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New Zealand
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Southland
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Southland District
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Milford Sound
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Tours & Activities
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Milford Sound Nature Cruise
2h15
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Start your journey at the Milford Sound Visitor Centre, where your captain welcomes you aboard your boat. With a maximum capacity of just 75 people (less than half the capacity of the average Milford Sound cruise), your cruise provides the ease of traveling with a smaller group aboard a comfortable vessel equipped with large viewing windows, warm indoor seating and spacious outdoor decks.
Enjoy a cup of hot tea or coffee, and set off through the waterways of Milford Sound, which are lined by rugged mountains, snowy peaks and waterfalls that tumble from the cliffs, lacing the rock walls with frothy cascades. This renowned landscape is part of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, which is part of the larger Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Due to your boat’s smaller size and agility, your captain can get close enough to the cliffs to give you a taste of the pure glacier-fed waters of the waterfalls.
While your guide helps you spot marine life that can be spotted in the icy water, such as seals, bottlenose dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins, learn about the native animals found here and how the land formed from glaciers. Marvel at majestic mountains like Mitre Peak, which stands 5,550 feet (1,692 meters) tall.
At the end of the cruise, your captain returns you to the Visitor Centre.
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Enjoy a cup of hot tea or coffee, and set off through the waterways of Milford Sound, which are lined by rugged mountains, snowy peaks and waterfalls that tumble from the cliffs, lacing the rock walls with frothy cascades. This renowned landscape is part of New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, which is part of the larger Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Due to your boat’s smaller size and agility, your captain can get close enough to the cliffs to give you a taste of the pure glacier-fed waters of the waterfalls.
While your guide helps you spot marine life that can be spotted in the icy water, such as seals, bottlenose dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins, learn about the native animals found here and how the land formed from glaciers. Marvel at majestic mountains like Mitre Peak, which stands 5,550 feet (1,692 meters) tall.
At the end of the cruise, your captain returns you to the Visitor Centre.
Included
- Live commentary on board by nature guide
- FREE Tea and coffee
- Picnic lunch (if option selected)
Not included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Car parking in Milford Sound incurs a $10 hourly fee payable only by credit card. There are a limited number of free car parks and a complimentary shuttle service available in the Park & Ride area. We recommend arriving into Milford Sound at least 1-1.5 hours prior to your scheduled cruise departure.
- Most travelers can participate
Features
Tourism
75%
Cultural
50%
Original
35%
Aquatic
20%
Reviews
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Such a beautiful place to visit and our cruise was amazing and very informative. Enjoyed the bus trip from Te Anau as well, very picturesque with stops along the way for great photo opportunities. Highly recommend.
Unfortunately when we arrived at Milford Sound, it was raining heavily, the visibility was zero and we had to park 10mins walk away to the terminal. I asked at the information centre about whether the cruise was still happening and if a shuttle bus was available and the answer was the cruise was still happening and we would have to walk through the rain. We decided to forfeit the money we had paid as the entire trip would have been wet and uncomfortable. Elderly people would happily pay extra for a shuttle rather than stumble through uncertain wet ground.
The nature cruise was informative and beautiful. We saw fur seals, dolphins, and two Fiordland Crested penguins! Great fun to drink water from a waterfall, see the Tasman Sea, and have the opportunity to don raincoats and stand under a waterfall.
Wow ... this was a simply awe inspiring ride ... the cruise guys were amazing, the food/drink bar was simple but I still enjoyed some stuff from there. Milford Sound was simply amazing, the cruise spent the time to stop and circle around when something interesting Seals basking in the sun, Kingfish jumping out of the water was happening. Guides were knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining, cruise boat was really nice. Simply unforgettable experience.
I have wanted to do the Milford Sound Cruise of 20 yrs now,well I got to DO 1 of my bucket list items,and all I can say that was alittle mad at myself for not doing it years ago,the place is as PRETTY as you see in photos,the crew was GREAT,the only thing that I am going toDO,is I'm coming back after some snow,it's SO pretty now ,I can't wait to see it after snow
Beautiful!
Great cruise. Well run.
Even though it was raining it was one of the most memorable trips I have been on. Crew/Staff was friendly and insightful. I would highly recommend to anyone.
The Nature Cruise in Milford Sound was sepctacular! The guide was very informative and friendly. The cruise was slow and graceful. You are constantly in awe of the majestic nature with it's dramatic flair around you. Love it and will recommend it to everyone.