he was a temporary actor) but could not ! The food on board was five star, endless supplies of drinks. Wine list esp the Pinot Noir (extra) was good. Rooms were tiny (we had the quadruple) and hard to get to top bunk but it’s understandable. Hope they can do something about that. It was v clean and sheets fresh. The sunset was amazing, also kayaking and tender ride. The silence and peace and bird songs will stay in our minds forever. Though we didn’t meet dolphins or penguins, we sailed right up to waterfalls and saw seals (nearly at arms length). This tour has few people and contrasts markedly from the other Milford day tours where the crowds can be distracting.

Supreme experience! Very recommended! You can get many offers for cruises on Milford Sound. We had an overnight cruise and was amazed by everything. I'm sure most of the cruises will go the same places, but with this boat you get closer than the others and spend more time in Milford Sound cruising. The boat was one of the finest in the harbor, and the one out of 10 that I would point at, if I could choose any, as my preferred boat for a small cruise like this. With the overnight cruise, the boat will only carry a max of 20 people, which turns out to be a great decision! With this few people (+4-5 staff members) you get plenty of room and full personal attention from the staff. The captain was very informal (in a good way) and made us feel safe on a journey that would only exceed our expectations for service level. The kitchen chef knew what he was doing. Everything from the small welcome snack (not even advertised when booking) to the 3 course menu (very very very nice, tasty, delicious food - we got local lobster, local blue cot fish and home made chocolate cake with local honey and ice cream) to the breakfast (with cereals, croissants, egg/bacon etc). The rest of the crew took care of us, was smiling and helpful with any request, plus knew when to suggest us to go somewhere to get an extra experience (like taking a bath on front deck, while ship is cruising very close/underneath a waterfall) We also went on a free kayak tour (20-40 min depending on if you have more or less than 8 people wanting to attend) where we sailed next to seals. Normally I would expect a trip like this to try push me to buy a lot of drinks on board to spend more money, but they never did that. They mentioned the bar once and we used it as we pleased (charging the room for very good convenience, so we only had to pay right before leaving the boat). We could get free water, tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and only needed to pay for wine (60$/bottle ish) and other drinks if we wanted to (bar closes 10PM, since ship will sail 6:30AM next morning - you can choose to stay longer in your cabin, as breakfast is from 7-8AM). The 2 person cabins are great! You have an insane sea view, nice wide single beds (at least for European standards) and nice showers (with good pressure, high position for higher people with perfect temperature control - yhear.. we slept in campervan for 3 weeks and loved the shower 😂). Speaking of showers, we also used the free hot top at the top deck while sun was setting 😍 The only thing I can think of could be better is air conditioning. We went there on an unusual hot day (full sun), and the boat doesn't have aircondition. It does have air circulation and heating for colder nights. It's only really something you notice when you want to sleep, but it still would be a nice addition to the cabins. I properly forgot something, but I do hope you read this as a very good review. Properly the most expensive thing we did on our trip - and the one thing I wouldn't think twice about doing again if I went to NZ. Especially if Fiordland Discovery is still operating 😍

We joined one of the first Milford overnight cruises post-Covid. There is no better way to experience such a majestic place than with this crew. They are doing something right and something special. We made a bond with Milford Sound in such an intimate way. We were well taken care of and had meaningful conversations with the staff and other guests. With the Jewel, we weaved through sunlight, through rain, near the mighty Stirling Falls, in the company of dolphins and seals, and the blackest of nights. Imagine waking up the next morning to that slice of nature. It was truly a trip to remember.

An exceptional week. I don’t know where to begin after such an amazing adventure. A week spent travelling through fiords on the Jewel from Doubtful to Milford Sound. Loved kayaking in the Sounds then having a warm dry room on the boat to return to. Three exceptional meals each day with a wonderful array of fresh seafood throughout the week. Experienced crew to make you feel safe at all times. Lots of fun and humour. Loved every minute of it. Thankyou Rob, Dave, Matt, Jack, Juan and Hal for making it an unforgettable week. Hope to be back.

From begining to end, we found our experience on the Jewel wonderful! Like many other reviews mention - the team on board were some of the kindest and friendliest bunch you could encounter. Very accomodating, compassionate and welcoming team! I had felt unwell and nauseus as I do not do well with the motion of the sea - the young skipper Jimmy, one of the two delightful hosts Liv and chef Chris were quick to ensure I was comfortable and checked in on me, thoughtfully offering some ginger treats to help with the nausea! Thank you to Jade the second host, who made the trip even more memorable and fun for many of the guests and Nisch the deckhound for ensuring our stay ran seamlessly and for us not having to lift a finger. We were fortunate to have wonderful weather, great food, even better company and views. The cruise staff definitely made our trip memorable, with the addition of great company from other guests and perhaps maybe it was the magic of being in Milford Sounds - we had a delightful stay and would 100% recommend others to not drive the 4 hours to Milford Sound and not experience an overnight cruise. Thank you again to the team!!

