{"id":51535,"date":"2022-07-19T21:00:36","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/?p=51535"},"modified":"2022-07-19T21:00:41","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T13:00:41","slug":"new-zealand-milford-sound-cruise-tips-and-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2022\/07\/new-zealand-milford-sound-cruise-tips-and-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Milford Sound Cruise \u2013 Tips and Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Is Milford Sound worth a visit? How do I get there? Is it better to drive or join a tour? These were some of the questions we asked when planning our self-drive road trip to South Island, New Zealand.  We hope that our sharing will help you in your trip-planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Milford Sound, carved out from ancient glaciers, is adorned with towering peaks and cascading waterfalls. It is widely considered to be one of the most scenic places in the world. It\u2019s no surprise that the famous novelist and traveler, Rudyard Kipling, calls it \u201cThe 8<sup>th<\/sup> Wonder of the World\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6kqj9Q0Dksc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption><sup><strong>Highlights from our Milford Sound cruise.<\/strong><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8216;<strong>To Drive or Not to Drive\u2019<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting to Milford Sound requires advanced planning. Here\u2019s what we gleaned from the locals we spoke to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_7.jpg?resize=816%2C544&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51545\" width=\"816\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_7.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_7.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_7.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_7.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_7.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Milford Sound is considered THE wettest place in NZ!<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul type=\"1\"><li><strong>Wet. Wet. Wet.:<\/strong> Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world, averaging 186 days of rainfall in a year.&nbsp; This makes the winding roads through the hilly region wrought with risk of landslides, fallen trees and flood.&nbsp; A recent flood in February 2020 caused scores of tourists to be stranded overnight as the incessant rain caused the river to swell.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_32.jpg?resize=815%2C543&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51543\" width=\"815\" height=\"543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_32.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_32.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_32.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_32.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_32.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>The stunning beauty of Milford Sound.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Highway 94: <\/strong>State Highway 94 the only accessible route to reach Milford Sound.&nbsp; It is a 250+ km of narrow, winding highway that meanders through the hills with tunnels and single lane roads due to ongoing roadworks.&nbsp; Needless to say, driving along this winding road gets riskier when night falls. Moreover, being the only accessible route to Milford Sound means also that this road gets really busy (think locals, tourists, trucks etc.) during peak tourist season (esp. Summer). Many tourists have missed their cruise departures because they fail to anticipate the jams along this route. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-4.png?resize=821%2C544&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51611\" width=\"821\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-4.png?w=821&amp;ssl=1 821w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-4.png?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-4.png?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-4.png?resize=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-4.png?resize=750%2C497&amp;ssl=1 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Cascading waterfalls line the hilly roads to Milford Sound.<\/sup> <\/strong> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>No Signal and Internet!: <\/strong>Tourists who plan to self-drive to Milford Sound should plan for the possibility of getting stranded in this hilly region without any means of communication as data signals and WIFI tend to be weak. Road works to install new-generation fiber optic cables to Milford Sound have been delayed by the pandemic and we were told may take few more years to complete.&nbsp; Local residents and drivers hence carry satellite phones to establish essential communication, especially in adverse weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_18.jpg?resize=819%2C546&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51554\" width=\"819\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_18.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_18.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_18.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_18.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_18.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Where to Join a Milford Sound Tour?&nbsp;<\/strong> So weighing the risks, we&#8217;ve decided not to self-drive to Milford Sound but to join a \u2018<strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\">Coach and Cruise\u2019 Tour<\/a><\/strong> so that Daddy can relax and enjoy the trip too. The next decision is to decide where  from. There are 2 options: from Queenstown or from Te Anau.  The one way drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound is about 4 hours so the coaches pick up passengers in Queenstown as early as 7am. After the cruise ends at 5pm, it\u2019s another 4 hour drive back to Queenstown. This can be an extremely long day for families with young kids. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_5.jpg?resize=830%2C553&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51547\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_5.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_5.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_5.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_5.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_5.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><sup style=\"\"><b>The scenic town of Te Anau. We loved the <\/b><\/sup><strong><sup>tranquility here. <\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>To reduce the travelling time sitting inside the coach, we decided to self-drive 2 hrs from Queenstown to Te Anau, spend a night in 5-star lakefront accommodation, <strong><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.radfordsonthelake.co.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\">Radfords On The Lake, Te Anau<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> before joining the <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\">Milford Sound Tour with Southern Discoveries<\/a><\/strong>.