Plan a Luxury Getaway to Milford Sound
A UNESCO World Heritage Area, some of the most remote wilderness in New Zealand, and landscapes that have taken 400 million years to form: Milford Sound deserves to be made the most of. Its pristine rainforests, glacier-carved valleys and mountain peaks are reasons alone for many to travel to the isolated islands of New Zealand. But even in the most secluded of places, you can find a little luxury. All-inclusive guided hikes, stunning scenic flights, luxury cruises and fine cuisine can be found in Milford Sound. With all of that in mind, start planning an extraordinary trip to the “Eighth Wonder of the World” with this luxury travel guide to Milford Sound.
Luxury Tours in Milford Sound
- Experience a luxury multi-day cruise with Fiordland Discovery
- Enjoy a guided tour of the Milford Road, a cruise in Milford Sound and short hikes along the way with Trips & Tramps (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Take a scenic flight over the fiord with Milford Sound Helicopters (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
- Challenge yourself to the iconic Milford Track
- See black coral on a scuba diving trip.
For more details on each experience, see the 5 Best Luxury Experiences in Milford Sound.

Luxury Adventure Activities
Experience some of the most pristine wilderness landscapes in the world with the help of expert guides, lavish helicopters and gorgeous fiord cruises.
All-Inclusive Hiking and Cruise Tours
One of the adventures you could be experiencing include hiking and sightseeing tours on the Milford Road. Join Trips & Tramps (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) for one of their small-group or private tours with a local guide who shares Maori legends, history and fascinating facts about Fiordland’s unique flora and fauna. On this unique tour to Milford Sound, you’ll see the highlights beyond what the average tourist sees, with opportunities to do hikes that are not featured on the common Milford Road tour. What’s more, a small-ship cruise of Milford Sound is included. See how this tour compares with the 10 Best Milford Sound Tours from Queenstown & Te Anau.
Guided Hikes on the Milford Track
If a longer excursion is more of what you’re after, take on the world-class multi-day hike of the Milford Track. Ultimate Hikes is the way to go for a luxury experience of this iconic New Zealand Great Walk, offering all-inclusive guided walks through the heart of the Fiordland National Park. Stay in private lodges along the track and in Milford Sound, exclusively for Ultimate Hikes’ guests, and dine on contemporary New Zealand cuisine.
Alternatively, if you don’t have five days to spare for the full Milford Track, Trips & Tramps (see Viator and Tripadvisor for more info) offers one-day guided experiences of the famous trail including a boat ride across Lake Te Anau taking you to see waterfalls, mountains and lakes along the first section of the trail.
Scenic Helicopter Flights
For a less strenuous way to experience the astonishing glacier-carved scenery of the New Zealand fiords, scenic flights are a truly special activity in Milford Sound. If you have made your own way to Milford Sound, Milford Sound Helicopters (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) will take you up to the skies alongside the highest peak in Milford Sound, Mitre Peak, as well as Sutherland Falls and the Tutuko Glacier on their longer flights.
Alternatively, there’s a wide array of scenic flights to Milford Sound from Te Anau, Queenstown, Wanaka and Haast. Find out more about your options in the 5 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown and the 7 Luxury Activities in Haast.
For more luxury activities in Milford Sound, like scuba diving among the black coral, check out the 5 Best Luxury Experiences in Milford Sound.

Luxury All-Weather Activities
We’ve only just scratched the surface about the iconic cruises that Milford Sound is famous for. Indeed, you have many options for cruising the waters of this majestic fiord with dolphin and seal sightings, dipping under waterfalls and much more. We also argue that cruises are something to enjoy whatever the weather, as Milford Sound undertakes a dramatic transformation under the rain with mountains streaming with temporary waterfalls. Compare cruises in the 6 Best Cruises in Milford Sound.
Luxury Milford Sound Cruise
Alternatively, experience Milford Sound in absolute luxury with Fiordland Discovery. Their multi-day cruises is a small-group experience where you’ll stay on the lavish Fiordland Jewel with its climate-controlled ensuite cabins. Your stay includes various multi-day cruises of Milford Sound and/or some of the other fiords of the Fiordland National Park, as well as three-course dinners and continental and cooked breakfasts, kayaking and tender boat trips. You can also soak in the topdeck outdoor spa pool. The boat also has a helicopter landing pad, giving you options for cruise and flight combos.

Fine Dining in Milford Sound
Even in the remote reaches of the Fiordland National Park, you’ll find barista coffee, New Zealand wines and fine-dining plates. Just expect more people to be in their hiking gear than in their best dress…
Anyone seeking gastronomical comforts can call in at the Pio Pio Cafe of the Milford Sound Lodge. With seasonal menus, the cafe serves up New Zealand and Fiordland cuisine, such as Fiordland venison, New Zealand-farmed salmon and even superfood salads.
As mentioned in the above sections, Ultimate Hikes and Fiordland Discovery offer their own fine dining experiences as part of their tours. Ultimate Hikes‘ lodges boast gorgeously-presented plates of contemporary New Zealand cuisine, found along the Milford Track. Fiordland Discovery offers three-course fine dining on their multi-day cruises.
Luxury Accommodation in Milford Sound
- Fiordland Discovery
- RealNZ Overnight Cruise
- Milford Sound Lodge
As there are very limited luxury accommodations in Milford Sound, check out the 10 Best Accommodations in Milford Sound for more options.
More About Luxury in Milford Sound
That’s it for the luxury travel guide to Milford Sound. For more Milford experiences that don’t necessarily fall under the “luxury” category but are still amazing to do, check out the following guides:
- 20 Milford Sound Must-Dos
- 11 Milford Sound Walks You Can’t Miss
- The Complete Travel Guide to Milford Sound
Finally, find even more tips to make your luxury getaway exceptional in The Luxury Travel Guide to New Zealand.

Author
Laura S.
This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.