Water activity

Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound

4.9 / 5

66 reviews

Activity provider:Southern Discoveries
Water activity

Cruise & Kayak Milford Sound

Activity provider:Southern Discoveries
Likely to sell out

From US$ 138.85 per person

Likely to sell out

Double the adventure with this half-day experience. Enjoy a Milford Sound cruise, a visit to the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, kayaking, and a picnic lunch.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 4 - 5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Small group
Limited to 14 participants

Experience

Highlights
  • Immerse yourself in the ultimate, all-inclusive Milford package – above, on, and below the water
  • Enjoy a stunning nature cruise out to the Tasman Sea
  • Get an intimate kayak experience with spectacular views of the Pembroke Glacier
Full description
Your tour starts off with a cruise along the entire length of the sound and out to the Tasman Sea on a Nature cruise. Each cruise has a different focus and explores a different part of the sound, so pick the one that's best for you! Towards the end of your cruise you will be dropped off at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory to journey through the history, geology and wildlife of Milford Sound and visit New Zealand's only floating underwater observatory to view rare black coral. Then, your specialist kayak and nature guide will take you over to the kayaking pontoon to enjoy up to 90 minutes of relaxing kayaking in serene Harrison Cove. Gaze through the glacier-fed waters as you kayak in one of the most majestic places in the world. This is an intimate experience with a maximum of 8 kayaks per tour including a specialist kayak and nature guide to point out the fjord features and wildlife. No previous experience is necessary and we even have an automated lift for easy entry and exit from the kayaks.
Includes
  • Kayaking equipment
  • Tea and coffee
  • Picnic lunch
Not suitable for
  • Children under 5 years
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meet us at the Southern Discoveries Desk at the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Warm clothing
  • Sunglasses
  • Change of clothes
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Reusable water bottle

Know before you go

  • Please allow 5 hours driving time from Queenstown and just over 2 hours from Te Anau. Free parking is available in Milford Sound and it is approximately a 10-minute walk from the car park to the Cruise terminal The last place to get fuel is in Te Anau, so make sure you have enough to get you there – the trip is 242 km (150 miles) return from Te Anau.
  • All vessels are fully licensed with a range of beverages plus a selection of snack foods
  • Smoking is not permitted on any of the vessels
  • Any cancellations are required to be made at least 24 hours prior to departure. Cancellations made less than 24 hours are not eligible for a refund. Reservations may be amended to another date or time subject to availability. No charge is made for this amendment but any difference in price will need to be paid

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 66 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    5/5
  • Transportation
    4.9/5
  • Service
    4.7/5
  • Organization
    4.9/5

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A wonderful experience. There’s nothing quite like being on the water in such a magnificent place. Everyone in our family enjoyed it - a great experience to do with kids at any age. Our 12, 15 and 17 year olds loved it. Great being in a small group too, as it felt like it there was no one else around. Our guide was charming and very knowledgeable. We did the afternoon trip so took the last ferry back from the observatory to the wharf - just us and the tour guides. That in itself was great. We had dolphins playing on our wake and it felt like it was our own special show. Highly recommend.

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April 14, 2023

After a scenic and serene cruise through the fiord we came back to the underwater observatory and were welcomed by the friendly staff for our kayaking adventure. Although we had kayaked before it was not a requirement. We paddled at a peaceful pace along the shoreline and into the glacial rivers with our guide. A magical day.

November 15, 2022

Milford Sound is so beautiful. One of the best trips ever. By doing the cruise, under water observatory and the kayak we got to spend quite a bit of time and really got the full experience. Very friendly helpful informative guide. Anyone can do the kayak with the great launching platform that lifts and lowers you into and out of the water. Bonus great picnic lunch bag provided to each of us. The water is so crystal clear and you get to paddle right up to the sides of the fiords. Totally recommend whole experience is breathtaking from start to finish. Bonus of seeing dolphins and fur seals also.

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March 10, 2021

Product ID: 24012