As I mentioned in my last post, one of my favorite parts of our honeymoon in New Zealand was our Milford Sound cruise. Putting together an itinerary that allowed us to explore the entire South Island in one week was tough, but we knew one thing we wouldn’t compromise on – a trip to Milford sound! While we were there, we were told that nearly 45% of cruises are cancelled due to weather. Thankfully ours was not! Honestly, I should have done more research in advance and brought some water repellent gear, like this vest or this jacket. Instead, I had my Tahari coat and new sweater that were definitely NOT waterproof. Luckily, since we had so much sunshine I didn’t have to worry about it! Keep reading to find out which tour we took, how we got there and what we saw.
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If you’re planning a trip to Milford Sound, you likely have the same questions we did when we were planning our excursion. I’ve put together a short guidebook below to provide ideas and suggestions to help you create a fantastic trip.
Which Milford Sound Cruise tour group did you use?
After reviewing the handful of tour companies, we opted to cruise with the team at Mitre Peak. There were a few major reasons we selected them.
- The first differentiator for us was the ability to fly to and from Milford Sound instead of drive. I’ve heard from multiple people that the drive itself is beautiful, but we just didn’t have the time to do the four hour drive each way. If you have the time, I highly recommend it.
- The next reason we chose Mitre Peak for our Milford Sound cruise is that their route extends further than any other group. They actually take you out into the Tasman Sea. This might not sound that important, but it was actually one of the most breathtaking views when the boat turned around and we got a direct view of the 16km length of the fiord.
- The last reason we chose Mitre Peak is that they allow significantly less passengers on their cruises so they’re more intimate. The day we cruised there were no more than 20 guests total. We didn’t have to fight to get a good view or take some nice pictures and in nearly all of our photos on the outdoor deck it looks like it’s just us on the cruise! Their max capacity is between 60-75 guests, and the smaller boats are able to get closer to the shoreline and next to the stunning waterfalls.
What did you see on your tour?
The grandeur of the fiord itself was spectacular. I couldn’t stop taking photos at each scenic location!
It seemed like there was a gorgeous waterfall around nearly every corner and in every alcove. We even saw two rainbows! On the two hour cruise, we saw Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. We also toured Sinbad Gully and then stopped at Seal Rock (see picture below). It was literally covered in New Zealand fur seals just lounging and suntanning themselves. There was another big group of them on the opposite side of the waterway.
I was really looking forward to seeing penguins on our tour. But, alas – it wasn’t meant to be. Our guide informed us that they had seen them earlier in the week. But, typically they’re only around from July through November in that area. So, be sure to book your trip accordingly if seeing them is a priority.
Insider Tip: take the afternoon cruise if you can. That way, you avoid the tour buses that come through for the two morning time slots.
Coat: Tahari (also here and here) // Beanie: Nordstrom // Sweater: AQUA (similar here) // Denim: AG Jeans // Boots: Sam Edelman // Sunglasses: Bobbi Brown
Like I said above, I didn’t plan the best outfit for our Milford Sound cruise. We ran around the day before trying to find last minute hazard ponchos in case of bad weather! With so much rain in the fiord, a down jacket is a smart idea to pack for the trip.
Let me know if you have any questions I haven’t answered here. If you’ve been to Milford Sound before I’d love to hear about your trip. Be sure to follow me on Instagram too where I’ll be posting a lot of honeymoon shots you won’t find on the blog!
