My kayaking trip in Milford Sound is one of the most memorable experiences from my six months in New Zealand. Exploring Fiordland National Park by kayak is an entirely different experience than taking a cruise, and it’s a unique way to explore one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
In this guide, I’ve shared exactly why you should consider kayaking in Milford Sound. From getting up close and personal with wildlife to seeing the Fiord from a different perspective, a kayaking adventure is one of the best ways to see Milford.
Milford Sound is nicknamed the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, and it won’t take you long to realise why. This absolutely incredible destination is a must-visit in New Zealand’s South Island. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. I was lucky enough to visit Milford Sound several times, and it never got old.
A Milford Sound Cruise or a scenic flight are the most popular ways to explore the area, but a kayaking tour shouldn’t be missed.
If you’re considering kayaking in Milford Sound, keep reading to find out everything you need to know, and I can hopefully convince you to book that trip!
Is kayaking Milford Sound worth it?
Okay, let’s start by explaining exactly why you should kayak in Milford Sound. It’s no secret that New Zealand isn’t the cheapest destination, and I appreciate that many people will be on a budget when visiting (especially my fellow backpackers).
However, a Milford Sound kayaking tour is an experience like no other. You see the whole Fiord from an entirely different perspective, and it’s impressive to say the least.
Here are five reasons why you should consider kayaking in Milford Sound.
You can get closer to Milford Sound’s famous sights
A kayaking adventure allows you to get much closer to many of the area’s famous natural attractions.
Not to state the obvious, but a boat is much bigger than a kayak and a lot harder to control. This means there’s a limit on how close you can get to waterfalls and other places. However, that’s not the case with a kayak.
If you choose to kayak in Milford Sound, you’ll have the chance to get closer to some of the incredible natural attractions, such as the stunning Lady Bowen Falls. You’ll also be able to explore some of the smaller inlets and channels leading to the Fiord, something the boats can’t do.
Kayaks also travel much slower, so you can spend more time admiring the scenery and taking it all in.
You see Milford Sound from a different (and more impressive) perspective
One of the best things about exploring Milford Sound by kayak is seeing the fiord from an entirely different perspective. And it’s one that not many people will get to experience.
I had an incredible experience kayaking in Milford Sound. From the water, the area felt so much bigger and seemed even more impressive.
Even if you also plan to do a cruise (like me), a kayaking tour can offer you an entirely different adventure.
You can get closer to wildlife
It’s always a game of luck when it comes to wildlife in Milford Sound. However, if you choose to join a Milford Sound kayak tour, you have the opportunity to get much closer.
Common wildlife sightings in Milford Sound include New Zealand fur seals, the Fiordland Crested Penguins, bottlenose dolphins, and, if you’re very lucky, whales! Our guide told us they had seen whales on a recent trip, although we didn’t have the same luck.
However, we did see several New Zealand fur seals right by our kayaks. They came up to investigate and swam around us for several minutes. As we were in kayaks, we weren’t disturbing them too much, and they chose to follow us.
Of course, wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but you have a good chance in Milford.
For another epic wildlife destination in New Zealand, consider a trip to Kaikoura.
It’s more peaceful and away from the crowds
One of my favourite parts of the kayaking tour was how quiet it was. We were a small group, and it was so nice to be away from the usual crowds at Milford Sound.
Our tour group consisted of only eight people, and it was much more of a personal and peaceful experience than the cruise.
As a tour guide in New Zealand, I visited Milford Sound by cruise more than ten times. I loved every trip, but it sometimes felt hectic and crowded. Some boats can hold over 100 people, not to mention the heavy boat traffic around the area.
The beauty of a Milford Sound kayaking tour is you’re away from the chaos (be sure to choose a small group tour). You can explore the stunning fjord without hundreds of people all trying to get the best view.
You can spend longer on the water
There are a range of kayaking tours available that all vary in length, but you generally spend longer on the water.
If you opt for a kayak-only tour, there’s the option to be exploring Milford Sound for the entire day, much longer than the typical 90-minute cruise.
This gives you much longer to take it all in and explore. Based on my personal experience, kayaking Milford Sound feels much less rushed than the cruises.
You have the chance to slow down and enjoy the serenity of the area.
Bonus: the outfits
This is a bonus one, but the outfits are another reason to consider (or not consider) a kayaking tour.
My outfit consisted of stripy thermals, a spray skirt and a yellow fluorescent coat. Attractive, right?
I went in the autumn/winter. You won’t need to look quite as ridiculous in the summer.
How to kayak in Milford Sound
Now, onto the important stuff. How do you kayak in Milford Sound? The good news is that there are several options.
At the time of writing this post, there’s no Milford Sound Kayak hire. This means that, unless you have your kayak, you’ll need to join a tour.
The only company that offers dedicated kayaking tours is Rosco’s Milford Kayaks. However, there are also options to combine a cruise with kayaking (2025 update: this is currently unavailable, so I have removed the links).
Here’s a breakdown.
Milford Sound kayak and cruise
The most popular way to kayak in Milford Sound is to join a cruise and kayak combination tour. One of the best tours combines kayaking with a cruise and a visit to the Milford Sound underwater observatory (a cool spot that takes you below Milford’s water level to see the underwater life).
2025 Update: Sadly, this tour is currently unavailable. I’ll keep an eye out and update this post if it returns. In the meantime, discover other exciting day trips from Queenstown.
Milford Sound kayaking tours
The other option is to join a dedicated sea kayaking tour. Roscos Kayaks is the only company that offers this, and that’s exactly who I went with. They’re based at the end of Deepwater Basin Road in Milford Sound, so it’s a very convenient location. On some of their tours, they also offer pick-up from Te Anau.
