Milford Sound Premium Coach and Cruise from Te Anau

At a glance

Milford Sound Premium Coach and Cruise from Te Anau is a 7h guided experience in Te Anau, New Zealand, operated by Southern Discoveries. Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 47 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $148.73 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Informative commentary provided by local coach driver, Skippers providing informative commentary on board cruise, Return transport from Te Anau to Milford Sound on a premium coach.

Quick facts

Duration

7h

Group

Small group, up to 49 travellers

Languages

German, Portuguese, Japanese, English, Chinese, French

Pickup

Meet at the start point

Confirmation

Instant confirmation

Ticket

Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Cancellation

Free cancellation (see policy)

Overview

Itinerary

1. Stop 1 · 20m

   10.00am Coach pick-up from Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre (80 Lakefront Drive Te Anau)
   
   • Travel on a premium glass-roof coach, equipped with reclining seats, extra legroom, air-conditioning
   • USB charging ports and onboard toilet
   • Experienced, local coach drivers provide engaging and informative commentary, and show you the best short walks and photo stops along the Milford Road
   • Coach connects with our Milford Sound Nature Cruise 1 hour 45min cruise of Milford Sound
   • Skipper provides entertaining and informative commentary
   • Freshly Packed Picnic Lunch is included if purchased
   • FREE tea and coffee

2. Stop 2 · 20m

   Te Anau is a beautiful town on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is home to endangered, flightless takahē birds and abundant trout in Lake Te Anau. Here is where your day trip will start from, you can meet us at the Southern Discoveries Visitor Centre on 80 Lakefront Drive at 9:45am.

3. Stop 3 · 15m

   Enjoy a stroll among small lakes with stunning reflections of the Earl Mountains, should weather be permissive on the day. This is an easy, short walk off the Milford Road.

4. Stop 4 · 10m

   Interpretation panels show the effect of avalanches on the Milford Road and provide information on the wildlife of the Eglinton Valley. Visitor amenities include toilets and a telephone (card payment only).

5. Stop 5 · 10m

   Take in great views of the upper Hollyford Valley while you fill up your water bottle from this glacier fed spring. Friendly Keas (a New Zealand alpine parrot) love this area so it's a great stop for some kea spotting.

6. Stop 6 · 10m

   This beautiful valley is glaciated with steep sides and a flat floor. It's between half a kilometre to two kilometres wide and has a shingle riverbed floor, which is constantly being changed by the Eglinton River. This is an incredible stop you will make as apart of your journey to Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries.

7. Stop 7

   Lake Gunn is a strikingly beautiful lake in the South Island of New Zealand.

8. Stop 8

   At an altitude of 945 metres above sea level and 1.2 kilometres in length, the unlined road tunnel allows access through sheer rock to Milford Sound with a gradient of 1 in 10. Completed in 1953, traffic lights control the traffic flow through the tunnel. An incredible part of your journey along the Milford Road.

9. Stop 9

   The Cleddau River is a beautiful river of New Zealand. It flows into the head of Milford Sound. You'll see many parts of this river as you journey along the Milford Sound road.

10. Stop 10 · 2h 10m

    Milford Sound is a fiord in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island. It’s known for towering Mitre Peak, plus rainforests and waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen falls, which plummet down its sheer sides. The fiord is home to fur seal colonies, penguins and dolphins. Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory offers views of rare black coral and other marine life. Southern Discoveries cruises are a popular way to explore.

11. Stop 11

    Exchange your pass and board your Nature cruise. Your journey on the water starts here!

12. Stop 12

    The stunning Lady Bowen Falls is Milford’s highest waterfall. It plunges 162m from a hanging valley into the head of Milford Sound and provides electricity for the Milford Sound township by feeding a small hydroelectric scheme, as well as being the water source for the settlement.

13. Stop 13

    Nestled behind the world famous Mitre Peak, the Sinbad Gully is characterised by extremely steep glacially carved walls punctuated by near vertical granite cliffs. These walls slowed pest invasion into the gully and as a result a number of unique native species remain in the Sinbad.
    
    Southern Discoveries is passionate about preserving Milford Sound’s beauty for future generations which is why it’s a key partner in a major conservation project – the Sinbad Sanctuary Project.
    
    The aim is to see the valley of New Zealand’s most photographed mountain (Sinbad Gully is at the base of Mitre Peak) become a sanctuary for native species.

14. Stop 14

    Milford’s second-highest waterfall is the Stirling Falls, a staggering 151m in height – three times the height of Niagara Falls, but the 1,300m mountain behind displaces this incredible height. This is the famous waterfall that Hugh Jackman ‘jumped off’ in the movie Wolverine. The sheer drop of the Stirling Falls allows boats to get right underneath – it’s an incredible feeling to have the power of 151m worth of glacial water falling so close to you.

15. Stop 15

    Mitre Peak is a beautifully dramatic mountain in the South Island of New Zealand, located on the shore of Milford Sound. It is one of the most photographed mountain peaks in the entire country.

Meeting point

Good to know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please advise of your country of origin at the time of booking
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• Sunscreen and insect repellent advisable
• Appropriate child restraints are not provided by the operator. These must be provided by the parent or caregiver - without this you may be turned away and unable to travel - please be prepared.
• Please make sure you arrive at least 15mins before your departure time.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Frequently asked questions