At most 75 passengers on board. Less crowd, closer to the waterfalls.
Pick a day, or the first and last day you are in Queenstown, Te Anau or at Milford. We check the booking calendar of every tour in this section and show which ones still have places.
On the water: 2 h
On the water: 1 h 45 min
On this page: Mitre Peak Cruises, with smaller purpose-built boats and no more than 60 or 75 places per cruise, and Cruise Milford, which limits each departure to 75 passengers on a boat surveyed for 150. With fewer people on board you get more room at the rails, and Mitre Peak says its boats go closer to the waterfalls and rock faces than the big catamarans.
The tours below, side by side. Open a card for the route, the meeting point and what is included.
60 or 75 places. Last departure 15:55 (Oct–Apr).
Mitre Peak Cruises runs smaller purpose-built boats with no more than 60 or 75 places per cruise. Mitre Peak says they go further and get closer to the cliffs and waterfalls, and reviews mention getting close to the falls.
The 2-hour route runs the full length of the fiord past Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak, Seal Rock and Stirling Falls to the Tasman Sea, then returns. From October to April the cruise departs at 08:50, 11:10, 13:30 and 15:55; from May to September at 11:00 and 13:30. The 15:55 departure gives softer afternoon light.
Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are included, but no food is served, so bring a snack.
Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, State Highway 94. Parking near the terminal costs NZ$10 per hour.
Tour details as the cruise or flight operator lists them on the booking platform.
At most 75 passengers. Cruise of 1 h 45.
Cruise Milford is a family-owned day-cruise company. Its boat is surveyed for 150 passengers, but every departure is limited to 75, which leaves more deck space per person and clearer views at the waterfalls.
The 1 h 45 cruise leaves the Visitor Terminal, runs past Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea and returns via Stirling Falls. The skipper narrates in English, and coffee, tea and biscuits are included.
Check in at the Cruise Milford counter in the Visitor Terminal. The GetYourGuide listing also has longer options that combine the cruise with transport from Queenstown or Te Anau.
Cruise Milford counter in the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal. Check in 30 minutes before departure.
Tour details as the cruise or flight operator lists them on the booking platform.
Fewer people on deck, which helps with photos, and closer approaches to the waterfalls and cliffs.
Milford Sound itself is a sheltered fiord, and inside it the water stays fairly calm whatever the boat size. At the Tasman Sea end the ocean swell comes in, and smaller boats feel it more.
Compare the live prices on the cards above. They change with the date and the departure, so the order between operators can change too.
Mitre Peak includes tea, coffee and hot chocolate but no food. Cruise Milford includes coffee, tea and biscuits. Bring a snack for either.
Mitre Peak Cruises and Cruise Milford, live prices on GetYourGuide.
See the comparison