New Zealand · TE ANAU TOURS

The 15 Best Te Anau Tours, from Glowworms to Milford

30 tours  ·  from $77 a head

Te Anau sits two hours closer to Milford than Queenstown does, and it has a lake full of its own reasons to stay. These 15 cover the glowworm caves, the fiord cruises that start here and the historic launches on the lake.

Te Anau: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour - Preparing at the cave entrance
Guided, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Te Anau: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

1.Te Anau: Glowworm Caves Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,611 reviews · 2h 15m · from $77Our pick

Cross Lake Te Anau by boat, then follow a guide through limestone caves carved by a fast-flowing river. After seeing underground waterfalls and sculpted passages, board a small boat in near-total darkness to view glowworms close up. The 135-minute tour includes a guide, hot drinks and a return lake cruise. Cameras are not allowed, and some bending and steps are involved.

“Wonderful experience, I'd like to do again and again ...”

Check availability →Read our full review

Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau - Through the Homer Tunnel to The Chasm
Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Day Trips, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau

2.Award Winning Milford Sound Full Day Tour & Cruise from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,198 reviews · from $185Top rated

Spend about nine and a half hours on a guided trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound, with pickup, scenic stops, morning tea and a two-hour nature cruise included. Walk at Mirror Lakes and The Chasm, and look for keas, seals, dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins. Groups are capped at 16, and guides have included Tania, Andy and Gary.

“Great tour to do for the day! We liked going in a smaller group. We stopped at lots of beautiful places on the way there. Our guide considered the weather so we would have the best views and experience. We got to Milford Sound before the Queenstown day trippers did so it was nice and quiet. We were one of the first boats on the water. The cruise is wonderful, getting up close with beautiful views and some nice commentary and info. Would highly recommend this tour from Te Anau”

Check availability →Read our full review

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour - The punt and the glow worm grotto
Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

3.Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 960 reviews · from $80

From RealNZ’s Te Anau office, cruise across Lake Te Anau to Cavern House, hear how glow worms live, then follow a footpath beside an underground river and ride a small punt into the dark grotto. Guides such as Anne, Emmy and Josh have been praised for clear, friendly explanations. Expect low cave sections and occasional drips.

“Tour to glowworm caves starting in Te Anau. You first sail over the lake with beautiful views followed by a app. 30 minutes - 1 hour tour through the caves. The cave tour is amazing and you are guaranteed to see plenty of glowworms. Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise - Short walks and photo stops make the drive count
Milford Sound Tours, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise

4.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 868 reviews · 8 hours · from $110

From central Te Anau, ride a coach through Fiordland National Park with photo stops and short walks, then cruise the full length of Piopiotahi/Milford Sound. Your day includes live commentary and a picnic lunch. Guides such as Sebastian, Scarlet and Robyn have led recent trips, though your guide will depend on the departure.

“well organized, nice bus and boat. affordable way to experience this magnificent place. there were at least two buses of 50-60 people that met up with boat. so there are a lot of people but it's a very large boat. bagged lunch provided with chicken pie. free hot drinks. overall good value. I got on at Te Anau. queenstown is an extra 4-5 hours on bus!!! I suggest spending a night or two in Te Anau, nice little town.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks - The Milford Road is part of the attraction
Milford Sound Tours, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks

5.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 845 reviews · 1 day · from $164

Travel from Te Anau in a small group of up to 15, stopping for short walks and views on the way to Milford Sound. A local nature guide leads the day, which includes a two-hour small-boat cruise toward the Tasman Sea and a packed lunch. Guides have included Ross, Olivia, Geoff, and Jeff; the exact guide varies.

“The day was amazing!! I loved that it was a small group and the tour guide, Jeff, was sooo knowledgeable about everything. He knew the stories of the land and the people, about the animals and all of the history. Anything you wanted to know, he knew it, he was an amazing tour guide. We stopped over in all different places which was so cool and you could tell he really cared. We saw the prettiest views and the coolest wildlife. Would definitely do this tour again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip - Three stops break up the drive
Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Day Trips, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

6.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 717 reviews · 7h 30m · from $136

From Te Anau, RealNZ pairs a glass-roof coach ride with photo stops at Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes and Monkey Creek, followed by a two-hour Milford Sound cruise. An English-speaking guide provides live commentary. Food is not included, but you can bring lunch or buy hot and cold options aboard.