&nbsp;  We took advantage of our stay in Te Anau to explore the Glowworm caves as well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lStmD7cHFhA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption><strong><sup>Another good reason to visit Te Anau:  The Glowworm Caves.  Watch our video highlights.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_2.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_2.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_2.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_2.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_2.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_2.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>One of the two large and luxurious rooms at Radfords on the Lake.  We really enjoyed the stay there!<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Our spacious living room at Radfords on the Lake. Clean, comfy and spacious.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_6.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_6.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_6.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_6.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_6.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Hotel-4-Radford_6.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Radfords on the Lake, Te Anau offers a beautiful lakeside view in luxurious homey comfort.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Milford Sound Coach and Cruise Tour <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Technically, Milford Sound is a fjord but it&#8217;s spectacular nonetheless (reminded us of our trip in Norway!) Our <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\">Coach and Cruise Tour<\/a><\/strong> operated by <strong>Southern Discoveries<\/strong>, was booked via <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\">Kloo<\/a><\/strong>k from the comfort of our home. We boarded a glass-roofed coach from Te Anau at 9.30am and were pleasantly surprised it came with free WiFi and USB charging ports. The coach was very clean and comfy. All of us could relax and listen to the commentary during the drive to Milford Sound Ferry Terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?resize=826%2C551&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51553\" width=\"826\" height=\"551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Bringing the kids to nature first hand is our way of teaching them to cherish nature.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s sharing some insights of the Cruise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul type=\"1\"><li><strong>Wet. Wet. Wet: <\/strong>Be prepared to get wet on the cruise. Not only are you visiting one of the wettest places on earth, the cruise actually brings us up close to at least one of the majestic waterfalls. Hence best to come prepared in water resistant jackets or with a ponchos. Having a water resistant gadget to capture videos and photos will be quite essential too.  <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Windy Windy Windy: <\/strong>One of the highlights of the cruise is to go to the open deck to take in the stunning scenery. However it is very very windy. Scarves, beanies, caps and small gadgets can be  blown off with virtually no chance of retrieval.&nbsp; Either have them securely strapped to your hands or wound safely around the neck. Consider yourself warned.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Motion?<\/strong> While waters on the fjord is generally not too choppy, the ferry resembles one from our local ferry ride to nearby Batam, and can be susceptible to some moderate waves generated by the weather.&nbsp; So for those who are sensitive to motion sickness, best to come prepared with medication.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Warm Up and Chow Down: <\/strong>The cruise does offer free coffee and tea to passengers (good!) and for a small fee, they do provide a simple picnic lunchbox which comprises of cookies, sandwich and muffin. This is helpful especially since there is no snack stops along the coach ride.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_10.jpg?resize=821%2C547&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51549\" width=\"821\" height=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_10.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_10.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_10.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_10.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_10.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Mirror Lakes is one of the photo-stops along the way to Milford Sound.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Sights and Sounds All Around:<\/strong>&nbsp; The coach ride with <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\">Southern Discoveries<\/a><\/strong> was really pleasant. It stops as some key scenic photo spots for us to stretch our legs and catch some stunning local sights.&nbsp; The glass-roofed coach gave us a slightly more immersive experience admiring the scenery whilst on the go. The driver also provided very useful commentary. Worthy experience!<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-1.png?resize=821%2C482&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51599\" width=\"821\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-1.png?resize=1024%2C603&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-1.png?resize=300%2C177&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-1.png?resize=768%2C452&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-1.png?resize=750%2C441&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-1.png?w=1086&amp;ssl=1 1086w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>We enjoyed sitting in the glass-roofed coach as it gave us an immersive experience along the way.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"827\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-2.png?resize=827%2C541&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-2.png?w=827&amp;ssl=1 827w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-2.png?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-2.png?resize=768%2C502&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-2.png?resize=750%2C491&amp;ssl=1 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><sup><strong>We passed by captivating sights and spotted local creatures along the way<\/strong>!<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dana writes: <\/strong>Have a read at what the daughter thinks about the Milford Sound Tour:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome of the most memorable spots that we stopped en-route to take the cruise were the Mirror Lake, where we took beautiful photos of the mountains\u2019 reflections in the lake and the Monkey Creek where we spotted the Kea, an endangered bird in NZ. We also drank alpine water from the creek which was absolutely refreshing.