Full-Day Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park Tour including Milford Sound Cruise and BBQ Lunch

Queenstown, New Zealand

Milford Sound is arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand, a must-see for any traveler. This is a small group tour for travelers seeking a personalized trip to Milford Sound. You will be transported in a modern, fully air-conditioned 22 seat coach. As you begin your tour out of Queenstown we will travel south along the side of the amazing "Remarkables" mountain range and New Zealand's longest lake, Lake Wakatipu. From Te Anau the scenery really begins as we drive north along the lake. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island.

Upon entering the Fiordland National Park, the largest National Park in NZ, travel up along side the Eglington River to three mountain lakes at the head of the Eglington Valley. During this part of the journey you will make the first of our many sightseeing stops that also allow for some great photo opportunities. You have a couple of different locations for lunch and will endeavor to select the best spot on the day. With some fantastic walks in the area, this is a great opportunity to experience the beautiful alpine forest up close.

After lunch you head towards the Homer Tunnel, taking in some incredible mountain views while driving along side the crystal clear waters of the Hollyford river. Once through the Homer Tunnel, you'll wind the way down the Cleddau Valley. At this time you arrive in an area called Fiordland but are visiting a "Sound", the difference will be explained.

You link up with a scenic cruise at 2pm for a 1hour and 45 minute excursion on the fjord. As this is an 'off peak' period of the day, the boat is less crowded and the large boat allows for plenty of space to move about and enjoy the spectacular landscape and wilderness of Milford Sound. Complimentary tea and coffee is served while looking out for seals and dolphins!

The barbecue lunch includes a classic Kiwi BBQ of marinated beef kebabs and sausages, a good range of salads, fresh bread and fruit juice. Vegetarian patties are available on request.

Important Note: During the months of May to October the itinerary for this tour will be modified. In place of the BBQ lunch enroute to Milford Sound with a 2pm cruise, the tour will include a full scenic cruise at 1:00pm with a free hot buffet lunch on board the cruise boat.
 

USD $124.99

Traveler Reviews

Review by: janice c	April 2012
One of the best days out the trip was faultless although raining it did not spoil our trip bbq the best the cook was very good Chris was wonderful made the day all people got on well would recommend the trip to every one although told people over there about your company no person had seen any thing about the company which is a shame Janice

Review by: Lorraine	March 2012
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. The lunch selection was great. The trip went smoothly and we really enjoyed the scenery.

Review by: Antony S	March 2012
This trip is highly recommended. We had a wonderful day and Chris, our driver/chef/narrator was great fun and very knowlegable. The cruise on the Fjord was unforgettable, especially when the captain takes the boat right in under the waterfall. A wonderful day out and very good value for money.

Review by: Vincent D	January 2012
We considered we were really lucky because the 13 people on the bus belonged to the one group. We had a great day with a great guide. It was all very easy. He picked us up on time and was totally amenable the whole time.

Review by: Melinda M	January 2012
Well organised, nice day out. The sound is very beautiful and the drive there was very nice too. I'm glad we got to experience it. I had thoughts of driving there from Queenstown but so glad I didn't. There is so much to see in New Zealand and if you are lucky to get a sunny day then Milford Sound would be a delight.

Review by: D. Robert S	December 2011
We had a great trip, weather was beautiful, our guide/driver 'Nigel' was fantastic, well-informed, knew so much about local flora and fauna, and a very entertaining fellow to boot. The scenery we experienced was beyond 'stunning'. Nigel cooked up an excellent barbeque fro lunch, and all in all, we would strongly recommend the BBQ Bus Tour to Milford sound.

Review by: WEIYI Y	December 2011
It was a great experience, there were heaps of opportunities to take pictures at amazing lookouts all the way along.

Review by: Ken E	November 2011
The day started of raining and cloudy. Could not see any of the mountains. We stopped twice on the way to Milford Sound. The first was after a couple of hours in the bus which was appreciated. The bus seats were a little bit small for me. I recommend the pie place that Chris our guide pointed out. Had a venison pie for what served as my breakfast with a cup of coffee. It hit the spot. Our second stop, around noon, was at a lodge area so that we could eat lunch. The lunch was fine. We got to Milford Sound just at 2:00 and our boat was waiting for us. Like a miracle the sun came out and the clouds went away. The boat ride around the sound was beautiful. I actually almost enjoyed the four hour trip back to Queenstown as much because all of the mountains we couldn't see in the morning were there for the ride back. This country is absolutely beautiful. One is sort of beholden to the weather on this trip but if you what you get is good, you won't be disappointed.

Review by: sumeet a	November 2011
though new zealand is one of the best places to visit, milford was one of the most ordinary and the price that I paid was much higher than what I was getting locally in queenstown. Not a place worth visiting

Review by: Graham H	October 2011
Really entertaining and informative guide. We had a small group of nine people and were looked after really well, stopping at lots of scenic places for photographs. Excellent trip and well worth the distance travelled from our base in Queenstown.

