From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise & Glass-Roof Coach Tour

From the operator

Discover one of the best things to do in South Island New Zealand as you embark on a full-day trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound. You'll travel through Fiordland on a luxury coach tour before continuing to explore via a renowned Milford Sound cruise. Join us for an unforgettable day in Fiordland National Park!

From the listing by GreatSights on Viator.

The tour, stop by stop

1. Tour departs from this location About 1 min.
2. Lake Wakatipu is the longest lake in New Zealand and the third largest. Wakatipu is a Maori word meaning, ‘Hollow of the Demon’. The lake has an unusual rhythmic rise and fall in the water level, approximately 12cm every 5 minutes. In Maori legend this strange rhythmic rise and fall of the water level, is said to be the beating heart of a monster from the deep depths of the lake.
3. Te Anau is known as the Walking Capital of the World. The mountains to the left are the Kepler Mountains, home of the Kepler Track, one of the popular walking tracks in the area. Te Anau is the gateway to Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. The town has a permanent population of approximately 2,500 people but this fluctuates greatly in summer when the town gets an influx of fishermen, hunters, outdoor pursuit seekers and holiday makers. It’s a popular holiday destination. We stop here for morning & afternoon breaks and comfort stops. About 30 min.
4. Eglington Valley is named by Quintin MacKinnon, who named the valley after the Earl of Eglington of Scotland. We will be following the Eglington River whose source is the small lake of Lake Fergus, which is situated in the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. The glacial valley of the Eglington is not only a truly magnificent place for photos, but also a perfect place to put the size of this valley into perspective. The distance from this road to the base of the tree-line; out to the left is 2.4km. An extremely large glacier was responsible for clearing out this valley thousands of years ago. Everything in this region is huge so it is very easy to lose perspective of this as we travel through the mountains About 10 min.
5. Mirror Lakes where most of the time the nearby mountains are reflected in the lakes. Being small, the lakes have less chance of being roughened by the winds compared to their larger counterparts and the large quantity of tannins leached from the soil into the waters give these lakes a much clearer mirror effect than many of the other lakes in the region. It is here you have the opportunity to walk along a boardwalk listening for Bellbirds and Tui’s which are protected native birds, whilst watching Black Scaups dive for food on the bottom of the lake between the various species of beech trees. These forests are said to be 135 million years old. We will drop you off at one end of the walkway and you can re-join the coach in 10 minutes at the far end of the board walk if you wish to go for a walk. About 15 min.
6. Monkey Creek is named after one of three Government employees entrusted yearly to camp here and find a path through the mountains. Eventually his monkey like climbing skills allowed him to find a path, which though not particularly safe, was used for many years for guided walking tours. It is here we have the opportunity to drink the water or full your water bottles. Because this water is flowing directly from the mountains it is one of the few remaining places it is safe to taste fresh water without contamination and you realise without chemicals doesn’t really have a taste but is extremely refreshing. Be careful filling your water bottles because the water is very cold. Also don’t be surprised if a Kea or two drop in to say hello! About 15 min.
7. As we head up towards the Homer Tunnel, on the right hand side you can see the remains of a camp including the oven in which the meals and bread were cooked. The shed to the left was designed to house the snow plough and was built in 1983. After its construction it was found that the doorway had not been made wide enough and the plough was not able to be housed there. It is now kept at the camp at Knobs Flat. The building today is known as the Chapel as it is one of the few areas of this region that has never been affected by avalanche.
8. Our Premium Cruise vessel has been specifically designed to capture the views of Milford Sound with its unique glass roof and large viewing decks. The ‘Pride of Milford’ offers an outstanding experience never seen in Milford Sound with an exceptional level of comfort and hospitality. A selection of snacks and noodles can be purchased on board along with a wide range of drinks from New Zealand and around the world. Visit the stunning Milford Sound on board an equally premium vessel that will look after you and your unique experience. About 105 min.
9. Located on the shore of Milford Sound. It is one of the most photographed peaks in the country. Part of the reason for its iconic status is its location. Close to the shore of Milford Sound, in the Fiordland National Park in the southwestern South Island, it is a stunning sight. The mountain rises near vertically to 5,560 feet (1,690 m), i.e. just over a mile, from the water of Milford Sound, which technically is a fjord. The peak is actually a closely grouped set of five peaks, with Mitre Peak not even the tallest one, however from most easily accessible viewpoints, Mitre Peak appears as a single point. Milford Sound is part of Te Wahipounamu, a World Heritage Site as declared by UNESCO.
10. Te Anau is known as the Walking Capital of the World. The mountains to the left are the Kepler Mountains, home of the Kepler Track, one of the popular walking tracks in the area. Te Anau is the gateway to Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. The town has a permanent population of approximately 2,500 people but this fluctuates greatly in summer when the town gets an influx of fishermen, hunters, outdoor pursuit seekers and holiday makers. It’s a popular holiday destination. We stop here for morning & afternoon breaks and comfort stops. About 15 min.

Meeting point

Bus stop Athol St in middle of the carpark (all-day parking is NOT available here)

Please arrive 15minutes prior to departure time.

Checking in

If you have any questions including hotel pick-ups or if you have selected the picnic lunch option, please contact the operator directly to confirm whether you prefer the chicken or vegetarian option, or to advise of any other dietary requirements. You can contact the Operator at +64 9 583 5790. We are open from 0630-1800

Please note that Mandarin, Spanish, German, and Japanese commentary is available onboard our coach via the STQRY app. You will need to bring your own headphones, as the commentary cannot be played aloud. Alternatively, the commentary can be read directly from the screen. Free onboard Wi-Fi is available to allow you to download the app, which can be accessed here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/greatsights-nz-tour-commentary/id6743737260 or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stqry.proj2000000000063&pcampaignid=web_share

Where it ends

Bus stop Athol St in middle of the carpark (all-day parking is NOT available here)

Please arrive 15minutes prior to departure time.

Your Viator voucher confirms the exact spot and time.

Good to know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• If you have selected the picnic lunch option, please contact the operator directly to confirm whether you prefer the chicken or vegetarian option, or to advise of any other dietary requirements.
• While we do our best to operate with a glass-roof coach, these vehicles may not always be available due to operational requirements

Cancellation

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

How refunds and weather cancellations work is on our booking help page.