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_60.jpg?resize=825%2C550&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51550\" width=\"825\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_60.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_60.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_60.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_60.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_60.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>Moments to cherish with the kids.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_24.jpg?resize=825%2C550&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51551\" width=\"825\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_24.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_24.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_24.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_24.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_24.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><sup><strong>Milford Sound is truly breathtaking.<\/strong><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;During the cruise, I spent most of my time on the Upper Deck enjoying the fresh air and cool winds. My family members occasionally joined me to take in the view. My favourite part of the cruise was when the boat went extremely close to one of the huge waterfalls, and I got splashed, which according to a local myth, say would make us look 10 years younger! I did feel more youthful after the refreshing sprays of water! I would highly encourage you to purchase the meals as well when booking the cruise, as the journey is pretty long, and all that sightseeing made us hungry. I made a friend on the cruise, Grace who hails from Auckland. Grace suggested more places to add to my growing list of places to go to in New Zealand. Overall, the Milford Sound Cruise is definitely one that you cannot miss!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_61.jpg?resize=825%2C550&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51552\" width=\"825\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_61.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_61.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_61.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_61.jpg?resize=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_61.jpg?w=1140&amp;ssl=1 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption><strong><sup>The daughter enjoying the wind sweeping through her hair.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Milford Sound stands out as among one of the most beautiful places we have visited as a family. The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Southern Discoveries Coach and Cruise Tour<\/a><\/strong> through the towering peaks and sailing on the emerald green waters is truly a beautiful way to know New Zealand. Highly recommended! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-3.png?resize=825%2C453&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51604\" width=\"825\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-3.png?w=822&amp;ssl=1 822w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-3.png?resize=300%2C165&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-3.png?resize=768%2C421&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-3.png?resize=750%2C411&amp;ssl=1 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><figcaption><sup><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Read more reviews of th<\/strong><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>e<\/strong><\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.klook.com\/en-SG\/activity\/13663-milford-sound-day-tour-queenstown-te-anau-southern-discoveries-milford-sound\/?aid=28486\" target=\"_blank\"><strong> Milford Sound Coach and Cruise Tour Here<\/strong><\/a><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6kqj9Q0Dksc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;start=3&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption><strong><sup>Video highlights from the Milford Sound Cruise.<\/sup><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FREE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR OUR READERS!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>You may download this <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1MQ6QYTO5HTfBUynaYatHqUHnLZbZ6LlT\/edit?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=112860463767689811945&amp;rtpof=true&amp;sd=true\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>EXCEL Spreadsheet<\/strong><\/a> where I&#8217;ve included the 11D Itinerary for you to customise your NZ road trip according to your family&#8217;s travel preferences.<\/li><li>Feel free to use this interactive <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/<iframe src=&quot;https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=12pT0jIh5pmvCofEQ8k2okinGjRgsPmJY&amp;ehbc=2E312F&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;480&quot;><\/iframe>&#8221; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221;><strong> Google My Maps<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>to build your own NZ Self-Drive Trip! <\/li><li>Remember to follow our FB <strong>@Life&#8217;s Tiny Miracles<\/strong> and Instagram accounts: <strong>@lifestinymiracles <\/strong>and <strong>@doting_dad <\/strong>for more tips on travelling with kids.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/edit?mid=1CA84AABzBv7KQ9nmtrOPf6qvC0KpbOQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?resize=1024%2C483&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?resize=1024%2C483&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?resize=300%2C142&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?resize=768%2C362&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?resize=1536%2C725&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?resize=750%2C354&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Google-My-Maps-NZ-South-Island.jpg?w=1854&amp;ssl=1 1854w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Till the next trip, Kia Ora New Zealand. We shall return!<\/p>\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is Milford Sound worth a visit? How do I get there? Is it better to drive or join a tour? These were some of the questions we asked when planning our self-drive road trip to South Island, New Zealand. We hope that our sharing will help you in your trip-planning. Milford Sound, carved out from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":51553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,648],"tags":[668,665,664,649,660,662,667,666,661,663],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Day5-Milford_Sound_65.jpg?fit=1140%2C760&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p59hHF-dpd","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51535"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51535"}],"version-history":[{"count":88,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51667,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51535\/revisions\/51667"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}