Milford Sound Tour Options
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1. Milford Sound Flights
2. Milford Sound Cruises
3. Milford Mariner Overnight Cruise (Private Cabins)
4. Milford Wanderer Overnight Cruise (Bunk rooms)
1. Milford Sound Flights
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Hanging valleys, alpine lakes and cloud-piercing summits hidden from the road are just some of the reasons why flying between Queenstown and Milford Sound is an excursion of a lifetime! Once on the ground at Milford Airport, visitors are transferred by coach to the Fiordland Travel Visitor Centre to board a luxury vessel for a cruise the full length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The vessel provides excellent viewing and there is plenty of time available to enjoy waterfalls, rain forest, mountains, and wildlife. A comprehensive commentary is presented throughout the cruise.
You can fly back to Queenstown after coaching into Milford, or if you prefer, fly both ways in a twin engine aircraft. Transfers from your Queenstown accommodation to the airport are included.
Depart: 10.00am and 12.00noon daily. Oct-April: 8.00am and 2.00pm
Duration: allow 4.30 hours
Includes: Transfer, flights, cruise of Milford Sound, complimentary tea and coffee.
2. Milford Sound Cruises
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Real Journeys brings the dramatic beauty of Milford Sound within reach as a day trip from Te Anau or Queenstown. Grand, brooding, serene and wild, Milford Sound draws visitors from all over the globe to cruise its length - and wonder. Luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock walls washed with waterfalls. In the foreground stands Mitre Peak, a majestic presence dominating skyline.
We will take you there, by luxury coach or plane, to cruise the Fiord in one of our spacious, modern vessels. With luck you will catch sight of dolphins, seals and rare penguins.
The timetable features scenic cruises of varying lengths, during which the friendly staff provide informative commentaries in several languages. Delicious lunch options available on board include hot buffet-style lunches, rock lobster and obento or picnic lunch boxes.
There are two cruises options available: the Milford Wanderer, a modern coastal sailing/ motor ship and the Milford Monarch or Milford Haven, both modern cruise ships.
Depart: Milford Wanderer: 10.45am and 1.30pm (Oct-May). Milford Mariner: 12.30pm (all year)
Duration: allow 2.30 hours
Milford Wanderer: 10.45am and 1.30pm (Oct-May) allow 2.30 hours
Includes: Cruise, commentary by nature guide, complimentary tea and coffee
3. Milford Mariner Overnight
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The newest addition to Real Journeys' fleet of vessels, the Milford Mariner offers passengers a very special dinner, bed & breakfast experience. Private cabins with ensuite bathrooms, two single beds or, if requested, one double bed, spacious viewing decks, dining saloon and observation decks and sumptuous meals all make for a very memorable Milford Sound experience. But that's not all...You'll also cruise to the open sea with our nature guide, anchor for the night in sheltered Harrison Cove and perhaps do a little exploring of your own in the vessel's kayaks and tender vessels. Or you can simply relax on deck as the southern twinlight deepens. Accommodation consists of 30 cabins (two single beds or, if requested, one double bed) all with ensuite bathrooms. All meals and activities are included in tariff. with Ensuite bathrooms. View vessel lay-out.
Depart: 4.30pm from Milford Sound Pier. Returns: 9.30am next morning. 1 September - 31 May
Includes: Cruise of Milford Sound, dinner, breakfast, bedding.
4. Milford Wanderer Overnight
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Combine your stay at Milford Sound with an overnight trip on the Milford Wanderer. The 30 meter boat takes passengers on board for the night. Dinner, breakfast and a cabin bed are included in the price. The ship has toilets, showers and a saloon dining room. You leave from the wharf at Milford in the late afternoon. The trip takes you right to where Milford Sound flows into the Tasman Sea. You spend the night at anchor in Anita Bay, and the boat returns you to the wharf the next morning. View vessel lay-out.
Depart: 4.30pm from Milford Sound Pier Returns: 9.15am next morning
1 Oct - 30 April
Includes: Cruise of Milford Sound, dinner, breakfast, bedding.
Doubtful Sound Tour Options:
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1. Doubtful Sound Day Excursion
2. Doubtful Sound Overnight
1. Doubtful Sound Day Excursion
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Your day adventure to Doubtful Sound begins as you cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri. After disembarking at West Arm, you travel underground by coach to see the Manapouri Power Station machine hall.
Then it's over Wilmot Pass, stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland's densest rainforest and to view close up the colourful alpine moss gardens.
On reaching Deep cove, you board a catamaran for a three hour cruise which takes you in the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful sound. Nature guides are always on hand to point out highlights. Bottlenose dolphins frequently cavort alongside your vessel; fur seals bask on the Nee Islets at the mouth of the Fiord and at times, the rarest penguins in the world can be observed.
Depart: 1 October - 30 April: 9.30am. 1 May - 30 September: 9.45am. From Manapouri Pier
Duration: allow 8 hours (return to Manapouri)
Includes: Cruise of Doubtful Sound, complimentary tea and coffee.
Navigator - Doubtful Sound Overnight
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Real Journeys' new Doubtful Sound overnight vessel 'Navigator' (a sister vessel to Milford Mariner) is designed along the lines of a traditional New Zealand coastal trading scow to reflect Fiordland's heritage. The vessel is catering for visitors who enjoy comfort, combined with the opportunity to really explore this beautiful fiord. The purpose built vessel is accommodating passengers either in private cabins with ensuite bathrooms or in quad share bunk style compartments. The vessel has spacious deck areas for viewing the wilderness scenery and wildlife of Doubtful Sound. Of particular interest, if sighted, are fur seals, dolphins, and in season, rare penguins. Activities include kayaking and excursions ashore with the vessels' nature guide. Departing from Manapouri, the journey to Doubtful Sound begins with a cruise across Lake Manapouri. After disembarking at West Arm, passengers then travel over Wilmot Pass by coach through dense rainforest. At Deep Cove visitors board the overnight cruise vessel for a leisurely exploration of Doubtful Sound. The vessel anchors in one of Doubtful Sound's hidden arms. The following morning, after a hearty breakfast. there will be time to explore once again before returning to Deep cove. Suitable for all ages, except infants. View vessel lay-out.
Depart: 12.30pm from Manapouri Returns: 12.15pm next day. Operates 1 Oct - 30 April.
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