Tours/Fiordland and Milford Sound/Milford Sound Cruise
Milford Sound Cruise
4.7(336)Fiordland and Milford Sound1h 45min
VIATOR4.8(154)TRIPADVISOR4.7(182)
+9 photos
At a glance
Duration
1h 45min
Price from
$92 / person
Location
Fiordland and Milford Sound
Rating
4.7 / 5 · 336 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 199
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Pure Milford
Meeting point
Pure Milford desk is on the right hand side as you enter the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal
Description
Enjoy uninterrupted views of glacier-carved cliffs on your Milford Sound cruise aboard modern, spacious and comfortable catamarans.
With spacious seating indoors, an open sun deck up top and a covered deck at the rear, your cruise comfort is guaranteed.
Visit the onboard Café Bar for an array of substantial hot and cold snacks, or simply savour a local wine or beer as you bask in the beauty of the surrounds.
The famously friendly skipper and crew are on hand to share their wealth of local knowledge, take those all important photos and join you on foredeck for the big finale as the bow noses close to Stirling Falls!
Tour Options
3:50pm Cruise Departure 2 hours
Milford Sound Cruise: Check in starts 45 minutes beforehand at the Pure Milford Desk (first on the right hand side as you enter the terminal)
Duration: 2 hours
Tea & Coffee: Complimentary tea, coffee and hot water is provided on board the cruise
Morning Cruise DEPART MILFORD 2 hours
Milford Sound Cruise: Check in starts 45 minutes beforehand at the Pure Milford desk (first on the right hand side as you enter the terminal)
Duration: 2 hours
Tea & Coffee: Complimentary tea, coffee and hot water is provided on board the cruise
Milford Sound: Cruise travels the length of Milford Sound fiord to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, and returns along the opposite side
Glass Roof Catamaran
1:30pm Cruise DEPART MILFORD 2 hours
Milford Sound Cruise: Check in starts 45 minutes beforehand at the Pure Milford desk (first on the right hand side as you enter the terminal)
Duration: 2 hours
Tea & Coffee: Complimentary tea, coffee and hot water is provided on board the cruise
Milford Sound: Cruise travels the length of Milford Sound fiord to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, and returns along the opposite side
Glass Roof Catamaran
AfternoonCruise DEPART MILFORD 1 hour
Milford Sound Cruise: Cruise departs Milford Sound at 2:30pm, with check in 45 minutes before at the Pure Milford desk
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Milford Sound: Cruise travels the length of Milford Sound fiord to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, and returns along the opposite side
Modern Catamaran
Early Cruise DEPART MILFORD 1 hour
Milford Sound Cruise: Check in starts 45 minutes beforehand at the Pure Milford desk (first on the right hand side as you enter the terminal)
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Tea & Coffee: Complimentary tea, coffee and hot water is provided on board the cruise
Milford Sound : Cruise travels the length of Milford Sound fiord to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, and returns along the opposite side
Modern Catamaran
Midday Cruise DEPART MILFORD
Milford Sound Cruise: Check in starts 45 minutes beforehand at the Pure Milford desk (first on the right hand side as you enter the terminal)
Tea & Coffee
Milford Sound: Cruise travels the length of Milford Sound fiord to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, and returns along the opposite side
Modern Catamaran
Itinerary
Milford Sound
105 min
Step aboard our magnificent three deck catamarans, and enjoy a scenic cruise along spectacular Milford Sound.
Get up close and personal with the fiord's towering mountains, sheer cliffs and hanging valleys as the boat hugs the edges of the fiord throughout the two hour cruise. Feel the spray from the waterfalls that cascade from an ancient rainforest high in the mountains and look out for New Zealand fur seal colonies and occasionally dolphins swimming nearby.
The cruise goes the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea and return down the opposite side. During the exploration you will pass iconic landmarks such as Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak, Copper Point, Fairy Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Dale Point, Seal Rock and of course Stirling Falls.
What's included
Included
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Milford Sound Cruise
Coffee and/or Tea
Not included
Parking Fees
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
336 reviews
5
288
4
26
3
9
2
4
1
9
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Piopiotahi Milford Sound is a place of exceptional natural beauty, carved by glaciers and surrounded by towering peaks and lush rainforest. As part of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s most remote and rugged region, this incredible environment also brings with it a range of natural hazards. While our team takes every measure to operate safely and keep you informed, it’s important that you are aware of potential risks so you can be prepared and confident during your visit.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Milford Sound Cruise take?
Milford Sound Cruise lasts about 1h 45min. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Milford Sound Cruise cost?
Prices start at $92 per person for this Fiordland and Milford Sound experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 6 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Milford Sound Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Pure Milford desk is on the right hand side as you enter the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Milford Sound Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 199 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Milford Sound Cruise worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 336 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Pure Milford.