Have a great trip and food. The room is really clean. Is wonderful and fantastic. Thanks for the crews. You're the best.

The best trip ever of my 10 years life in New Zealand. We had a fantastic time and would give a 10 out of 10 score. The cruise was extremely comfy and food was delicious. We enjoyed kayaking, tender boating, hot tub stargazing, afternoon and morning cruises. We had the best weather and we were lucky to see penguins and several rounds of dolphins swimming along our boat in the morning. With only around 20 guests on board, we loved the personal feeling and got to know everyone and made some great friends. Please pass on our hearty thanks to your wonderful team -- Jimmy, Jade, Ben, Liv and Chris!

This was one of out last experiences on our trip to NZ hence the splurge as it is very expensive. We really enjoyed the trip with the very friendly crew who honestly couldn't do enough for us. They are truly passionate about the Sounds and sustainably sharing this with their visitors. The accommodation and boat is 1st class, beautifully decoated and kitted out. We loved the Kayaking and hot tub as well as chatting to the other passengers as we cruised. The only criticism I would have is the food. Neither of us ate fish and we were given a vegetarian dish which I couldn't eat (zucchini...bleh!) If they had asked beforehand, I could have helped guide them on this. This aside we had a wonderful time. Thank you!

We had an amazing time on the Jewel. The staff were all friendly and happy. We were able to change our booking to the following day when we were running behind schedule and they were very helpful. We were fortunate enough to be given an upgrade on our cabin as it was my wife's birthday. The Governor's suite on the top deck is well worth it, with a lot of space and beautiful views. The cruise itself is beautiful and informative, with lots of wildlife to be seen. Kayak paddling and swimming are both possible for the adventurous and the hot tub is a great way to relax. They have some amazing videos if bird and marine life around the area which took some serious skill and care to achieve. The food was flawless in taste and presentation. Yummy. They are happy to do charters and customised experiences to see many sounds or go diving. We will definitely be back for another cruise. Thanks so much for a fantastic experience.

Great staff and crew which deserve 5 stars but the experience did not meet expectations. I give 3 because we booked this cruise intending to make the most of the very expensive time and overnight aspect by staying up late to stargaze in the hot tub and sip on drinks. At 10 pm the ship shut down. The bar and hot tub were closed and guest were asked to stay restricted to their floors meaning you could not get a hot drink from the main area. For the price I felt the company could pay one of the staff to stay up overnight so those who wished could continue their evenings. While we did enjoy the experience I leave this review because if we had known of the limited hours on the overnight cruise we would have booked one of the much cheaper day / evening cruises.

We arrived in the late afternoon and spent a ery pleasant 30 mins or so photographing the landscape. We read about the geography and how the valley was formed. It was interesting and beautiful with the mountains surrounding the fields.

Fabulous breathtaking scenery. A 'must see' at least once in a lifetime.

Such a beautiful place. It was super cold and windy when I visited. Was mesmerized by the view of snow capped mountains! 😍

Just wonderful , loved it ❤️.... highly recommended.

Grote open vlakte met de bergen rondom. Prachtig plekje om even te stoppen, 5-10 min. Informatiebordje over de omgeving/planten. Verder weinig te zien/te doen. (Translated by Google) Large open plain with the mountains all around. Beautiful place to stop for a while, 5-10 min. Information sign about the area / plants. Not much to see/do.

This is the first stop along the Milford highway. It is a wonderful introduction to the area. The obvious U shaped valley. The still snow dusted peaks in summer. Simply beautiful. But it is absolutely on every tourist bus’ stop. So you can get absolutely bum rushed by a mob of inconsiderate tourists with selfie sticks. That’s why not the 5 stars.

Nice rest stop along the way to Milford sound. Impressive view of the flats and valley but be warned of the sandflies which are in abundance here.

Such a beautiful location. Wish we had brought a picnic blanket and some food along

I just stopped here on the way to Milford Sound. It's a nice place, beautiful landscape

Just enjoy the scenery and enjoy yourself. This location looks like the grounds of the fantasy Jurassic park.

