Fjord Days · NEW ZEALAND FJORD TOURS

The 15 Best Fiordland Cruises in New Zealand

94 trips  ·  from $44 a head

Fiordland is a long way from everything and the road in is the whole logistics problem. The 15 below compare Milford and Doubtful Sound, the coach days out of Queenstown and Te Anau, and the flights that skip the drive.

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown - Fiordland begins at Eglinton Valley
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Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

1.Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,001 reviews · from $216Our pick

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a small group of up to 15, with hotel pickup, a picnic lunch, snacks, and a two-hour Cruise Milford sailing. Guides such as Andy, Danny, Jess, Joe, and Dean share local stories and Māori folklore while stopping at Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn, the Darran Mountains, and more.

“We are so happy we booked this experience. Absolutely spectacular. Joe was our tour guide, he was very informative and kind, we can not thank or praise him enough for his work. If you want to experience Milford Sound, do this! And if you can afford to, fly back - it is amazing.”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip - Queenstown pickup and the first part of the journey
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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

2.Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,592 reviews · from $144

Ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound with local guides, scenic stops, and live commentary, then cruise past waterfalls, rainforest, seals, dolphins, and penguins. Pure Milford includes lunch, tea, hot water, three viewing decks, and pickup from selected Queenstown and Frankton Road locations.

“Milford sound was BEAUTIFUL! Highly recommend this day trip and cruise. We had an amazing driver, Brandon (maybe spelled Brendan). Our driver was informative, kind, friendly, sociable and offered to take photos for his passengers at the stops. For a tourist not from AU, I would have loved WiFi on the coach bus.”

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Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise - From Mitre Peak to the mouth of the fiord
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Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

3.Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,561 reviews · 2 hours · from $101

Cruise Milford Sound for two hours aboard Mitre Peak Cruises’ smaller boat, with live English commentary, indoor and outdoor decks, hot drinks, and close passes by waterfalls, seals, dolphins, and seasonal penguins. The skipper may take you toward the Tasman Sea when conditions allow.

“Rainy day but beat in class. Wind yo to 140 km/h Which Made the watervallen going up! Great shower/soked wet”

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Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise - Fiordland National Park and the Milford Road
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Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

4.Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,416 reviews · from $235

Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a Mercedes van with up to 15 people, stopping at Lake Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, and the Homer Tunnel. Your guide handles the long drive, with lunch, WiFi, hot drinks, and a nature cruise included.

“Thomas was a great, chill, kiwi guide, made the tour great and very enjoyable! The place is astonishing, definitely a must if you’re coming to Queenstown!”

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Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown - From Queenstown to the Southern Alps
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Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

5.Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,792 reviews · from $462

True South Flights takes you from Queenstown to Milford Sound by small aircraft, with pilot commentary, a roughly two-hour fjord cruise, and a return flight over a different route. Expect window seats, snow-covered peaks, waterfalls, and selected central Queenstown pickup.

“Such a great way to enjoy the scenery in New Zealand through flying and get to Milford Sound for the cruise. Micheal, the pilot made sure we had an enjoyable and safe flight over. One of the highlights of our NZ trip!”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Tour - Meeting in Queenstown and setting out
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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Tour

6.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,681 reviews · 12 hours · from $162

Take RealNZ’s 12-hour Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown by glass-roof coach. Stop at Te Anau, Mirror Lakes, Monkey Creek, and the Eglinton Valley, then cruise Milford Sound for two hours with live English commentary. Guides such as Paulie, Levi, and Craig are known for lively local stories.

“The coach gave excellent views. The boat trip was perfect. it is a long day.”

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From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip - Lake Manapouri Begins the Day Gently
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From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

7.From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,621 reviews · 7 hours · from $208

Travel from Manapouri across Lake Manapouri, over Wilmot Pass by bus, then cruise Doubtful Sound for three hours aboard the Patea Explorer. English-speaking guides explain Fiordland’s wildlife and weather. Watch for dolphins, fur seals, and crested penguins, and pack for rain, cold, and sandflies.

“This trip is absolutely fantastic - if you’re thinking about going, definitely do! The team are super friendly and informative, the boat is lovely, and the sound itself is just breathtaking. The staff really took the time to make sure everyone was taken care of, and made the trip so memorable. It is 100% worth the money. We were blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather which was a bonus, but I imagine it would be just as stunning in the rain.”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat - Pickup, check-in, and the early logistics
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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

8.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,558 reviews · 5 hours · from $447

Fly with guaranteed window seats from Queenstown to Milford Sound, then cruise for two hours past Mitre Peak, waterfalls, seals, dolphins, and seasonal penguins. Pilots such as Jared, Andy, and Kirk add lively commentary, while weather can delay or cancel the flight.

“One of the best experiences of our holiday. only way to do Milford sound i think. Amazing”

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2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise - Boarding at Milford Sound Visitor Centre
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2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

9.2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,520 reviews · from $104

Set out from Milford Sound Visitor Centre on a two-hour Mitre Peak Cruises trip. A smaller boat takes you close to Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak, cliffs, and wildlife, with live commentary plus free tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. You reach the Tasman Sea before returning to the wharf.

“Great experience from beginning to end. Amazing scenery and great hospitality. No matter the weather the scenery won’t disappoint”

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Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau - Marian Cascade, Monkey Creek, and the best photo stops
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Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau

10.Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,198 reviews · from $185

Spend about 9.5 hours traveling from Te Anau to Milford Sound in a small group of up to 16. Guides such as Gary, Tania, Andy, and Allan share local stories along the Milford Road, with stops at Mirror Lakes, The Chasm, Homer Tunnel, and more, followed by a two-hour cruise.

