Top Fiordland & Milford Sound Day Tours: Reviews & Recommendations

Planning a trip to New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park and its jewel, Milford Sound? Good, too it’s one of those places that genuinely lives up to the hype. It’s almost overwhelmingly gorgeous, I think. Choosing the right tour, though, can almost feel like trying to find a specific grain of sand on a beach, but hopefully, this review of the top five full-day tours should definitely point you in the direction that’s really a good fit for you. We will very carefully go over different options, helping you find that adventure that really makes the most of this place that, I think, is truly spectacular.

1. RealNZ Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach Tour

The RealNZ tour is very often talked about, it’s a solid choice, it seems, and the main reason is this: they really know Milford Sound, it feels like. What’s also pretty neat is that this tour includes a scenic coach ride from either Queenstown or Te Anau. What’s the big deal about that? Is that you just sit back and really enjoy the landscapes unfolding that, for a lot of people, is almost as amazing as the destination. Their cruises usually feature larger boats, which means that you typically get more space to move around and snap that photo that, you feel, really captures everything. That means plenty of room to see waterfalls, seals, and even maybe that shy penguin, like your luck would allow! Learn more about what RealNZ is offering on the tour of a Milford Sound Cruise.

They tend to provide a very informative commentary on the way too, so it’s almost that you feel like you’re actually learning something about the Sound’s formation and the animal and plant life. Just a note too, sometimes this experience may feel like herding cats, and, if it is fair, is because larger boats have bigger crowds. The price point, anyway, is in that mid-range area, which is pretty okay given the total package. Click to see the availabilities of the day that works for you.

2. Mitre Peak Cruises: Small Boutique Boat Experience

Want something maybe that is a little cozier and away from all of those tourist hordes? That small, boutique boat from Mitre Peak Cruises might just be what is floating in your wildest dreams. Now, these smaller boats actually do have several perks. Is that the boats can get super-close to the waterfalls and the wildlife that, almost, is really incredible. Very much better views and a much quieter atmosphere are typically expected. Check Mitre Peak cruise details.

Now, this is that point, I want you to have your full disclosure! The tour can sometimes be just a little bit more pricey. It’s not going to absolutely break the bank, I think. The availability might be, you know, more limited than that, and the coach part tends to be slightly more basic than others; that is to say, you might feel a bit like sardines in a can. Yet, very highly rated overall, it can still be, I guess, pretty ideal if getting personal is what it is you desire. Remember, too, that those big bonuses that involve quieter sounds and amazing views make it worthwhile for many people.

3. Go Orange Milford Sound Cruise

Feeling spunky? Go Orange lives up to the image that it likes to cultivate, very similar to what I imagine happens inside Willy Wonka’s head when he gets an idea for the chocolate factory. Expect, maybe, a tour that is a bit more on the adventurous side and caters, generally, to that younger demographic. The coaches tend to be equipped with charging ports for keeping gadgets charged and free Wi-Fi—ideal almost, for the selfie age that actually might just want to impress those Instagram fans! This actually is important if it is really what floats your boat, that is, it’s going to provide that Instagram envy! Is that the coaches will very regularly make a stop to get that great photograph op that you almost thought wouldn’t come. Reserve your Go Orange Cruise now.

However, with all the energy they exude and all of those little perks, is that it might become just a little too touristy or just kind of noisy sometimes. Maybe that atmosphere of rowdiness takes just a little of the peaceful wonder away, too. Price is usually really very appealing though, if it can balance off the, let’s just call it, sometimes, ‘excitement’ thing!

4. Cruise Milford: Intimate Nature Cruise

So, Cruise Milford markets itself with their specialty, is that it likes those tours which will showcase wildlife in very intimate settings that are usually, pretty often, missed out on when it involves those other major tours. Is that the point for going is focusing on longer trips out on the sounds in the water, so too, that they almost can find seals resting that are shy as can be, or certain fjord penguins almost playing! That, sometimes, also really boosts the odds of encountering other animals as well. Experience Cruise Milford firsthand.

Smaller size equals that greater likelihood in that they’re able to almost go into sections or alcoves which the big boats really can’t approach. That tends to have both bad and good trade-offs. Just slightly less in comfort would happen, and definitely it could rock sometimes if it’s windy. Is that what one is almost paying is mainly for the nature bit? Yet, it can absolutely provide awesome photography sessions of wildlife when that’s exactly your preference.

5. Fiordland Expeditions: Multi-Day Exploration

Fiordland Expeditions, while probably not your classic day excursion, just really does deliver that adventure where the wilderness element and multi-day adventure have so much more than your passing tour that is average! I believe they often provide some pretty very specialized tour products focusing directly at maybe that in-depth, off-the-beaten-path exploration bit of not only what the actual Milford Sound represents but pretty much also really remote locales such as, say, Doubtful Sound! Plan a multi-day Fiordland adventure.

Multi-day tours generally are more expensive that that one needs actually expect given the period one is there so too the inclusion relating to outdoor things or guided walk activities but actually give such immersion compared up against that feeling that they have just, nearly, briefly contacted Fiordland National Park!