Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Descend Scubadiving
DIVING
( 0800 337 2363;
www.divemilfordsound.co.nz
;
ex Te Anau/Milford $349/299)
Offering a
chance to see marine life unique to the Fiordland marine reserve (including a multitude
of corals), Descend runs day trips with four hours' cruising on Milford Sound (7m alloy
cat), with two dives along the way. Transport, equipment, lunch, hot drinks and snack
supplied.
Tours
A cruise on Milford Sound is Fiordland's most accessible experience, as evident from the
slew of cruise companies located in the flash
cruise terminal
( 8am-5.15pm Oct-Apr,
9am-4.15pm May-Sep)
, a 10-minute walk from the cafe and car park.
Each cruise company claims to be quieter, smaller, bigger, cheaper, or in some way
preferable to the rest. What really makes a difference is the timing of the cruise. Most
bus tours aim for 1pm sailings so if you avoid that time of day there'll be less people on
the boat (and on the road). With some companies you get a better price on cruises outside
rush hour, too.
If you're particularly keen on wildlife, ask whether there'll be a nature guide on board.
It's wise to book ahead regardless. You generally need to arrive 20 minutes before depar-
ture. Most companies offer coach transfers from Te Anau for an additional cost. Day
trips from Queenstown make for a very long 13-hour day.
All the cruises visit the mouth of the sound, just 15km from the wharf, poking their
prow into the choppy waves of the Tasman Sea. The shorter cruises visit less of the en
route 'highlights', which include Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak, Anita Bay and Stirling Falls.
Only visitable on boat trips run by Milford Sound Cruises and Mitre Peak Cruises,
Mil-
ford Discovery Centre
(adult/child $36/18; 9am-3.45pm)
is a five-storey, largely sub-
merged Deep Underwater Observatory offering a chance to view deep-water corals, tube
anemones and bottom-dwelling sea perch.
Real Journeys
BOAT TOUR
( 0800 656 501, 03-249 7416;
www.realjourneys.co.nz
;
adult/child from $70/22)
Milford's
biggest operator runs various trips including the popular 1¾-hour scenic cruise (adult
$70 to $93, child $22). The nature cruise (2½ hours, adult $85 to $95, child $22) hones in
on wildlife with a specialist nature guide providing commentary. Overnight cruises are
also available, on which you can kayak and take nature tours in tender crafts en route.
Such trips depart from the Milford terminal around 4.30pm and return around 9.30am the
following day. The
Milford Wanderer,
modelled on an old trading scow, accommodates