Review by: Anuradha	October 2011
Excellent choice on our part. Our guide Chris was awsome, knowlagable and witty. The food was good along with the cruise. Very punctual, respectful of passangers. Reccommend 100%

Review by: Sally S	September 2011
We had the best day so much to see, such beautiful scenery, simply a fantastic day trip to have taken, Thanks so much Nick (tour driver)_br/_ Long day but very worth it...._br/_ Sally Swan and family

Review by: Cheryl C	August 2011
Long day out there..but all worthwhile. Enroute to milford sound from queenstown, we had a number of rest stops and photostops. Breathtaking sceneries and gorgeous lakes. Milford sound was phenomenal. Live up to its name. We were glad that it was a superb weather condition that day considering its very high rainfall in that area. Thanks lots to our coach driver cum guide..we had a smooth journey back.And even managed to catch a pure NZ movie. Cheers.

Review by: Jorge S	August 2011
fantastic trip, lots of stops during the way, Chris, the driver was lovely and helpful, lunch on the cruise was delicious and plentiful,Milford and all the National Park is beautiful, I would highly recommend this trip!

Review by: Stephanie B	August 2011
Wonderful day. Long drive but worth every minute. The Milford sound and surrounding area is breathtaking. Coach was small and cozy instead giant impersonal buses herding people in. Our driver Chris was great.

Review by: Primrose M	May 2011
It was a long journey. There were stops to visit the mirror lake, the chasm, etc. The fjord cruise was breathtaking and memorable. The food in the buffet was oriental... a bit disappointed as I expected NZ food. Anyway, one dish was mussels! That was so good!

Review by: Joselito N. P	May 2011
My wife and I had a wonderful time. The driver had very good knowledge of the various places we visited and came up with very nice narration and facts regarding them. The BBQ was good. We enjoyed the food and had enough to fill our stomachs. We had our lunch outdoors. Great views. The Milford Sound Cruise was wonderful. It was indeed a very gratifying experience. And as the tourists in the BBQ bus was just a few, we had a lot of good time to interact with the other members of the tour as well as enjoy the scenes a bit more. It is an experience worth recommending to others.

Review by: Keith B	May 2011
This was an excellent trip the BBQ was perfect on the day. The driver/guide was very informative and very safe and as was prepared to stop on request for photo opportunities. The boat trip was awesome and the skipper even edged under a waterfall to allow the passengers to get the photos. It rained all day but this is one trip that it didn't matter. Highly recommended.

Review by: Christine O	May 2011
Absolutely worth it. Great trip. The tour guides were friendly and information. The stops along the way had beautiful views. The trip to Milford Sound is just as good as the cruise itself. The picnic barbecue in the mountains is just picture-perfect.

Review by: Chris H	May 2011
Wow... This tour is definitely great value for the long drive and scenery that we have seen. It was a long day as we spent more than 6 hours on the bus. However, the view was definitely worth the long journey. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the scene that we had passed by. He took us to the different spots for great photos. The BBQ lunch was delicious and we were never lack of food. If you are thinking of visiting Queenstown, this tour is a "must do" activity if you want to see the best thing in NZ.

Review by: L Hoe Y	April 2011
Great experience. Highly recommend it!

Review by: Michael L	April 2011
Enjoyed the trip but was a little disappointed with the cruise.

Review by: Valerie G	March 2011
Loved this trip and the day was a glorious sunny day. The scenery was fabulous and we enjoyed the cruise along Milford Sound. The best part though was the hosts, especially the driver Del, who was a bee hive of information and a great driver too and not bad at cooking the barbie either. We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and would recommend to everyone visiting Queenstown, especially as the group of 20 was a good size and everyone got on and off quickly. Thank you

Review by: PETER N	January 2011
Wonderful day trip. Well worth the long drive. Set up and run well wen efficient with knowledgeable guide. Not to big and not too small-just right. Would recommend as a must when visiting the area.

Review by: Stephanie L	January 2011
Our Tour guide Jono was a great host, he talked to us during the drive to Milford about the History of the places as we went along and kept it interesting, we stopped along the way at places of amazing beauty to take photos and have a bit of a walk around which was nice as the drive is quite long it broke it up, I had expected to get sick of being on a bus for so many hours however that did not happen the tour is structured to keep you entertained and the drive is very beautiful. I enjoyed this day, taking the tour was the better option than driving as you could just relax. The cruise at Milford was stunning and due to the time of day that we were there it was not crowded.

Review by: KRISTY L	January 2011
The drive is forever from Queenstown but its the main way to go. Its nice to just sleep or relax most of the way! Good deal with good food!

Review by: betty m	January 2011
We loved the trip. The Sound was beautiful, the bus trip was interesting and the lunch was in a picturesque setting. Thanks

Review by: Anjali C	January 2011
Excellent tour, well worth the time and money.

