Discover Milford Sound with Mitre Peak Cruises for an unforgettable New Zealand experience. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth Wonder of the World – and more recently voted the number one spot in the “101 must-do’s for Kiwis”* – Milford Sound’s deep icy waters, sheer rock faces, glacial hanging valleys, thick native forest and local wildlifeare best seen by boat.
Mitre Peak Cruises offers competitively priced tours to the most un-spoilt parts of this World Heritage area, running a regular daily schedule throughout the year.
Mitre Peak Cruises offers regular two-hour trips traversing the deep waters of Milford Sound. The only cruise option that always goes past St Anne’s lighthouse, and out into the Tasman Sea, a Mitre Peak Cruise gives our passengers a chance to enter Milford Sound from the outside, approaching it just as the first sealers did at the end of the 18th century.
Our informative guides point out scenic highlights along the way, such as the Bowen Falls (dropping 160 metres seaward), Sinbad Gully (a classic example of a hanging valley), snow-capped Mount Pembroke, and the awe-inspiring Mitre Peak itself, towering 1692 metres from the ocean floor.
Having smaller launches (approximately 20 metres) allows Mitre Peak Cruises to navigate closer to the shoreline, getting our passengers up close to the incredible surroundings. Purpose-built for Milford waters, the boats make great viewing platforms should we encounter the local fur seal colonies – once nearly hunted to extinction – the rare Fiordland crested penguins or pods of dusky dolphins.
With more rainfall than any other part of New Zealand, Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound provide spectacular scenery whatever the weather.
Milford Sound is located at the northern most end of Fiordland National Park on the South Island of New Zealand.
Cruise Overview
• Two boats (approx 20 metres) both purpose-built for Milford waters
• Strictly limited passenger numbers
• Cruise lasts two hours
• Free tea, coffee and hot chocolate on board
• Suitable for all ages
• Knowledgeable guides and informative commentary
• Free for children under 5
• Smaller boats makes for a more ‘up close’ tour
• Cruises start/end at Milford Sound visitor terminal
Observatory:
A visit to the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory allows visitors to descend 10.4 metres below the Sound’s surface to witness the vibrant underwater life first hand.
The fully air-conditioned viewing room provides a unique opportunity to view the real life environment below the surface of the fiord – so different from the artificial environment of an aquarium. Rare black and red corals can be seen as well as anemones, sponges, sea stars, horse mussels and a multitude of fish.
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