Experience Milford Sound's highest rated day tour & ensure your comfort.
Our Milford Sound tour from Queenstown is in a very spacious small group coach. It is currently the best & most innovative on the road to Milford Sound.
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One entire row of seats removed, 60% more leg room.
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We have installed a 20% wider leather seat.
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Reclining seats
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Only 3 seats in the rear, instead of 4.
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Maximum of 13 guests.
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Guests can request front seating if travel sickness is a concern.
What makes a Luxe Tour special?
Queenstown hotel & accommodation pick up
Spacious comfort in our Mercedes van
Local nature & scenic spots
Local guides & small group for a personal tour
2-hour nature & wildlife cruise on premium boat
Full Refund, no reason given, up to 24-hours before the tour, giving you confidence in case your plans change!
Milford Sound Tour from Queenstown Inclusions
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Queenstown hotel/accommodation pick up.
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Unlimited chilled water and cafe afternoon snack provided.
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Luxury small group coach with leather reclining bucket seats, for spacious passenger comfort.
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12 hours total tour time with plenty of stops for photos and relaxation.
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2-hour Milford Sound Cruise on spacious boat with exclusive seating.
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Option to pre-order lunch onboard the cruise.
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Full refund up to 24 hours prior.
Milford Sound Tour from Queenstown Itinerary
Coach / Cruise / Coach
7:00-7:30 am - Pick-up Queenstown accommodation/town centre.
9:30am - Extended 30-min lakefront cafe & bathroom break in the beautiful Te Anau township.
10:00-1:00pm - Scenic Photo & Nature stops including bathroom break.
1:00-3:00pm - Milford Sound Cruise with lunch add-on option & Bar.
3:00-5:15pm - Scenic Photo & Nature stop including afternoon snack.
5:15pm - Stop in Te Anau with bathroom break.
7:30 - Drop off back to Queenstown.
Return Flight Options
Luxe Tours 3 Key Differences
We pay our guides well & look after them.
We believe in attracting & retaining experienced, professional & above all - SAFE drivers, who are local, knowledgable and dedicated to ensuring you have the best possible experience. All of our guides have been rated 5-star over 650 reviews!
Our Mercedes van on this tour has 20% less seats than others and we have installed a 11cm (4-inch) wider seat to give you more space, un-interrupted leg room, more window views and a much less crowded experience. Unique guest amenities/comforts are provided such as a reusable chilled water bottle, information guides, large snack and our famous 5-star customer service.
As well as the main popular scenic stops on route to Milford Sound, you will experience a couple of scenic & nature spots that are either unique to our family, or are more local spots that the bigger tours do not go to. These are often a highlight of our guests tour to Milford Sound & very special for our team to share with you.
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Family & locally owned/operated tour.
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Local resident guides, each with their own Milford Sound adventures & unique stories.
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Informative commentary, history, fun stories & local culture.
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Up to 8 Unique Scenic Photo stops.
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Visit sights you won't see on other tours, including two family & local spots.
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More time at every location, no schedule, no rush.
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We allow more time with wildlife for a truly natural experience & interaction.
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We take you to locations off the beaten track where we know wildlife are, away from the crowds.
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Informative commentary & information on all types of Fiordland & Milford Sound Wildlife.
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Spacious leather bucket seating with up to 60% more leg room than standard tour vans.
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Panoramic views, tinted windows, USB charging, air conditioned/heated & high ceilings
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Tour groups limited to 13 people or 80% of vehicle capacity.
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Two-Hour Milford Sound Cruise, limited to 40% of boat capacity.
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Only cruise boat with full menu restaurant & bar. 360° Views open top deck
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Pre-order meals, with reserved guaranteed seating for all Luxe Tours guests.
Dig into the details...
Extended stop in the beautiful Te Anau
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All our Milford Sound Tours from Queenstown will stop in the lakeside township of Te Anau for 30-mins in summer & 15mins in winter allowing you to explore the very scenic lakefront, grab a coffee and use the bathroom.
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Te Anau is the gateway town to Milford Sound. All visitors travelling to Milford must pass through Te Anau. Learn about the rich history and importance of Te Anau from your guide.
Our comfortable & spacious van coach
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Our coaches are spacious and we guarantee that couples sit together and a good amount of window seats.
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Our modern Mercedes coaches have the following safety features: brake assist, blind spot monitoring, LED headlights, lane assist.
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Extra spacious leather seating customised for maximum comfort.
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Low emission technology to meet our eco standards.
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For our passengers: USB ports, powerful climate control, tray tables, cup holders & engaging commentary.
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Satellite phone & First Aid Kits.
Our Milford Sound cruise
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We partner with RealNZ as they cap their numbers at 38% of the boat's capacity so you'll have extra comfort & space to spare.
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2-hour commentated Milford Sound Cruise for waterfall and wildlife viewing.
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Spacious inside lounges & top decks make wildlife viewing simple in all weather types.