The operator offers a range of tours, all varying in length, time and experience level. You can find more detailed information on their website, but here’s a quick overview of the popular options:
- Sunriser Classic Tour: This is a great option for those with no previous experience but want to spend a few hours on the water. I did this exact tour, and we spent three hours exploring the Fiord, including Lady Bowen Falls.
- Milford Cruiser: This is the best option for complete beginners. You’ll spend a little bit less time on the water, but you’ll still see many highlights of Milford Sound.
- Stirling Sunriser: This is a slightly longer paddle that starts with a water taxi to the incredible Stirling Falls. From here, you kayak back to the starting point. It’s a fantastic option to see a bit more of the Fiord. I had planned to do this tour, but the weather conditions were not in our favour.
- Milford Track Paddle and Walk: If you’re looking to cover off several of the best things to do in Milford Sound, look no further than this epic tour. You’ll kayak to Sandfly Point and then explore a small part of one of the world’s most famous walks, The Milford Track. Just be aware that this tour doesn’t take you kayaking out into the fiord.
Visit the Roscos website to book your tour or find out more information, such as the paddle difficulty.
FAQ: Milford Sound Kayak Tours
Once you’ve chosen your kayaking tour in Milford Sound, there’s little else to worry about.
The tours are guided, meaning you’ll have an experienced guide who takes you out onto the water. Safety is the guide’s top priority, so you’ll receive an in-depth safety briefing beforehand.
You’ll also be given any equipment you need and thermal and waterproof clothing. Here are a few quick FAQs. I’ve answered these based on my experience with Roscos Kayaks.
Do you need any equipment?
Roscos gave us everything we needed, even dry bags to keep our valuables dry. However, it’s worth checking the latest information on the website.
What about the weather?
Kayaking is always a weather-dependent activity. Milford Sound is one of the wettest places on earth, and visiting in the rain is actually the best time to visit. You’ll get to see the hundreds of waterfalls that appear.
Wind can often affect tours as you need calm waters to paddle, and this is what happened to us. Due to the high wind, we couldn’t kayak as far out into Milford Sound as planned, but we were still able to see many of the highlights.
Kayaking in the winter
I kayaked in Milford Sound in May, which is very much the start of the New Zealand winter. It was a cold day but so beautiful (it had snowed the day before). Roscos still offer a couple of their tours in the winter.
What should you wear?
The tour operator should let you know exactly what to wear. Even in the summer, Milford Sound can feel cold, so it’s sensible to wear warm clothing.
Should you pack anything else?
I suggest packing insect repellent. If you’ve been to New Zealand before, you’ll know how irritating those pesky sandflies can be on the West Coast.
Here are a few other things to consider.
- Extra layers: Milford Sound can be very cold and exposed. If you’re visiting in the autumn, winter, or spring, make sure you have enough layers. It’s not recommended that you wear anything with down feathers in it, as this can be a pain to dry.
- Snacks: Kayaking is hard work, so bring plenty of snacks and water. You’ll be given a dry bag to keep your snacks and belongings in (some tours include a picnic lunch, but this is worth checking).
- Spare change of clothes: Even though you’ll be given waterproof clothes, I’d suggest taking a spare pair of clothes (and shoes) with you to change into after.
- Camera or phone: Kayaking gets you up close and personal with some of the best scenery on the South Island. Make sure you capture this and take a phone or camera with you. You’ll be given a dry bag to keep your phone or camera from getting wet.
- Sun protection: If it’s a sunny day, take sun cream and sun hat with you.
How to get to Milford Sound
The best way to get to Milford Sound is to self-drive from Queenstown or Te Anau. There are some incredible stops along the way. Driving yourself allows you to pull over at every (safe) opportunity.
Roscos also provides transport from Te Anau. If you don’t have a car, you can use InterCity to get from Queenstown to Te Anau.
Can you do it solo?
At the time of writing this post, Roscos allows solo kayakers. Most of their kayaks are double kayaks, meaning you’ll be paired with another group member or the guide.
Kayaking Milford Sound prices
This activity isn’t cheap, but it’s well worth it. The cheapest tour starts at $180 NZD, including all your equipment and a guide.
Kayak vs cruise around Milford Sound
Are you torn between a cruise or kayaking in Milford Sound? Before visiting New Zealand, this was a bit of a debate for me. I was on a strict budget but didn’t want to miss out on anything.
I know this is the obvious answer, but if you can do both, do it! A kayaking tour is an entirely different experience from the cruise, and you’ll see other parts of the Fiord from a different perspective.
The boats take you all the way down to the Tasman Sea. In the kayaks, you can explore hidden inlets and get close to all the waterfalls.
Here are a few pros and cons of both to help you decide.
Pros of kayaking in Milford Sound:
✅ It’s a unique way to explore
✅ There are fewer crowds
✅ You can get closer to the natural attractions, like the waterfalls
✅ It’s a longer experience
✅ It’s very rewarding
Cons of kayaking in Milford Sound:
❌ It’s hard work
❌ It can get very cold
❌ It’s an expensive activity (although fairly priced, in my opinion)
❌ It gets tiring
Pros of a Milford Sound cruise:
✅ It’s an easy way to see Milford
✅ You can escape the cold weather
✅ It doesn’t require any physical work
✅ You explore more of the Fiord
Cons of a Milford Sound cruise:
❌ It can feel crowded
❌ There’s lots of boat traffic
❌ It’s only 90 minutes
Whether to do a boat trip or kayak in Milford Sound is a personal decision. If you’re up for an adventure and want to experience what I’ve listed above, then book the kayaking tour. You won’t regret it.
The other option could be a boat tour in Doubtful Sound and a kayak tour in Milford Sound. This way, you get to experience both. I recommend this tour for Doubtful Sound.
Whatever you decide, Milford Sound is beautiful and an absolute must on any trip to New Zealand.