“Our guide was excellent and very informative.. Heaps of fun.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau - Homer Tunnel and the Approach to Milford Sound
Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Day Trips, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau

7.Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 712 reviews · from $192

From Te Anau, ride a small-group minivan along Milford Road with a local guide, stopping for short walks and views before a two-hour cruise toward the Tasman Sea. Guides such as Jacob, Helen, Geoff, and Hari share local stories and nature notes. Hotel pickup and a picnic lunch are included; the tour lasts about nine hours.

“Fantastic Milford Sound tour! We can’t recommend this tour enough. We had a fantastic day with our guide, Jeff. He was super knowledgable about the area and had a great sense of humour. He really made this day memorable!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Jet Boat Journey through Fiordland National Park - Pure Wilderness - A short forest walk in Fiordland National Park
National Parks, Queenstown Jet Boat Rides, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

Jet Boat Journey through Fiordland National Park – Pure Wilderness

8.Jet Boat Journey through Fiordland National Park – Pure Wilderness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 678 reviews · from $127

From Te Anau, take a two-hour jet boat trip along the Upper Waiau River to Lake Manapouri. Expect high-speed turns and 360-degree spins, pauses for local stories and Lord of the Rings filming locations, and a short guided walk in Fiordland National Park. Spray coats and life jackets are supplied, with warm gear available when needed.

“Alex was awesome. Such a good time and informative. We really enjoyed the trip and it was well worth it :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound: Small-Group Tour from Te Anau - Morning tea and lunch keep the day moving
Milford Sound Tours, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Milford Sound: Small-Group Tour from Te Anau

9.Milford Sound: Small-Group Tour from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 561 reviews · 9h 30m · from $178

Spend 9.5 hours travelling from Te Anau through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. A small coach, guides such as Stephen, Tania and Sacha, forest and waterfall stops, home-baked morning tea, a packed lunch and a nature cruise make this an easy way to see the road as well as the fiord.

“Incredible scenery, yummy snack and lunch, entertaining guide. Small group.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri - Over Wilmot Pass by coach
Doubtful Sound Cruises, National Parks, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

10.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 490 reviews · from $216

From Manapouri, travel across Lake Manapouri, cross Wilmot Pass by coach and cruise Doubtful Sound with naturalist commentary. Look for fur seals, dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins, though sightings are not guaranteed. The day lasts about seven hours, and food and drinks can be bought on board.

“Long commute (did not know it would take 2 hours to get there) Good views and explanations Good bathroom breaks Very windy and wet Should have brought raincoats Saw lots of waterfalls Saw seals Did not see penguins and dolphins Quite expensive”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Te Anau: Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise - Wilmot Pass and the road to Deep Cove
Doubtful Sound Cruises, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

From Te Anau: Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise

11.From Te Anau: Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 335 reviews · 8h 30m · from $223

From Te Anau, travel by coach to Manapouri, cross Lake Manapouri by boat, then ride over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove. A nature guide joins the three-hour Doubtful Sound cruise, where you may spot seals, dolphins and penguins. Bring lunch and wet-weather layers; snacks and drinks are available on board.

“Had a fantastic day up Doubtful Sound. The bus drivers were fantastic and boat commentary amazing. So so beautiful and well worth the trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau - Wilmot Pass and the road to Deep Cove
Doubtful Sound Cruises, National Parks, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

12.Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 286 reviews · from $231

From Te Anau, travel by coach to Lake Manapouri, cross the lake by catamaran, then ride over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove. Aboard a roomy catamaran, cruise Doubtful Sound for about 2 hours 45 minutes, with live commentary and chances to spot seals, dolphins and Fiordland penguins. Transfers and cruises are included; food and drinks are not.