Review by: nzamora	January 2011
Nice trip. The bus isn't very clean, but the scenery is beautiful! Don't forget your Sand Fly repellent!!

Review by: Simmi K	January 2011
It was very entertaining. Jono and Moyomo were great and Jono was very knowlegdeable.it was a fun day. Thank you for a good experience.

Review by: Laura M	December 2010
Great trip overall and the BBQ is a great idea. landscapes are absolutely breathtaking even with an awful weather like the one we got. Driver seemed a bit rushed though.

Review by: Felicity H	December 2010
Thank you very much for a very good trip. The water falls were spectacular and so were the walks in the forest. That said it was a shame that the weather was so wet which meant we did not see the tops of any of the mountains. Shame it's not possible to arrange the weather! The stop for the BBQ was fun and the food was very tasty.

Review by: Naomi B	November 2010
I loved this tour! The bus is fairly small and comfortable so our group was a decent size without being too big. Our guide was extremely informative. Lunch was absolutely delicious and we stopped lots of times on the way for photos and beautiful scenery. The cruise on the Sound allowed for more amazing photo opportunities and was a welcome chance to walk around a bit. My only complaint would be the length of time spent on the bus but otherwise there was nothing wrong with this tour. I would easily do it again.

Review by: Michele D	November 2010
Trip was very pleasant and it is nice to be in a small group. Scenery is breathtaking, guides were very friendly and the barbeque lunch was a nice touch. Most enjoyable day. Highly recommend.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	May 2010
Super! the sights, BBQ everything was great. Just that the weather weren't that great.. but still it was phenomenal.. It was also a small group which I really liked..

Review by: Charlie M, United States of America	April 2010
Milfourd Sound was breathtaking. Experience guide and unforgettable vistas.

Review by: VIVIA F, United States of America	April 2010
Amazing, has to be one of the most picturesque destinations on earth.

Review by: Edith C	April 2010
Nice trip and friendly tour guides. BBQ lunch is special. However, the trip is a bit long, especially long travel on the return.

Review by: Anonymous	April 2010
For us personally it was a day wasted, would have preferred to do more exciting stuff than being stuck in a bus.

Review by: Marilyn C, United Kingdom	March 2010
We had a wonderful time in a small group, enabling the two tour leaders to give us lots of information. Plenty of stops and opportunities to do short walks. Good barbecue lunch. Video on way home when most tired.

Review by: barbara t, United Kingdom	March 2010
Trip very good.

Review by: Anne C	March 2010
We had a wonderful time in a small group, enabling the two tour leaders to give us lots of information. Plenty of stops and opportunities to do short walks. Good barbecue lunch. Video on way home when most tired.

Review by: Barbara T	March 2010
Trip very good.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	February 2010
Not the biggest company operating the Queenstown to Milford route, but I really enjoyed the smaller BBQ bus and the personal commentary of the guide. Milford to Queenstown is a long way but worth the trip. I was just glad that I was not driving.

Review by: Debra L, United States of America	January 2010
Great trip, great guide, and wonderful trip - if only the weather had been better!

Review by: Miss Allison A, Australia	November 2009
All I can say is WOW - My friend and I were visiting NZ south Islands for the first time and my breath was taken away more than once on our trip to Milford Sound. We were picked up promptly try and grab breakfast somewhere before you board from the beautiful Novotel Lakeside and off we went...it is an early start and a long journey so make sure you get plenty of rest the night before and are well hydrated. A mini bus took us to join the other bus tour and we were off. Leaving early on a beautiful day in October gave us perfect views and breathtaking scenery as we traveled towards Milford Sound. We stopped enough times to take photos and since we were a small bus we could change the schedule to beat the crowds! Our bus driver was superb and professional and the boat tour was just WOW! We saw waterfalls and seals and views everywhere like in a movie and the BBQ lunch was decent with coffee and tea included. Take your own water bottle for the trip though! Also take warm clothing for when you are on top of the boat as it gets very windy and cool and you get quite close to the waterfalls. We took all pictures on the way there of all the parks and treats along the scenic route and it rained on the way back but that's OK cause we slept most of the way back anyway - a long day but worth every penny!

Review by: Hayley B, Australia	October 2009
Very good day trip. Staff were awesome. Good NZ commentary. Had perfect weather in the morning and had fun watching movie on the way home. Thanks!

Review by: Anastasios E, Australia	May 2009
We absolutely had a wonderful day that was really well organised - heaps of time to take photos and a great lunch!! I would definitely recommend this day trip with Viator!!

Review by: Brice M, United States of America	April 2009
Great informative and entertaining driver. The views and hikes were awesome. The buffet on the boat was also awesome.

Review by: Yoshiko T, Australia	March 2009
It was awesome!!! I loved it!!! It was a very long day, so I was very tired but I enjoyed!!! The guide and driver were very kind and friendly. I and my mum felt very welcome. It is a long way to go and come back, but it's worth the time!!!