Unforgettable Milford Sound: Award-Winning Small Group Tour

We’re celebrating our wedding anniversary with a South Island holiday, and this was hands down THE highlight of our entire trip. Everything was spot on. The weather was perfect (a bit of rain actually makes Milford even better), the coach was super comfortable, the kea were mischievous and entertaining, and our driver/guide (sadly didn’t catch her name) was one of the most awesome Canadians I’ve met so far. Sure, there are other operators and cheaper ways to visit Milford Sound, but the extra cost is 100% worth it for the comfort, smooth experience, and overall quality. It’s easy to see why they’re so highly rated.

An absolutely amazing day trip from Queenstown into Milford Sound. I went as a young, solo traveller and the small group made it so easy to make friends with people on the journey. Big thank you to my guide Jono! Loved learning about New Zealand and have already started annoying my family with pictures of a kiwi x-ray. Made such a comfortable environment for everyone and appreciate it muchly.

Gina was a great tour guide and driver. She answered our questions and took nice photos of us. She made sure to give us quiet time to rest. Loved her music choices.

Overall everything was good. Our Guide, William was excellent, courteous and sharing all the information in advance.

We had a great day in Milford Sound with Amy as our guide. She kept us on track, stopped at numerous places for photos, played a pretty soundtrack to accompany the gorgeous scenery and was very nice. The boat ride was lovely and getting splashed by the big waterfall was fun. The Mercedes Sprinter van was very comfortable and the small group size is preferable to being on a big coach bus. Weather was perfect, sunny and warmer than we expected.

James, the guide, did great commentary and Q&A. He drove us with good energy all day. The views on the drive and Milford Sound cruise were spectacular. With sunny weather turning into rain, we were lucky to see the mountains in both sunny weather and with many beautiful temporary waterfalls. Do go to the open top deck on the cruise for a more immersive experience, but note that it will be windy and cold there. The negatives/issues: I advise anyone who wants to sit beside the driver that the scenic views will be great, but sadly, you will see a lot of road kill. If you are uncomfortable with this, sit elsewhere for less of this. Lunch was picked up at Te Anau for the whole group and handed out at Milford Sound cruise station around 1.15pm just before the cruise timing. We were hungry and had to rush for a seat with table on the boat on the lower deck, eat at the start of the boat ride, and then fear motion sickness. The food was also disappointing. Very dry bread chicken sandwich, soggy bland roasted vegetables, mediocre brownie, and a candy that I'm pretty sure has beef gelatin even though I indicated no beef for my dietary restrictions. Also, there was no bottled water provided for eco reasons, and terribly, no water refill points till around 1pm, because James did not know where to refill drinking water at Te Anau. Moreover, one more scenic view/comfort stop on the way back instead of a 2hr non-stop drive would be nice. Despite the poor taste, the food did not get anyone sick as far as I could tell. We were all safe throughout and enjoyed the views. It's not easy taking a group out all day to a remote area and back, so overall, I still rate this 4 stars.

A 13-hour long day trip sounded a bit daunting, but from pick up early in the morning, until drop off that night, James kept our small group entertained, stopping enroute for short breaks... usually with breath-taking views included, he was engaging and knowledgeable. The smaller vessel we boarded at Milford Sound meant a close encounter with wildlife and waterfall. A picnic style lunch was provided, and it was excellent. The weather was wet and windy, but this just added to the atmosphere of this truly remarkable wild place. I highly recommend this tour.

My experience with Altitude was really positive, not least because they saved me when another tour company that I had booked with let me down at last minute. So I was almost about to not go on a bucket list trip after being stranded, but Altitude, and specially Nev, saved the day. I’m so pleased that I ended up going with Altitude because it really felt like a superior experience. Thanks especially goes to Nev for being such a friendly, relaxed and approachable tour leader. The journey there and back is a long one, but he helped make it a really enjoyable trip. The boat trip itself is phenomenal and a must see experience. But I also enjoyed the little stop offs we did with Nev as we went deeper into the Fjordlands. Words can’t express how majestic they are, just go see for yourself!

Glorious scenery, luxurious bus, plenty of information, and the cruise was lovely. Carol did an amazing job as our guide, and it was her first solo trek too! The music was fabulous, and we sang most of the way back to Queenstown with our fellow passengers! Carol learned we loved Lord of the Rings, and she played some of the soundtrack for us as we entered into the valley of the Fiordlands National Park on our way to the cruise . It was majestic! We even saw a kea, dolphins, and seals! What a joy!

Awesome experience that exceeded expectations. Considered driving ourselves, but so glad we opted for the tour. The unmatched beauty of the region is a once in a lifetime experience. (Or more if you're lucky!) But what really made the day remarkable was our stellar guide Nev. Kind, knowledgeable, and with a great sense of humor, Nev made the day unforgettable. Thanks, Nev! And thanks, Altitude!