Milford Sound Premium Cruise

The Milford Sound Premium Cruise runs for 2.5 hours, taking a relaxed pace and spending more time exploring the fiord. It is roughly 30 minutes longer than the average time of Milford Sound Day Cruises.

The Milford Sound Premium Cruise explores the entirety of the fiord, right out to the Tasman Sea and back again. Each cruise can change its route depending on wildlife sightings and weather conditions.

The Milford Sound Premium Cruise leaves from the Milford Sound Terminal Building, located in the heart of Milford Sound.

You can get to Milford Sound by driving or travelling on a coach via the Milford Road (State Highway 94), or by taking a scenic flight from Queenstown. You can read how to get to Milford Sound from this article here.

Going on a Milford Sound cruise gives you the unique opportunity to encounter native wildlife living in this remote paradise. There might be playful Keas, Fiordland crested penguins, chatty dolphins, graceful albatross, and relaxed NZ fur seals. However, it's essential to appreciate that these creatures are wild, often unpredictable, and some are facing decline. While knowledgeable nature guides will search for wildlife, the animals’ spontaneity means sightings are not guaranteed. A journey into Milford Sound offers a chance to connect with the natural world, and each sighting becomes a testament to the untamed beauty of this incredible environment.

The Milford Sound Premium Cruise is very child-friendly, offering an unforgettable experience for your little ones. However, due to potential hazards like steps and railings, it's important to be cautious while exploring the vessel. Ensuring your children's safety is paramount. Kids will love the cruise, especially as it brings them up close to magnificent waterfalls and offers opportunities to spot fascinating wildlife.

To make the most of the journey, pack essentials for a comfortable day trip, including waterproof layers, a sun hat, and ample food and water. Additionally, bring along games to keep them entertained during travel.

Our Milford Sound cruise has a 24-hour cancellation policy for bookings made directly with RealNZ. Full refunds will be given in the event of a cancellation, and amendments can be made to your booking when RealNZ receives notification at least 24 hours prior (NZ time) to your departure time. This does not account for Milford Sound Overnight Cruises, which asks for 14 days notice prior to departure.

Both paid and free parking are available in Milford Sound. The main car park in Milford Sound is the closest to the Visitor Terminal and is clearly signposted as you enter the small village centre. It is only a 5 - 10-minute walk along a beautiful path with views of the fiord and costs an hourly rate of $10. The free parking is slightly further away from the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, about a 25-minute stroll along a scenic forested pathway and is located at Deepwater Basin Road. You should allow 45 minutes to 1 hour to park your vehicle and transfer to the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, where you should check in for your cruise 20 minutes prior to departure.

When we are informed in advance about guests with hindered mobility, we make every effort to mitigate the impact by assigning rooms in proximity to the main areas. However, it’s important to note that our vessels are not optimally equipped for potential needs. While we extend a warm welcome to individuals with impaired mobility, our vessels all have at least one sea sill that the guests will need to navigate. None have fully accessible bathrooms on board. However, there are accessible bathrooms at the Milford terminal. Below are the vessel descriptions based on accessibility:

The Sovereign: Our most accessible, though guests still need to be able to navigate a sea-sill, and it can’t accommodate electric wheelchairs due to turnaround space.

Milford Haven: Guests need to navigate a sea-sill and will be confined to the café level; there is an outdoor viewing deck on the same level, which can be accessed via a sea-sill but turning in a wheelchair can be tight.

Milford Mariner: Not recommended for wheelchair users due to steep, narrow stairs to the main viewing deck and high sea-sills.

The Sinbad: Semi-accessible bathroom on board but accessed over high sea-sills, no access to the top deck.

We can cater to dietary requirements on the cruises. Please let us know what requirements you have when you make your booking, and we can make sure there are options for you.

Milford Sound can be a cold and wet place, but that doesn’t mean you need to be! Pack for most weather outcomes, like a rain jacket, a warm layer, sunscreen, and a sunhat, and you’ll be comfortable for whatever the weather brings.

Aside from road closure due to snow, the Milford Sound cruise is likely to go ahead in most weather. Very strong wind is usually the only weather to cause cancellations, but Milford Sound is typically sheltered from wind and rough tides. In Milford Sound, we welcome heavy rain, as it brings out the hundreds of waterfalls.

Our places. Our experiences. Milford and Doubtful Sounds, NZ.

The main difference between Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound is their locations in Fiordland. Milford Sound, in the northern region, is captivating with its dramatic beauty. Doubtful Sound, on the other hand, is further south, in the heart of Fiordland, and is vaster and wilder, approximately ten times larger than Milford Sound.

Visitors to Milford Sound should be aware of various natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, severe weather events, flooding, landslides, and avalanches. The Alpine Fault, capable of producing Magnitude 8 earthquakes, poses a significant risk of triggering landslides and tsunamis, while the area's mountainous terrain and high rainfall lead to frequent landslides and potential road closures due to flooding and avalanches. Learn more here.