Reviews(336)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
R
RestlessMum
September 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
It’s a long day from Queenstown
Milford Sound, or should I correctly say Fiord, was a pick up from Frankton Bus Interchange departing at 7:45am. Bus travel with knowledgeable guide throughout the many hours drive before catching the boat about 1:00pm ish. Commentary on board was also excellent. Saw seals and dolphins. Back on the bus at about 3:00pm ish, arriving at the interchange at about 7:30pm.
CONS: Expected something more imaginable of lunch which was a chicken pie, packet of crisps, couple of biscuits, an apple and a nut bar.
S
Sherpa26140037808
September 27, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic!
Fantastic boat with even better views!
Super easy check in, staff were super friendly and informative and wasn’t to many people overcrowding the boat so had heaps of room to move about. Good price for the trip and got to see all the wildlife (penguins + seals) and the waterfalls were magnificent. Highly recommend experience!
A
Ayla_R
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
It was an awesome...
It was an awesome experience with an awesome crew onboard. Heaps of laughs were shared between us all.
A
annelR732PQ
September 12, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Picturesque Milford Sound
Beautiful location, fantastic views, we were lucky to see a couple of little seals. Nice waterfalls. We were very pleased we chose to fly there. Only negative was the boat ride was a bit slow.
A
Afiq_H
September 10, 2026 · via Viator
Really fun and exciting...
Really fun and exciting experience. The staffs were really nice and friendly (even we are a little bit late😅). The hot chocolate was really good, and it’s free flow (there are other type of hot drinks, like coffee, but chocolate still the best)🔥
M
Marie_A
September 6, 2026 · via Viator
It was great from...
It was great from purchasing the tickets in my Viator app to picking up the tickets. Boarding & off boarding were easy & organized. The catamaran was beautiful, clean & well maintained. Tour narration was informative and quite entertaining. We enjoyed the complimentary cappuccino, latte & hot chocolate while cruising.
Operator response
Kia ora,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a kind review of your experience with us at Pure Milford.
We are so pleased you enjoyed our cruise as well as the entertaining and informative information provided by our Skipper.
We are glad that our complimentary hot drinks added such a nice touch to your cruise!
Wishing you all the best with your future travels through Aotearoa and beyond.
Ngā mihi!
The Team at Pure Milford
J
Joanna_f
August 25, 2026 · via Viator
Loved every moment
Once in a lifetime and gorgeous catamaran and crew were amazing. We drove ourselves and the communication was supreme.
Operator response
Kia ora Joanna,
Thank you for a wonderful 5* review!
We are so pleased your time on 'The Gem of the Sound' in Piopiotahi / Milford Sound.
We are happy to hear all communication was received well.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future.
Ngā mihi!
The Team at Pure Milford
P
Pioneer27535183349
August 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Pure Milford Catamaran Cruise on Gem of the Sound
Smaller boat made it a more intimate cruise with the friendly informative crew having more time per passenger. Complimentary hot drinks were an added bonus to take the chill off.
Operator response
Kia ora,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
We are so glad to hear you had a wonderful time visiting Piopiotahi / Milford Sound and enjoyed our beautiful catamaran.
Thank you for your kind words regarding our crew, they will be pleased to hear that they contributed to your day.
The hot drinks are popular with our guests and we are glad you enjoyed whilst you took in the scenery!
Wishing you all the best with your future travels through Aotearoa and beyond.
Ngā mihi,
The Team at Pure Milford
K
Kristy_and_Andrew-C
July 16, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
5 stars.
Wonderful experience.
Great for families.
Comfortable catamaran.
Plenty of room around the vessel to view Milford.
Very knowledgeable captain.
Tea, coffee and snacks were great.
I would highly recommend this tour.
Operator response
Kia ora Kristy,
Thank you for a wonderful 5*s!
It sounds like you had a wonderful time all round & we are pleased you enjoyed your experience with Pure Milford.
We greatly appreciate your recommendation and if you ever find yourself back our way, we would love to welcome you back for another sailing.
Ngā mihi,
The Team at Pure Milford
D
Daniela_S
July 14, 2026 · via Viator
A definite must do...
A definite must do experience! Absolutely amazing with stunning views the entire trip! Even with rain (way more waterfalls if it rains) the experience was fantastic!
Operator response
Kia ora Daniela,
Thank you for a wonderful review!
We are glad even despite the rain, that you had a wonderful experience in Piopiotahi / Milford Sound.
We are so pleased you had a fantastic experience with all the beautiful waterfalls!
We hope you are leaving Piopiotahi / Milford Sound with some great memories to share with your friends and Whanau.
Ngā mihi,
The Team at Pure Milford
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