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We’ve been to Milford Sound so many times and have done many tours, from nature to scenic cruises and even overnight cruises. We know what we’re talking about, and unlike the tour companies, I’ll actually give you an honest opinion on which cruise to choose without a biased opinion. Awaiting in the stunning Milford Sound is a luxury cruise, decked out with everything you need to sit back, relax & enjoy the sights of this majestic location. Built with love by the owner himself, The Fiordland Jewel boasts an onboard helicopter pad, top-deck hot tub, onboard chef, fine wine & limited boutique accommodation. Getting to Milford from Queenstown takes round 4hours each way so consider leaving the driving to a local expert and sit back and relax as you travel through the rugged and winding Milford Road. Tours to Milford Sound from Queenstown and Te Anau depart daily and offer a range of options to suit travelling styles and budgets.
Does Milford Sound Overnight Cruise - Fiordland Discovery have a hot tub for its guests?
Both the Milford Mariner and the Fiordland Jewel offer the opportunity to spot New Zealand wildlife such as dolphins, seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin. In addition to this, free parking can be found in the Deep Water Basin Car Park. If parking here please allow at least 30 minutes to park your vehicle and make your way to the terminal. You are able to drop off passengers and luggage at the terminal. Driving conditions during winter (May to September) can be difficult. Extreme care is needed as freezing temperatures mean the road can ice over in shaded places.
Dates, Travellers & Preferences
We found parking without any problems, there was no traffic on the roads, and our boat cruise wasn’t packed full of people. First, select what kind of experience you want, choose from our day cruises, a premium cruise, or an overnight cruise. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are both fiords in Fiordland National Park.
Hiking the Great Walks on New Zealand's rugged South Island - The Times Herald
Hiking the Great Walks on New Zealand's rugged South Island.
Posted: Mon, 31 Aug 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Experiences
Please provide detailed information regarding your dietary requirements when making a booking. A double room is a private room for two people, with one bed to share. A twin room is a private room for two people, with two single beds. Yes, you could potentially be sharing with another guest. Alternatively you could choose to pay for the entire quad cabin, or two double cabins, to ensure privacy.
Weather on a Milford Sound Cruise
Continental or cooked breakfasts and a 3-course dinner are provided. Experience the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound with a daylight cruise. The daylight cruise on Milford Sound is a great way to explore the fiord and its wildlife, including seals and penguins. The cruise offers stunning views of the towering peaks and waterfalls, and the inky blackness of the water creates a serene atmosphere. Cruises depart throughout the day with the average cruise time of 1hr 45min. You can easily incorporate day cruises into your travel plans, and they are included in most Milford Sound day tours.
About the Milford Mariner
Mayday call made after tourist cruise ship runs aground in Fiordland - RNZ
Mayday call made after tourist cruise ship runs aground in Fiordland.
Posted: Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
For just a standard large boat scenic or nature cruise without transport, prices start around $75 NZD. However, the tours we prefer are the smaller boat tours that include lunch and are around $145 NZD. For a more leisurely tour, experience a premium cruise with bubbles and canapés included. For an immersive Milford Sound tour, join one of our overnight cruises aboard our traditionally designed scows. There are Milford Sound cruises departing throughout the day, giving you the chance to experience the fiord in all its different guises.
Pricing and Conditions
Many say you have not seen Fiordland unless you have seen it in the rain. When it rains in Fiordland the landscape is dramatic - rock faces stream with waterfalls, mist hangs around the tops of the mountains and rivers and streams rage. From a dry comfortable vantage point on the bus or boat, this landscape is spectacular for sightseeing. From here you can join the guide and explore in the vessel’s tender craft (small boat) or kayaks. If you prefer, you can simply relax on deck and soak in the beauty of this amazing place. If you’re feeling brave there’s always the option of a refreshing swim too.
Cooper Island Restoration Fund
However, most cruises depart in the middle of the day or the afternoon, allowing time to travel from Queenstown or Te Anau. The shortest cruises (scenic cruises) are 1.5 hours long and the longer cruises (nature cruises) are well over 2 hours. I have stayed at the lodge and it gave me an entire day to drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound. I stopped at places like the Lake Marian Track, Mirror Lakes, and the Key Summit and still had time for a cruise the next day! This is my top choice when it comes to experiencing Milford Sound in an adventurous way but also on a budget.
Relax, unwind, view the stars and take in the stillness of staying overnight on a luxury vessel anchored in a sheltered bay. The booking process is not supported when in private browsing or incognito mode. Visitors with enough time choose to visit both fiords as they have different characters. Your travel agent or the outlet where you purchased your Milford Sound trip will refund the flight component of your ticket. If you are travelling from Queenstown it will take around 5 hours to reach Milford. This timing allows for toilet and photo stops along the way.
They offer dorm beds as well as private rooms and have communal kitchen facilities and common spaces available. This is a great social hostel – perfect for meeting other travelers. We had perfect road conditions on all our visits, but I could see how the drive could be slow and somewhat dangerous during icy road conditions. The last 20 minutes or so before getting to Milford Sound is very steep and narrow.
If you have a particular date in mind for your Milford Sound adventure, it's crucial to plan. We strongly advise booking your tours, accommodations, and cruises in advance to secure your preferred dates and avoid any potential disappointment. For those with flexible travel dates, there may be some flexibility in booking closer to your desired time. Keep in mind that Milford Sound’s peak season is summer, so the sooner you book, the better. Firstly, its incredible beauty sets it apart as a mountainous haven, often regarded as an unofficial wonder of the world.
Incredible experience sailing around Milford Sound in the late afternoon and early morning with no other vessels around. Select your preferred start date and preferences, and send us an enquiry. We will check availability and get back to you with a personalised quote. The crew and captain were super helpful, kind, and interesting. Try turning off private browsing or incognito mode to continue. A fiord is a glaciated valley - typically narrow and steep-sided - that has been flooded by the sea after the glacier’s retreat.
In the afternoon, after the daytime sightseers leave, calm descends on Mitre Peak and Milford Sound. The ultimate dinner, bed and breakfast experience is a Milford Sound overnight cruise on the Milford Mariner. Escorted by an expert nature guide, you will leave from the Milford Sound jetty in late afternoon and cruise the complete length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The cruise style is relaxed, permitting ample time to observe the fiord’s stunning waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife.Afterwards the Milford Mariner anchors in a protected inlet.
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