This valley is just stunning and a good photography place! We had a chance to drive through it in cloudy and snowy weather!

The blue sky, green lawns, and mountain peaks make it very relaxing. A great place to take a break and picnic while driving Milford Sound.

This is a stunning valley with high beech clad mountains on both sides and a wide valley floor combining to craft breathtaking vistas. This is one of those must-stop locations on the way to Milford Sound.

Fantastic views of the rolling g mountains and small lakes

A good spot for picture-taking. Appreciate the mountain ranges

The Eglinton Valley is one of only a few places in New Zealand with large areas of lowland beech forest. There are plants and wildlife here that you won’t find anywhere else in the world, including more than 30 rare, threatened or endangered species. This is why Fiordland National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Area – to protect and preserve this unique area of Aotearoa. It was carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago. Today, steep rocky mountains covered in native beech forest line the valley. The flat floor of the valley is covered in golden tussock grass.

Amazing place. Picture can't express the beauty of this place.

Incredible experience because we'd never been in a helicopter, and the scenery and experience was insane. Landing on top of the glacier was such a cool experience and one we will never forget! The pilots flying was so smooth, shame we didn't get his name or any other info. He took some photos of us on the glacier which was nice. Downsides; no safety briefing, not introduced to pilot and it's very short for the cost (25 mins for £250). We turned up and within 6 mins were ushered into a helicopter, I guess they wanted as many flights that day as possible because the conditions were sunny and calm, but the staff on the ground are definitely part of a really expensive experience and could have been way more understanding of how this is a once in a lifetime thing for many of us, and atleast given some safety instructions? All we could hear on the headphones throughout the flight were other pilots and ground staff talking to eachother so we're too scared to talk to eachother as we might interrupt important info being shared between flight and ground. Just some info on that before flying would have been appreciated.

We had a great experience, the weather was perfect. The only draw back was that we showed up randomly and thought it would be easy to book a flight. We got lucky as we showed up hrs earlier to make sure we got a flight. Recommend looking into it early, Milford sound is nothing more than a ferry terminal and a small cafe. So don't make the same mistake we did thinking it was a small village. But what an amazing experience. And I hope I remember his name right... Sam was a great pilot.

Absolutely amazing! While working in New Zealand on a short-term work visa (I'm Canadian), I was able to take a road-trip around the South Island. We took a cruise into Milford Sound, then decided to take a helicopter tour. Phenomenal scenery, and an incredible experience! We landed at the top of Sutherland Falls, got out, took pictures etc. You definitely want to be sober while at the top of this incredibly high waterfall! Then we flew off around a few peaks and landed on one of the nearby glaciers to get out and take some more photos. This, alone, would have made the flight worth every penny! After taking off once more, one of us spotted some of the wild chamois that live in the Southern Alps. We were able to get quite close due to the skill of our pilot. The pilot did say that he usually flies a little more sedately for tourists, but, hey, what are you going to do when egged on by a bunch of young guys :) I would recommend this helicopter tour to anyone who has the chance!

Once in a lifetime experience with great crew! Our pilot was knowledgeable, cool and helpful and the guy running the office even gave us a ride to our cruise due to tight timing - great service, amazing experience, highly recommend!

Very poor and very short experience. The entire flight (both ways together) was 8 minutes, plus 10 minutes stop at the glacier. So all together 18 minutes only ( I measured the time). The worse $1500 spent on entire trip in New Zealend. It was me , my wife and our 3 kids.

Took a ride with Milford Helicopters today, with my wife. We did the grand tour and flew to Tutoko glacier then Sutherland Falls. Never been in a chopper before and a nervous flyer, but have to say it was EPIC!!! Weather helped by being beautiful and clear. The glacier was well worth the visit. We swung around the fjord and swooped up and over the numerous peaks! Would HIGHLY recommend. I sat in the middle seat and could see a good amount from my seat. I swapped with my wife for the final leg and sat next to the door, which gave me an improved view, but I still saw loads in both seats. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We popped in the office a day earlier but due to weather the pilots advised us to fly the following day. Glad we did as it was far better.

Epic and exhilarating flight. Perfect conditions, unbelievably incredible scenery, and Mike was a calm and professional pilot. I’d highly recommend this most memorable experience to anyone considering a Fiordland flight.

Absolutely stunning experience - Highly recommend to all, whether you're from overseas, or a fellow Kiwi. Best way to explore and see the beauty of Milford Sound.

