"We departed from Te Anau at 8 AM, and since there was pickup and drop-off at our accommodation, we were able to take it a little easy in the morning. Since it was a small group (13 people), it was great that we were able to take breaks, go for walks, and get around easily. We were blessed with good weather, and we were able to see dolphins, seals, and albatrosses. The spots we visited and the walks we took would have been impossible to discover without the guide, and they were all wonderful experiences. It was an excursion that was worth more than the price."
From Te Anau · up to 15 people · 2-hour cruise to the Tasman Sea · short walks of 5 to 30 minutes · from about $177
Milford Sound Walking Tours, and a Day on the Milford Track
Fiordland Trips and Tramps drives a small group from Te Anau to Milford Sound for a two-hour small-boat cruise, then stops for short walks in the national park, rated 4.9 from 924 reviews. Below: the day walks on the Milford Track itself, and how they differ from the four-day Great Walk.
From
$177
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.9 / 5 924 reviews
- 5-30 min Each Short Walk on the Way
- 2 hours Small-Boat Cruise to the Tasman Sea
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Te Anau Walking Day Includes
In Fiordland Trips and Tramps' own words: the driver-guide, the pickup, the cruise, the walks and the picnic. Pickup or drop-off in Queenstown is not included.
In the Operator's Own Words
- See Milford Sound in small groups with experienced, local guides!
- Take a boat cruise to the Tasman Sea with excellent viewing opportunities
- Discover all the special places and get off the beaten track with a small group
- Experience the natural fauna and flora of this World Heritage area
- Enjoy a series of short walks and scenic stops of 5-30 minutes in length
What's Included
- Professional nature driver-guide
- All transport from Te Anau and pickup from all central Te Anau accommodations
- 2-hour Milford Sound small-boat cruise to the Tasman Sea
- Scenic stops and short walks of 5-30 minutes in length (suitable for the seasons)
- Packed picnic lunch
Good to know: Please be suitably prepared for all weather conditions, as Fiordland can be unpredictable at any time of the year · Your guide will tailor the day to the weather and seasonal highlights to ensure a memorable day out · Not suitable for: Children under 5 years · Not Included: Queenstown pickup or drop-off
How the Day From Te Anau Works
Four steps, from the pickup at your Te Anau accommodation to the walks and stops before the drive back.
Pickup in Te Anau
The listing includes pickup from all central Te Anau accommodations; pickup or drop-off in Queenstown is not included. The group is limited to 15 people with a professional nature driver-guide, and the day is not suitable for children under 5. Check the starting time when you book.
The Milford Road
About two and a half hours by van along the Milford Road to Milford Sound, by the operator's itinerary. There are no shops or fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound, so bring water, as the operator asks, along with warm clothing, rain gear and comfortable shoes.
Two Hours on the Fiord
A two-hour small-boat cruise along Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The listing says there is plenty of time to view the waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and marine wildlife along the way.
Walks and Stops, Then Back to Te Anau
After the cruise come about three and a half hours of guided walks and scenic stops in Fiordland National Park, each 5 to 30 minutes, with a packed picnic lunch. The listing names Hollyford Valley, Lake Gunn and the Marian Gantry, and says the guide tailors the day to the weather and the season.
Photo Gallery
The Te Anau Walking Day in Photos
Photos from Fiordland Trips and Tramps' own listing on the booking platform.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. The listing's terms: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Three Walking Days at Milford Sound
The guided Te Anau day with short walks, set against the two Milford Track days that include a cruise, compared from each operator's listing. Every Milford Track walk here is self-guided; none of them is the four-day Great Walk.