“We had an amazing experience with Fiordland Tours to Milford Sound. Being picked up right in front of our Airbnb was such a convenient and stress-free start to the day. Andy was our guide, and he was absolutely wonderful—so knowledgRead more”

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Milford Sound: Nature Cruise on a Modern Catamaran - Waterfalls are the main event
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Milford Sound: Nature Cruise on a Modern Catamaran

11.Milford Sound: Nature Cruise on a Modern Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,006 reviews · 1h 45m · from $92Best value

Cruise Milford Sound for 105 minutes aboard a spacious Pure Milford catamaran with three levels, outdoor decks, large windows, live commentary, and outdoor footage on indoor screens. Expect close views of waterfalls, seals, dolphins, and the Tasman Sea. Hot drinks may be available, but food costs extra.

“Beautiful scenery, especially on a rainy day where there are thousands of extra waterfalls - truly an activity for all weathers. The boat was great with inside, partially open and outside areas to sit/stand. Free hot drinks was great on a cold day”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip on Premium Coach - The long road from Queenstown to Te Anau
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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip on Premium Coach

12.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip on Premium Coach

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 976 reviews · 750 minutes - 14 hours · from $170

Ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound in a comfortable glass-roof coach with live commentary, stops at Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, and Monkey Creek, then cruise below waterfalls and past Mitre Peak. Guides such as Stan, Keith, Shale, and Junior are known for keeping the long day engaging.

“Great trip. Beautiful scenery on the way with a couple of stops for scenery, food and drinks and restrooms. Our bus driver, Keith, gave an interesting commentary along the way. It was a drizzly, overcast day but Milford Sound was worth it and the slight rain brought the waterfalls to life. Highly recommended.”

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Milford Sound: Boutique Small-Boat Cruise - Mitre Peak and Sinbad Gully begin the show
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Milford Sound: Boutique Small-Boat Cruise

13.Milford Sound: Boutique Small-Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 942 reviews · 105 minutes - 12 hours · from $101

Cruise Milford Sound with Cruise Milford NZ on a comfortable small boat for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Your skipper, such as Brad, Chris, or Craig, guides you past seals, cliffs, Fairy Falls, and Sterling Falls, with tea, coffee, biscuits, and plenty of open-air viewing space.

“Really nice small boat tour. Was so glad that I chose the tour in the smaller boat than the bigger ones from the competitors. Really nice guide who loves his work”

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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise - A comfortable coach with useful commentary
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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise

14.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 868 reviews · 8 hours · from $110

Travel from Te Anau through Fiordland National Park by comfortable coach, stopping for short walks and photos before a full Milford Sound cruise. Guides such as Sebastian, Scarlett, and Brian provide lively commentary, while lunch, hot drinks, and central pickup keep the day simple.

“Really enjoyed it, ran very smoothly, excellent driver/guide thank you”

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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks - The Milford Road is half the experience
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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks

15.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 845 reviews · 1 day · from $164

Travel from Te Anau in a van for a full day of Milford Sound scenery, short forest walks, and a two-hour small-boat cruise toward the Tasman Sea. Local guides such as Geoff, Olivia, Ross, and Jeff share stories about Fiordland’s plants, wildlife, geology, and history. Lunch is included, and groups are limited to 15.

“Olivia, our guide was enthusuastic, knowledgable and overall a wonderful guide for the day. She kept us well informed when there had to be changes due to conditions at Milford Sound as did the crew on the boat. We thoroughly enjoyed the day despite the torrential rain, which in turn led to an amazing display of waterfalls. It was impressive.”

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New in New Zealand Fjord Tours

★ 4.4From Wanaka: Milford Sound Flight with Landing & Glaciers7 reviews
★ 5.0From Te Anau: Scenic Flight to Doubtful and Milford SoundFrom $1,2402 reviews
★ 5.0From Te Anau: Milford Sound Extended Cruise and Coach TourFrom $1702 reviews
★ 5.0From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise & Track Walk by CoachFrom $22910 reviews
★ 4.9From Queenstown: Milford Sound Scenic Flight & Nature TourFrom $3283 reviews
★ 4.9From Queenstown: Milford Sound Flight and Cruise with LunchFrom $39744 reviews
★ 4.6From Queenstown: Milford Sound Discover More Longest CruiseFrom $2008 reviews
★ 5.0From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Scenic DriveFrom $2328 reviews
★ 4.8From Queenstown: Milford Sound Business Class with CruiseFrom $4174 reviews
★ 4.5Milford Sound: 1.5-Hour Helicopter Tour with Two LandingsFrom $8079 reviews
★ 4.4Milford Sound Premium Day Tour and Cruise from Te AnauFrom $14011 reviews
★ 4.9From Queenstown: Milford Sound Day Trip with Cruise & FlightFrom $53729 reviews
★ 4.56 Day Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook & Milford Sound TourFrom $1,2413 reviews
★ 5.04 Day Tour to Milford Sound, Mount Cook & More from ChristchurchFrom $2,2183 reviews
★ 3.05 Day South Island Circut: Trains, Glaciers and Milford Sound from ChristchurchFrom $3,1182 reviews

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