Family & locally owned, experiencing more than just the highlights
Our Milford Sound tour from Te Anau is in a very spacious small group coach. Be sure to compare this against other tour options.
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One entire row of seats removed, 60% more leg room.
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Comfortable leather bucket seats.
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Maximum of 13 guests compared to others who take 17.
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Guests can request front seating if travel sickness is a concern.
Why is a Milford Sound Tour from Te Anau special?
Full Refund, no reason given, up to 24-hours before the tour, giving you confidence in case your plans change!
Premium Milford Sound Tour from Te Anau Inclusions
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Te Anau accommodation or town centre pick up.
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Unlimited chilled water, tea, coffee and cafe morning snack provided.
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Luxury small group coach with leather bucket seats, for spacious passenger comfort.
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8.5 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 hot or cold lunch on the cruise.
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Full refund up to 24 hours prior.
$329 NZD
ADULT DAY TOUR
Milford Sound Tour from Te Anau Itinerary
Coach / Cruise / Coach
8:30 am - Pick-up Te Anau accommodation/town centre.
9:00-1:00pm - Up to seven photo-stop opportunities & special experiences.
1:00-3:00pm - Milford Sound Cruise with lunch option & Bar.
3:00-5:00pm - Up to three photo-stop opportunities.
5:30pm - Drop-off Te Anau accommodation/town centre.
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 vans on this tour have 20% less seats than others, 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, full morning coffee/tea & 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.
The Story of Luxe
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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 11 Unique Scenic Photo stops, including short Nature & Waterfall walks.
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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.
Experience the difference of departing from Te Anau
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Save 4-hours in a vehicle, versus Queenstown.
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More time to truly experience stunning natural locations & photo stops.
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Guided by a local who specialises in Milford Sound.
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More affordable accommodation, restaurants & many other tours in the Te Anau area.
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Support family & local businesses contributing to Milford Sound sustainability & biodiversity.
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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 75% 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...
Our departure point is Te Anau
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This Milford Sound Tour departs from Te Anau which saves you over 4 hours in a vehicle than from Queenstown.
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You'll enjoy a relaxed and enjoyable experience with lots of time at each scenic stop.
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Te Anau also offers other amazing attractions nearby - the Glowworm Caves and beautiful Doubtful Sound.
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Te Anau has many accommodation & restaurant/food options.
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 2023 & 2024 Mercedes coaches have the following safety features: brake assist, blind spot monitoring, lane assist & satellite phone.
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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 a morning muffin/scone snack, included in the cost of tour, as well as Coffee & Tea.
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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 choice of a hot/cold lunch add-on, craft beer bar, NZ wines, light refreshments and many snack options. All available via pre-order.
Te Anau
Your journey begins in the picturesque township of Te Anau. With 120km ahead of you, our luxury 12-seater coach will pick you up from your accommodation before departing for the first stop of the morning - Te Anau Downs. 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.
Te Anau Downs
Te Anau Downs provides an opportunity for one final stop before officially entering Fiordland National Park. On a fine day, the Murchison Mountains provide a distant back drop for one of your first photo snapshots. It is Te Anau Downs which leads explorers to the start of the world famous Milford Track aboard several water taxi options including RealNZ and Fiordland Outdoors. This is also the last spot you will have strong cell phone reception or WiFi until Milford Sound.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Short Nature Walk
It is around this part of our journey that we visit one of two locations for a short nature walk. Your guide will take you through Beech Rainforest to a special location, while pausing to explain some of the local flora & fauna, as well as hopefully meeting some of the local wildlife - such as the South Island Robin or Fantail birds. Either of our nature walks are comfortable tracks and manageable for most.