| Feature | OUR PICK Coach, Cruise and Walks (Fiordland Trips and Tramps) | Cruise and Track Walk by Coach (Southern Discoveries) | Nature Cruise and Milford Track Walk (Southern Discoveries) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From about $177 per person | From about $222 per person | From about $143 per person |
| Rating | 4.9 / 5 from 924 reviews | 4.9 / 5 from 18 reviews | 4.5 / 5 from 143 reviews |
| Start Point | Pickup from central Te Anau accommodations; no Queenstown pickup or drop-off | Check-in at the Fiordland DOC Visitor Centre, 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau | Milford Sound: you make your own way there and to Deepwater Basin |
| The Walking | Short walks and scenic stops of 5 to 30 minutes in Fiordland National Park; the listing names Hollyford Valley, Lake Gunn and the Marian Gantry | 11 km return on the Milford Track to Giant Gate Falls, about four hours, walked at your own pace | 11 km return on the Milford Track to Giant Gate Falls, up to 4 hours, walked at your own pace |
| Getting to the Walk | The driver-guide takes you to each stop | A pre-arranged transfer from the cruise terminal to the water taxi, then the water taxi from Deepwater Basin to the start of the track | A 10-minute boat from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point; you get yourself between the cruise terminal and Deepwater Basin |
| The Cruise | A 2-hour small-boat cruise to the Tasman Sea | A nature cruise of up to 2 hours | A cruise of up to 2 hours; walk first at 9am or cruise first at 10:30am |
| Guide | A professional nature driver-guide all day; group limited to 15 | A live guide in English on the coach; the walk is independent, with a free app | No guide; a free commentary app in eight languages on the cruise |
| Food | Packed picnic lunch included | Lunch not included; a buffet or picnic lunch can be added on the cruise | Free tea and coffee on board; a picnic lunch can be pre-ordered |
| Good to Know | Not suitable for children under 5; the guide tailors the day to the weather; free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Not suitable for wheelchair users; bring footwear for an 11 km hike, waterproofs and insect repellent; free cancellation up to 24 hours before | Basic fitness required; not suitable for people with mobility impairments or people over 80; free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Best For | The cruise and short forest walks with a guide, from a Te Anau base | A proper walk on the Milford Track and a cruise, without driving | Drivers who want the cruise and the track walk in the order they choose |
| Check Availability | See the Coach and Track Walk | See the Cruise and Track Walk |
Three Days on the Milford Track
Walk Part of the Milford Track for a Day
A cruise and track walk you drive to, the same day by coach from Te Anau, and the water taxi and walk on their own. Titles are the operators' own; prices are the booking platform's.
WALK FIRST OR CRUISE FIRSTMilford Sound: Nature Cruise & Milford Track Walk
A self-guided day at Milford Sound: a 10-minute boat from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point, an 11 km return walk on the Milford Track and a nature cruise, walking first or cruising first.
WATER TAXI AND WALK ONLYMilford Sound: Self-Guided Milford Track Day Walk
A water taxi from the Deepwater Basin boat ramp in Milford Sound to the Milford Track, then a flat, self-guided walk to Giant Gate Falls and back. No cruise, transport to Milford, food or drinks.
COACH FROM TE ANAU, 11 KM WALKFrom Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise & Track Walk by Coach
Coach from the Fiordland DOC Visitor Centre in Te Anau to Milford Sound, a nature cruise, a transfer to the water taxi at Deepwater Basin and a self-guided 11 km return walk on the Milford Track.
Walking at Milford Sound
Short Walks, a Day on the Track, or the Great Walk?
What each walking day includes, how you reach the Milford Track by water taxi, how the four-day Great Walk differs, the gear the listings ask for, the weather, and who each day suits.
Most people see Milford Sound from a boat. Walking adds the forest and the rivers. Three kinds of walking day are sold here: short walks of 5 to 30 minutes on a guided day from Te Anau, a day walk on the Milford Track to Giant Gate Falls and back, and the full Milford Track, a four-day Great Walk that none of these products is.
The walking day from Te Anau
Fiordland Trips and Tramps’ day (from $177, 4.9 from 924 reviews) picks up from central Te Anau accommodations and is limited to 15 people. Its itinerary gives about 2.5 hours by van to Milford Sound, a 2-hour small-boat cruise to the Tasman Sea, then about 3.5 hours of walks and scenic stops in Fiordland National Park before the drive back. The listing puts each walk at 5 to 30 minutes, names Hollyford Valley, Lake Gunn and the Marian Gantry, and includes a packed picnic lunch. Pickup in Queenstown is not included, and the day is not suitable for children under 5.
These are short walks, not a hike, and the guide does the driving. DOC puts Te Anau to Milford Sound and back at 240 km, about an eight-hour day with stops, short walks and a cruise, with no shops or fuel on the way. A reviewer from Japan wrote: “The spots we visited and the walks we took would have been impossible to discover without the guide, and they were all wonderful experiences.”
If you want the fiord from the water and a few walks in the forest, with someone else planning the stops, this is the day to book.
See dates for the Te Anau walking day →
If you would rather sit for most of the day, coach and cruise compares the coach days, and the cruise page the cruises on their own.
The Milford Track day walk
The Milford Track finishes at Sandfly Point on Milford Sound, and the day walks start there and go back the way the multi-day walkers come in. A water taxi crosses from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point, you walk at your own pace to Giant Gate Falls, and you take the boat back. All three day walks here are self-guided.
- Fiordland Outdoors’ self-guided day walk (from $42, 4.5 from 125 reviews, 3.5 hours) includes the boat journey and nothing else. There is no cruise, no transport to Milford Sound, and food and drinks are not included. You park on Deepwater Basin Road and walk the last 500 metres to the boat ramp; the listing says in capitals that it is not at the cruise boat terminal. It calls the walk flat and non-strenuous.
