Queenstown to Te Anau via Milford Sound Cruise & Picnic Lunch | Cheeky Kiwi Travel | Shaara Deals

Most Milford Sound day trips put you on a large catamaran with a couple of hundred other people. Cheeky Kiwi Travel's premium small group tour, listed on Shaara Deals from $369, uses a boutique cruise on a smaller boat instead, getting closer to the seals and waterfalls, with hotel pickup in Queenstown and drop-off in Te Anau.

Queenstown to Te Anau

The tour departs Queenstown in a Mercedes-Benz van, winding around Lake Wakatipu and through the Devil's Staircase with views of The Remarkables. After farmland and mountain scenery, the group reaches Te Anau, home to New Zealand's second-largest lake, with a stop at Te Anau Downs — the starting point of the Milford Track.

Into Fiordland National Park

From Te Anau the road runs through Fiordland National Park, stopping at Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes (for the reflections of the Earl Mountains), and Lake Gunn. The route follows the Hollyford River past Falls Creek waterfall and climbs into the Darran Mountains — Kea territory — before the guided drive through the historic Homer Tunnel down to Milford Sound.

The Milford Sound cruise

At Milford Sound the group boards a boutique cruise on a smaller boat, getting closer to New Zealand fur seals basking on the rocks, sheer rock faces rising hundreds of metres out of the water, and waterfalls cascading from rainforest high above. Mitre Peak, the iconic triangular peak over the Sound, is visible throughout. On the way back, there's a stop at Pop's View Lookout near the start of the Routeburn Track before the return to Te Anau.

What's included

• Small group, fully guided tour

• Milford Sound cruise

• Picnic lunch

• Water and snacks

What's not included

• Picnic lunch for infants aged 0–3

• Pickup from hotels not on the listed pickup points

Tour details

• Price: From NZD $369.00

• Duration: Approximately 10 hours

• Departs: Queenstown

• Finishes: Te Anau

• Operator: Cheeky Kiwi Travel

FAQ: Queenstown to Te Anau via Milford Sound

Is lunch included? Yes — a picnic lunch is included, though not for infants aged 0–3.

What makes the cruise different? It's a boutique cruise on a smaller boat than the standard large-catamaran option, described as offering a more informative, personal experience and closer wildlife viewing.

Is there a heli flight option? Yes — a one-way heli flight from Milford to Te Anau is available as an optional extra, subject to weight restrictions (maximum 116kg).

Does the tour end in Queenstown? No — this is a one-way tour ending with drop-off at your hotel in Te Anau.

Book the Queenstown to Te Anau Milford Sound tour with Cheeky Kiwi Travel directly through Shaara Deals: https://shaaradeals.co.nz/deal/6a9507971b5948a698ecef25