Southern Discoveries / Milford...

Southern Discoveries / Milford Sound Red Boats

Small Boat Encounter Nature Cruises

74 Rankers Reviews

69 Face-to-Face

16 Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park

Maps

Photos

Encounter getting close to the local seals!
Our guide showing visitors local artefacts.
Encounter getting soaked by the waterfall!
Encounter from the helicopter by Sinbad Gully

Information

Southern Discoveries / Milford Sound Red Boats

The popular Encounter small boat nature cruise gets you up close and personal to the flora, fauna and wildlife of Milford Sound.

With small numbers onboard, our specialist nature guides love nothing more than showing you the very best of this incredible ecologival haven.

Encounter magnificent sights in detail for 2hr 15mins - catch and drink pure glacial water or feel the power of Stirling Falls.

Delivering you the entire Milford Sound.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Southern Discoveries

Commercial organisation

Location

South IslandFiordlandMilford Sound - Fiordland National Park

Categories

  • Activity__boat_cruisesBoat Cruises

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.6703925269124

167.928042411804

Latitude
-44.6703925269124
Longitude
167.928042411804

Reviews

    • Great tour with children and in a small boat.
    • Beautiful nature - but the price was a bit high.
    • Coffee included in the ticket price!
    • Perfect!!!
    • Small boat, good comments, free coffee and tea.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 21
    28%
    9/10 28
    38%
    8/10 10
    14%
    7/10 14
    19%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 1
    1%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 4.5/5

    Very well organised tour with lots of great history and stops along the way!

    We also did the underwater centre which was interesting but not unmissable. Comfortable boat with rain jackets on board for those daring to go under the waterfalls!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    AUSTRALIA
    Alice Ormandy's avatar

    Alice Ormandy

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Milford Sound is a very peaceful place!

    Amazing!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    FRANCE
    Manu Liberta's avatar

    Manu Liberta

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Three hour cruise on a rainy day - like almost every day on Milford Sound.

    Took the early boat, just 8 other people with us. Great experience! Loved all the falls and the landscape. Great guide at Milford Discovery Centre who explained a lot of interesting things.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

    GERMANY
    Sarah's avatar

    Sarah

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The weather was typical, grey and raining but the Lady Bowen took us along the myriad of waterfalls.

    The kayaking afterwards was actually the best part, gently cruising along the lakes edge for 1.5 hours, where we were lucky to see a Tawahi Penguin - very cool!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    Bram Hoonhout's avatar

    Bram Hoonhout

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Great views of Milford Sound even though it was pouring with rain and foggy!!

    However the boat was a little overcrowded.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    C Clarke's avatar

    C Clarke

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Saw the Milford Sound from a boat, got a free lunch.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016

    LITHUANIA
    Robertoi's avatar

    Robertoi

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very good company, if you take the first boat in the morning there is a very good breakfast included.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    FRANCE
    Charly's avatar

    Charly

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Well worth the money.

    We did the nature cruise and were given a good, knowledgeable guide that explained the geology and flora of the area. Views were magnificent.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    CANADA
    Clare Holden's avatar

    Clare Holden

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    This cruise did not disappoint.

    Make sure you get the rain coat before you go outside so you do not lose your place!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Liam King's avatar

    Liam King

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    They go where everyone goes.

    Reviewed over 15 years ago and experienced in March 2009

    GERMANY
    JanW's avatar

    JanW

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Great views of Milford Sound even though it was pouring with rain and foggy!!

    However the boat was a little overcrowded.

    Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    C Clarke's avatar

    C Clarke

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very well organised tour with lots of great history and stops along the way!

    We also did the underwater centre which was interesting but not unmissable. Comfortable boat with rain jackets on board for those daring to go under the waterfalls!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    AUSTRALIA
    Alice Ormandy's avatar

    Alice Ormandy

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Milford Sound is a very peaceful place!

    Amazing!

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

    FRANCE
    Manu Liberta's avatar

    Manu Liberta

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Saw the Milford Sound from a boat, got a free lunch.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016

    LITHUANIA
    Robertoi's avatar

    Robertoi

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Three hour cruise on a rainy day - like almost every day on Milford Sound.

    Took the early boat, just 8 other people with us. Great experience! Loved all the falls and the landscape. Great guide at Milford Discovery Centre who explained a lot of interesting things.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016

    GERMANY
    Sarah's avatar

    Sarah

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The weather was typical, grey and raining but the Lady Bowen took us along the myriad of waterfalls.