- Southern Discoveries’ nature cruise and track walk (from $143, 4.5 from 143 reviews, 7.5 hours) adds a cruise of up to 2 hours. You walk first at 9am or cruise first at 10:30am. A 10-minute boat runs from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point, and the walk is 11 km return with up to 4 hours on the track. You reach Milford Sound yourself, and the gap between the cruise terminal and Deepwater Basin is yours to cover: a reviewer from Germany parked by the water taxi and found the ship left from the terminal 2.5 km away. A picnic lunch can be pre-ordered.
- The same operator’s coach day from Te Anau (from $222, 4.9 from 18 reviews, 11 hours) adds return transfers and a pre-arranged transfer from the cruise terminal to the water taxi. You check in at the Fiordland DOC Visitor Centre, 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau. The walk is 11 km return, about four hours; lunch is not included, but a buffet or picnic lunch can be added on the cruise.
The full Milford Track is a Great Walk
The Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks: 53.5 km over four days and three nights, walked in one direction, in a season from about late October to April. DOC hut bookings for 2026/27 opened on 13 May 2026 and sell out fast. We do not sell the Great Walk, and none of the tours on this page is it. They cover a few kilometres of its last stretch, out from Sandfly Point and back, on the same day. Great Walk trampers finish at Sandfly Point, which is where the day walkers start.
Fitness, footwear and sandflies
Southern Discoveries asks for basic fitness for the 11 km return. Its coach listing asks for “suitable clothing and footwear for an 11km hike” and strongly recommends waterproof jackets, layers, sunscreen and insect repellent. Fiordland Outdoors calls its walk flat and family-friendly. Reviewers mention the sandflies. “Make sure you have plenty of insect repellent as the sandflies are bad,” wrote one from the United Kingdom.
Weather
Rain is common in Fiordland. Fiordland Trips and Tramps writes that Fiordland “can be unpredictable at any time of the year”; Southern Discoveries calls the weather in Milford “very changeable”. On the cruise and track walk, a reviewer from the United Kingdom “had to take our boots off and wade through a few big streams as it had rained a lot the previous few hours”. Cruises can be cancelled for weather: a reviewer from the United Kingdom on the Te Anau day had a cruise cancelled, and the team booked a later one. Milford Sound weather and cancellations covers what happens then.
The lineup
| Tour | From | Rating (reviews) | Length | Walking | Cruise | Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach, Cruise and Walks (Fiordland Trips and Tramps) | $177 | 4.9 (924) | 1 day | Short walks, 5 to 30 min each | Yes, 2 hours | Pickup in central Te Anau |
| Cruise and Track Walk by Coach (Southern Discoveries) | $222 | 4.9 (18) | 11 hours | 11 km return to Giant Gate Falls | Yes, up to 2 hours | DOC Visitor Centre, Te Anau |
| Nature Cruise and Milford Track Walk (Southern Discoveries) | $143 | 4.5 (143) | 7.5 hours | 11 km return, up to 4 hours | Yes, up to 2 hours | Deepwater Basin, Milford Sound |
| Self-Guided Milford Track Day Walk (Fiordland Outdoors) | $42 | 4.5 (125) | 3.5 hours | To Giant Gate Falls and back | No | Deepwater Basin boat ramp |
Prices, ratings and review counts from our October 2026 data check; operators use seasonal pricing, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Who each day suits
The Te Anau day suits a first visit from Te Anau: the cruise, a guide, short walks, no driving. The coach and track walk suits walkers who want 11 km on the Milford Track as well, still without driving. The cruise and track walk suits drivers who want to pick the order; the water taxi alone suits anyone with a cruise already booked.
Short walks, guided
Te Anau Coach, Cruise and Walks
Up to 15 people, pickup in central Te Anau, a 2-hour cruise to the Tasman Sea, short walks and a picnic lunch.
Check dates →Track walk by coach
Cruise and Track Walk From Te Anau
Coach from Te Anau, a cruise of up to 2 hours, the water taxi and 11 km return on the Milford Track.
See this tour →You drive to Milford
Nature Cruise and Milford Track Walk
Walk first at 9am or cruise first at 10:30am. The boat to Sandfly Point is included; the drive is yours.
See this tour →None of these walking days picks up in Queenstown. DOC puts Queenstown to Milford Sound and back at 600 km, 12 to 14 hours, and recommends going from Te Anau; from Queenstown or Te Anau weighs the two bases. Short of time on the ground, scenic flights and helicopter days cover the same fiord from the air.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
4.9/5
from 924 verified guests
"We had such a great day! Our guide had a fantastic sense of humour and was very knowledgeable. 100% would recommend!"