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RealNZ's commitment to conservation aligns with our core values.
Our delicious refreshments
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We have partnered with local cafe - the 'Milford Road Merchant' in Te Anau to offer an afternoon muffin/scone snack, included in the cost of tour.
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We include a plant-based water bottle and unlimited chilled water throughout the day on board our coach.
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On board your cruise you will have the option of a hot/cold lunch add-on, craft beer bar, NZ wines, light refreshments and many snack options. All available via pre-order or on the day.
Te Anau
We take an extended 30-min stop in Te Anau to give you time to experience this beautiful lakeside town, explore & stretch your legs, grab a coffee from the lakefront cafe and use the bathrooms. The Māori name, Te Ana-au refers to a cave of swirling water, perfect for a place known well for its 'Glowworm Caves' halfway down the lake. Surprisingly Te Anau only receives 1200mm of rain per year, compared to Fiordland's 7000mm.
Fiordland National Park
As you drive along the Milford Road, after Te Anau Downs, you are flanked by a mixture of farm and residential land until within seconds you enter a tunnel of native bush and civilisation disappears behind you - you know at this point you have entered the Fiordland National Park. The Park is over 1.2 million hectares in size, most of which is inaccessible. Not for the faint hearted, the Milford Road is one of the few public roads that twists and winds its way deep into the rainforest.
Eglington Valley
Carved out thousands of years ago by glaciers, the Eglinton Valley is an open, stunning valley flanked by steep, pointed mountains that are lined by native bush. The flats of the valley include the Eglinton Valley which is 50km long and feeds into Lake Te Anau from Lake Gunn at the head. Surrounding the river are thousands of hectares of scorched golden tussock. A very popular photo stop, Eglinton Valley will have you feeling a sense of relaxation as you take in the mountain air.
Mirror Lakes
57km deep into the Milford Road journey, Mirror Lakes is another of the very popular tourist stops along the way. From the carpark, it is a short 3 - 5minute walk to what is simply named 'Mirror Lakes'. The large ponds of still water are flanked by the Earl Mountains, offering a crisp mirror quality reflection on a clear, calm day. The challenge of a perfect photo here is one that many take up, however it is also worth taking in the surrounding wildlife and peacefulness. Timing your stop here is therefore crucial, we avoid the crowds.
Knobs Flat
Used as the camping space for Milford Road & Homer Tunnel builders up until the 1980's, Knobs Flat is located within the Eglinton Valley and provides the opportunity for a brief bathroom stop. Accomodation options are available here where you can spend a few days fly fishing, bird watching or enjoying the many short walks in the area. In winter, your tour guide may stop here to apply snow chains!
Lake Gunn
Surrounded by red beech forest to the waters edge, Lake Gunn is a small 4km (2.48 mile) long lake that sits 480m (524 yards) above sea level. It's outflow leads into the Eglinton River, a famous fly fishing river that leads back down through the valley to Lake Te Anau. A stop at Lake Gunn makes for a scenic photo looking south, catching it at sunset is a special challenge. We typically enjoy our morning cafe snack here.
Hollyford Valley
The Hollyford Valley is home to a river with its namesake, a 56km (34.79 mile) track, and a stunning lookout that sits up above it all for a photo opportunity. A very popular stop with tourists, parking is limited and very close to the roads edge so care is essential! Step up onto the platform and take in the fresh mountain air blowing across you from the valley floor below. The road either side of this stop is incredible as well.
Monkey Creek
Monkey Creek is a unique stop where our tour at Luxe will give you a very special 'fresh treat' to fully enjoy this one. The glacier fed creek is surrounded by steep mountains which in almost all weather conditions look stunning. Rare Blue Ducks live in the area, as well as Kea who use the carpark as a meet and greet spot with visiting tourists. Two of our 'special experiences' are at this location.
Other Waterfalls / Local Secrets
We leave this one to our guides to show you the best on the day. There are waterfalls, rapids and chasms of water throughout the Milford Road, each different depending on the weather of the day. We also have some spots up our sleeves that as locals we know can put even more of a show for you on certain days.
Milford Sound
As you journey down through the Cleddau Valley and enter into the Milford Sound basin, your tour is really only beginning. Your premium Milford Sound cruise will be awaiting you. In the background you will see the distant sight of waterfalls and the famous postcard shot of Mitre Peak. This is where your heart will start to accelerate, butterflies flutter in your stomach and you will know that the best is yet to come. Your cruise is two hours and the cruise terminal is host to toilet, coffee and food amenities.
Queenstown
Your journey begins in the picturesque town of Queenstown. With 280km ahead of you, our luxury 14-seater coach will pick you up from your accommodation before departing for the first stop of the morning - Te Anau, about 2-hours away. We navigate our way around the shores of Lake Wakatipu and deep into farming country. Spot the thousands of sheep, the popular farm animal that out numbers New Zealander's 5 to 1 !