There is room for 5 passengers on every ride. The individual that sits next to the pilot is going to have an amazing experience. The two individuals with window seats in the back row will have great views. The two individuals in the middle seats in the back row can see essentially nothing. If you are going to have one of these seats, I recommend sitting next to someone who is very comfortable with you leaning into your lap to see out the window. Perhaps if a very short person were in one of the middle-back seats, they could see some of the ground through the front window. Consider making an agreement with other riders prior to take off to switch seats for the second part of the flight when it takes off from the mountain. All of my pictures from inside the helicopter are of the backs of people’s heads and the instrument panel. Everyone on the helicopter paid the same $750 to ride. We were fortunate and only had to wait about 30 minutes. Two of the people on our flight were part of a larger group that took off hours prior. Be prepared for a very long wait.

The road to get here is unpaved but very very smooth. Literally any car can pass and I think I went faster on this road than the normal Milford road due to no traffic. Google maps will significantly overestimate how long it will take you. Anyway, the walk to the waterfall is up hill but short. Not sure the payoff is worth it. You can only see the waterfall from across the valley. But if you need to burn some time I like we did, then go ahead and stop.

This is written April 3 2021 and no it is not April fools day. The road leading to the waterfall is closed. It is 5km aprox from the waterfall. The only way to get there is by bicycle or walk. It will be months before the road is repaired and open again. I wish they had put a sign up before you drive on an unsealed gravel road. It is a long drive. It is suppose to be 17km on unsealed gravel road. I think you are 5km short to the waterfall.

We had an amazing experience hiking to the waterfall. The drive on the unpaved road added to the adventure, and once we arrived, the sight of the waterfall was absolutely breathtaking. Parking and toilets available. Nature at its finest.

A bit of a hike to get to the view of waterfall. After returning from the hike we took a detour to the boat ramp. Such a beautiful place. Hidden gem

Beautiful waterfalls that are easy to access. It's only a short and relatively easy walk from the car park up a well maintained track. The viewing area is quite a long way away from the falls, but is elevated to about halfway up the waterfalls, allowing you to look down on the pool the fall into. The gravel road to it is well kept and completely safe for any vehicle to access.

15 minutes walk to a platform, which isn't so close to the waterfall. One big waterfall and a smaller one to the right. The drive to it is on a unpaved road. It needs maybe 40 minutes to the car park. When you walk from the car park 3 minutes down the road, there is a nice river and the start from a great walk.

We went when it had been raining all day and was flowing like a fire hose 3 arms of falls unreal view easy hike 20 minutes return

Incredible falls with great access. Slight uphill gravel track which takes about 30 minutes return. Can't get very close to the bottom of the falls though

Unfortunately I arrived with a tour bus. It's interesting to watch the people swarm out and surround the Kea... take a few pictures and then pile back into the bus... Beautiful view down the valley.

If we are being honest with each other, I thought the Milford sound drive was overrated. A lot of the sites are overhyped and overcrowded. Then I got to the monkey creek stop. Holy cow it’s so pretty with the valley and the mountains. Maybe the drive isn’t overrated?

No picnic tables but there are rocks to sit on near the creek. There was a friendly Kia that came up and hopped around whilst we were eating, it was quite photogenic

Just a spectacular valley to stop before entering the tunnel… to Milford Sound

The creek is no more than a stream, but the stopover point provides you a majestic view of the snow capped mountain valleys which is quite worth it

A glacier-fed spring at Monkey Creek with pure icy water from the bubbling brook. What an experience. Enjoy! (2023-12)

Great place to pull over and meet the local keas stretch the legs and soak up the fresh air.

A great spot to have a Kea encounter. Scenic views.

A beautiful spot to stop for a break soon before heading into the Homer Tunnel. Personally, I can't recommend drinking the water. It looks beautifully clear and pure, and it tastes good, but unfortunately I ended up with a serious case of stomach sickness afterwards.

Great little viewpoint, the Kea are always quick to come say hello here also

Awesome scenery, great place to see keas.

A beauty! Fascinating views of the mountains and the crystal clear creek. A lookout point for Kea.

Very cool little spot to take photos. Lots of people stopping to take photos just be careful pulling in make

A good little creek. Apparently, kea sometimes are found here. I have been told that early in the morning you can hear them. The creek itself was so clear you could drink from it. There's a little walk that can be accessed from here, but mostly just a great view.

Beautiful scenic views you can see glacier

Nice stop. We had a kea walking around looking for food

Stop by the road, no tickets! Beautiful views!

It's a great place to see Keas. Beautiful scenery. While driving to Milford Sound, we stopped here to take some amazing shots.