"well planned day. contingency plans for weather. knowledgeable guide. entertaining and enthusiastic"
"Our guide Roo made the trip, he was very knowledgeable and easy to listen to. Picnic lunch was tasty and fresh. Milford cruise was out of this world, you need to be at the front of the boat and go under the waterfall you have to experience it to believe it."
"Steve, oh no SORRY Geoff :D , was one of top 3 guide I had in my life. Fun, very knowledgeable and calm. He always tells you a story about what you see around you. The tour is as mentioned in the description, best tour, go for it!"
"This was a great trip. Our guide was great. We were debating doing the drive ourselves and am very glad we did not. This was definitely the way to see Milford Sound, so much better with a guide."
"Our guide Roo was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable and told us all about where we were/where we were going during the drive. The lunch provided was delicious and the team did a great job at accommodating for mine and my partners dietary requirements. The cruise we were initially booked on was unfortunately cancelled due to weather but the team managed to get us booked onto another one for later in the day and Roo did a great job keeping us entertained until then. We had such a great time and learnt so much on the drive we wouldn’t have even been upset if the second cruise got cancelled too!"
"We loved our day trip to Milford Sound! Our host Ben was so friendly and knowledgeable and gave us so much info and insight in the animals, plants, history etc. it was clear he was really passionate and dedicated to ensuring everyone was comfortable and had a great time. Loved the intimate nature of the small tour. Bus was comfortable and provided lunch was really yum! Ben also took us on a brief walk on the way back to Te Anau where we got to see some birds and beautiful moss covered trees - so special. So glad we chose this company and woyl 100% recommend."
Read all 924 verified reviews
See All ReviewsBook the Te Anau Coach, Cruise and Walks Day
A small group of up to 15 with a nature driver-guide, pickup from central Te Anau accommodation, a two-hour small-boat cruise to the Tasman Sea, short walks of 5 to 30 minutes and a packed picnic lunch, rated 4.9 by 924 guests on the booking platform. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $177 per person.
Check Availability & BookCan't Make These Dates?
Browse More Available Options
More Milford Sound tours from the booking platform. Each listing states its own cancellation terms.
Milford Sound Walks and Milford Track FAQ
The questions people type before booking a walking day at Milford Sound, answered in the first sentence. Tour details come from each operator's listing; the Great Walk and road facts from the Department of Conservation.
Not the whole track: the Great Walk is 53.5 km over four days and three nights, but you can walk a section of it in a day. The day walks sold here take a water taxi from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point, where the Great Walk finishes, and go to Giant Gate Falls and back, 11 km return by Southern Discoveries' listings. The self-guided day walk is the water taxi and the walk on their own.
None of the Milford Track days on this site walk with a guide. Fiordland Outdoors' walk is self-guided, and Southern Discoveries lists the guide as not included on its cruise and track walk. On its coach day from Te Anau a guide is on the coach, but you walk the track independently, with a free app. For a guided day with short walks, see the Te Anau coach, cruise and walks day.
By water taxi from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point, which every track walk here includes. Fiordland Outdoors meets at the Deepwater Basin boat ramp and says it is not at the cruise boat terminal. Southern Discoveries' 10-minute boat leaves from Deepwater Basin too, and its coach day from Te Anau adds a transfer from the cruise terminal to the water taxi. The coach and track walk covers every leg.
Easy terrain but a fair distance: one listing calls it flat, and Southern Discoveries gives it as 11 km return. Fiordland Outdoors calls the walk flat and non-strenuous; Southern Discoveries asks for basic fitness and allows up to 4 hours on the track. Its coach listing asks for footwear for an 11 km hike, waterproofs and insect repellent. The cruise and track walk lists who it does not suit.
Fiordland Trips and Tramps' day from Te Anau stops for short walks of 5 to 30 minutes in Fiordland National Park. The listing names Hollyford Valley, Lake Gunn and the Marian Gantry, and the guide chooses the stops for the weather and the season. DOC makes the stretch between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm a no-stopping zone. Coach and cruise compares the other coach days.
None of the walking days on this page picks up in Queenstown. Fiordland Trips and Tramps excludes Queenstown pickup, and Southern Discoveries' coach day starts in Te Anau. DOC puts Queenstown to Milford Sound and back at 600 km, 12 to 14 hours, and recommends going from Te Anau. From Queenstown or Te Anau weighs the two bases.
The Great Walk season runs from about late October to April, and DOC hut bookings for 2026/27 opened on 13 May 2026 and sell out fast. We do not sell the Great Walk. The day walks have their own calendars on the booking platform, and the weather decides the rest: Southern Discoveries calls Milford's weather very changeable. Weather and cancellations covers wet days.
Still have questions? Email us at info@milfordsoundtouroptions.com