    The kayaking afterwards was actually the best part, gently cruising along the lakes edge for 1.5 hours, where we were lucky to see a Tawahi Penguin - very cool!

    Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in November 2016

    NETHERLANDS
    Bram Hoonhout's avatar

    Bram Hoonhout

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    This cruise did not disappoint.

    Make sure you get the rain coat before you go outside so you do not lose your place!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Liam King's avatar

    Liam King

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very good company, if you take the first boat in the morning there is a very good breakfast included.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    FRANCE
    Charly's avatar

    Charly

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Well worth the money.

    We did the nature cruise and were given a good, knowledgeable guide that explained the geology and flora of the area. Views were magnificent.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

    CANADA
    Clare Holden's avatar

    Clare Holden

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Great tour with children and in a small boat.

    Very suitable for kids (also very small ones).

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    AUSTRIA
    Lisa's avatar

    Lisa

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Excellent and overwhelming.

    We had the luck of sunny weather and not a single cloud. The Underwater Observatory is just nice, not necessary to see.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Oliver Schatz's avatar

    Oliver Schatz

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very reasonable prices and absolutely amazing tour - favourite part of the trip for sure!

    also excellent lunch, the only downside was the fish feeding system wasn't working at the nature centre.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Nick Young's avatar

    Nick Young

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    You can see the waterfalls, from very close, they drive under them.

    Some really cool moments on the trip - too expensive for just a few 'nice' waterfalls.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    GERMANY
    Josephine's avatar

    Josephine

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Discover More cruise, $99 per person, duration for three hours.

    Visit the Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory and lunch. Very friendly staff, great and informative moderation, we got pretty wet when diving in the waterfall.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in February 2015

    GERMANY
    Markus Delinsky's avatar

    Markus Delinsky

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Very good company, friendly and professional.

    Cheaper ($59 each) and we had a perfect breakfast included. We saw a lot of wildlife (dolphins, penguins, seals....)

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in November 2014

    FRANCE
    Hubert's avatar

    Hubert

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    It has been a great cruise, but too expensive, because there are other companies like Jucy Cruise which are way cheaper.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in April 2014

    GERMANY
    Anja Weppler's avatar

    Anja Weppler

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very good even though the weather was not very clear - good guide.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Simon Galpin's avatar

    Simon Galpin

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Milford Sound boat trip.

    We have never seen such wonderful nature, we could get in contact with a lot of unknown things.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Dolphins, seals and penquin cruise, Only one penquin but very pleasant welcome.

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in January 2013

    FRANCE
    Jeanne Moustier's avatar

    Jeanne Moustier

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice trip and well guided with enough information.

    Reviewed over 11 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Kletter's avatar

    Kletter

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Perfect!!!

    Well organised, nice skipper and bus driver. It is worth the money!!

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Last tour of the day, low numbers of people, staff were great.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    NETHERLANDS
    Lydia Holleman's avatar

    Lydia Holleman

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Ordered through Top10 camping in Te Anau.

    Fantastic driver/guide, small group, good service. Very good lunch.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    DENMARK
    John's avatar

    John

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Recommend the small boat because less people and easy to move around.

    Great seeing Milford Sound from the water.

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Kali Lohman's avatar

    Kali Lohman

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Modern boat, good facilities, free tea/coffee and and excellent day!

    Reviewed almost 12 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Jon Barratt's avatar

    Jon Barratt

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Despite cloudy weather in spring this is still a highlight.

    Large amounts of roar made the waterfalls more wonderful, more dramatic and many tiny ones seeped down like veins on the cliffs. Very atmospheric, plenty of wildlife and good commentary.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Nikki Bentley's avatar

    Nikki Bentley

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Beautiful nature - but the price was a bit high.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    DENMARK
    Signe Kaspersen's avatar

    Signe Kaspersen

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Excellent breakfast cruise around Milford Sound - do not forget to add on the trip to the Underwater Observatory, it is well worth it.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    Jill Homewood's avatar

    Jill Homewood

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Had a good time, nothing negative to report.

    Make sure you fill up your tank in Te Anau!! Nature Cruise was fantastic - very good value for money.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Simon Rawlinson's avatar

    Simon Rawlinson

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Most interesting.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Stuart Arrol's avatar

    Stuart Arrol

    Customer