Milford Sound Cruises & Tours

Milford Sound Cruises, Kayaking & Tours — Fiordland National Park

Milford Sound sits inside Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Area covering 1.2 million hectares of the South Island's southwest. The fiord runs 16 kilometres from its head to the Tasman Sea — short enough to travel its full length and return in under two hours by boat. Mitre Peak rises 1,692 metres directly from the water on the southern shore; Stirling Falls drops 151 metres from the cliffs above. When it rains, and Milford Sound receives around seven metres of rain each year, the waterfall count climbs into the dozens.

The drive in from Te Anau is worth the trip on its own. The road follows the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys before passing through the Homer Tunnel, a single-lane alpine tunnel at 945 metres above sea level, and dropping into the fiord. Allow around two hours from Te Anau.

Day cruises run year-round, covering the full length of the fiord and returning in about two hours. Bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, and penguins are regular sightings along the fiord walls. Overnight cruises stay on the water after the day vessels leave, this is when the fiord quietens significantly, and the most reliable way to experience it without the crowds. Note: there is no land-based accommodation at Milford Sound; overnight cruises are the only option if you want to stay on the water. A half-day kayaking tour puts you at water level below the cliffs, within reach of Stirling Falls and the seal rocks.

From Queenstown, three options are worth knowing about: a full-day coach and cruise, a four-hour fly-cruise-fly that cuts the driving entirely, or a coach-in and scenic-flight-out combination for a different view of the region on the return. Day tours from Wānaka also run for those travelling the South Island's west side.

The Milford Track, a 53.5km, four-day guided or independent walk, also begins at the head of Milford Sound. It is consistently rated among the world's great walks and ends at the Sound itself, making a cruise a natural way to finish the journey.