Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau
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7 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 4 more
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Overview
Cruise Milford Sound from Te Anau during this full-day tour to the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. See the crown jewel of New Zealand’s South Island by luxury coach, stopping en route at the Mirror Lakes before boarding a cruise on luxurious catamaran journey past waterfalls and steep-walled pinnacles such as famous Mitre Peak.
- Visit the World Heritage listed Fiordland National Park and see the beauty of Milford Sound on this full-day tour from Te Anau
- See stunning waterfalls and the famous Mirror Lakes
- View Mitre Peak, located at the pinnacle of the sound, which sits at 5,550 feet above sea level.
- Experience The Chasm on a short but impressive walk over footbridges and see a series of powerful, swirling waterfalls, and rapids
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Board your panoramic coach upon hotel pickup in Te Anau, referred to as the ‘Gateway to Fiordland.’ Your full-day tour includes a majestic Milford Sound cruise within the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park.
En route to the fiord, your driver-guide motors past the ancient beech forest of the Eglington Valley, pausing at the Mirror Lakes for a leg stretch and photo op. Continuing on through the Upper Hollyford Valley, you’ll be mesmerized by Christie Falls before entering the Homer Tunnel, drilled through the solid mountain rock.
Brace yourself for the grandeur of the Cleddau Valley, where you’ll follow a footbridge over the Cleddau River to the Chasm to view the river’s turbulent whirlpools before descending into Milford Sound.
From your cruise boat, indulge in the splendor of your surroundings as you glide past waterfalls that splash down vertical, glacier-carved rock walls. Hear commentary about natural wonders such as the postcard-perfect Mitre Peak, which rises 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) from the water. Don’t miss the wildlife such as New Zealand fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and the rare Fiordland penguin.
Gourmet buffet lunch is included on board the cruise, before you re-board your coach for the return journey to Te Anau.
En route to the fiord, your driver-guide motors past the ancient beech forest of the Eglington Valley, pausing at the Mirror Lakes for a leg stretch and photo op. Continuing on through the Upper Hollyford Valley, you’ll be mesmerized by Christie Falls before entering the Homer Tunnel, drilled through the solid mountain rock.
Brace yourself for the grandeur of the Cleddau Valley, where you’ll follow a footbridge over the Cleddau River to the Chasm to view the river’s turbulent whirlpools before descending into Milford Sound.
From your cruise boat, indulge in the splendor of your surroundings as you glide past waterfalls that splash down vertical, glacier-carved rock walls. Hear commentary about natural wonders such as the postcard-perfect Mitre Peak, which rises 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) from the water. Don’t miss the wildlife such as New Zealand fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and the rare Fiordland penguin.
Gourmet buffet lunch is included on board the cruise, before you re-board your coach for the return journey to Te Anau.
Itinerary
o 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.
Duration: 1 minute
Admission Ticket Free
o 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!
Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
o 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.
Duration: 10 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
o 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.
o 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 ‘Gem of the Sound’ 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.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
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Traveler Tips
- "Given that lunch wasn't available till 2pm I'd recommend bringing your own lunch." See review
- "Get on this tour from Te Anau rather than Queenstown" See review
- "The hotel rooms are cheaper than Queenstown, the drive to Milford Sound is almost 2 hours shorter than the Queenstown, and there's a range of shops, restaurants, and activities to keep you occupied" See review
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Milford Sound Full-Day Tour from Te Anau
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