“What started as a rainy day turned in to a great waterfall presentation. The rain and clouds cleared and there were hundreds of waterfalls everywhere. Many of them lasting only a day or 2 after the rain. Great viewing, long day. Multiple transfers between busses and boats got tiresome.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Milford Sound Full Day Tour from Te Anau with Cruise - Eglinton Valley and Lake Gunn: changing scenery without a long hike
Milford Sound Tours, Queenstown Day Trips, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Milford Sound Full Day Tour from Te Anau with Cruise

13.Milford Sound Full Day Tour from Te Anau with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 270 reviews · from $210

This nine-hour tour pairs the Milford Road’s lakes, rainforest and mountain views with a Milford Sound cruise. A small group of up to 14 travels with a guide, stopping at places such as Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn and Monkey Creek. Guides have included Nicky, Murray and Andres. Expect a full day on the road, with an optional walk to Marian Falls.

“Fantastic tour with a small company who made every bit of the journey thoroughly enjoyable. Luxurious vehicle. Fantastic tour guide who was very well informed about the area. Lots of interesting stops along the way. And then Milford Sound beautiful as expected.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise - Cruising Doubtful Sound aboard the Wanderer
Doubtful Sound Cruises, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

14.Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 254 reviews · from $464

Start in Manapouri at 12:30 pm, cross Lake Manapouri, then ride a coach over Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. A specialist nature guide leads the cruise aboard the Wanderer, with time at anchor for kayaking and other activities. Dinner, breakfast and a cabin are included. Wildlife may include dolphins, fur seals and penguins.

“A great experience. Every visitor to New Zealand should experience this. Great trip, most enjoyable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Premium Bus Tour and Cruise - Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lakes: short stops, big views
Milford Sound Tours, Te Anau Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Premium Bus Tour and Cruise

15.From Te Anau: Milford Sound Premium Bus Tour and Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 226 reviews · 7h 30m · from $140

Spend about 7.5 hours travelling from Te Anau to Milford Sound by premium glass-roof coach, with commentary and photo stops, then cruise the fiord for two hours. Guides on past departures have included Stan, Keith, and Junior. Lunch is optional, and your own headphones are needed for the multilingual app.

“Great day with Keith. He managed our time and stopped 4-5 times along our journey and gave us time for photos. Milford Sound was beautiful. Weather was great. While we rented a car, it was great to have a day where we were shuttled around so we could just enjoy the scenery. Anyone at any age or fitness level would enjoy this trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Te Anau Tours

★ 5.0Te Anau to Dunedin via the Catlins & Invercargill 1 Way TourFrom $1735 reviews
★ 4.8Te Anau: 30-Minute Fiordland National Park Scenic FlightFrom $23041 reviews
★ 5.0Queenstown to Te Anau via Milford Sound inc Cruise & LunchFrom $2084 reviews
★ 4.8From Te Anau: Milford Sound Small-Group Tour Including LunchFrom $17886 reviews
★ 5.0From Te Anau: Full Day Kepler Track Guided Heli-HikeFrom $4578 reviews
★ 5.0Guided Private Milford Sound Day Tour from Te Anau(Cruise InFrom $2099 reviews
★ 4.5From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise & Scenic Coach TourFrom $12864 reviews
★ 5.0Scenic Cruise & Guided walk on Historic Motor Yacht Lake Te AnauFrom $10276 reviews
★ 4.9Evening Champagne Cruise on Historic 1935 Motor Yacht.From $8648 reviews

Keep browsing

Milford Sound ToursDoubtful Sound CruisesQueenstown Scenic FlightsQueenstown Day TripsMount Cook Day Trips
Scroll to Top

Explore Queenstown

Pick a river, a peak, a cellar door or a fiord.

On the water

Lake CruisesJet BoatsMilford CruisesDoubtful SoundRafting

In the air

Scenic FlightsHelicoptersGlacier LandingsParaglidingBungy

Food and wine

Wine ToursGin & BeerFood ToursFarm Visits

Trail and track

Guided WalksBike Tours4WD & QuadsHorse TreksSki Days