New Zealand: Milford Sound Bbq Bus {Deetour}

When my friends Drew, Kes and I planned a trip to South New Zealand, our research told us that Milford Sound is one of the must visits while there. So we booked a Full-Day Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park Tour including Milford Sound Cruise and BBQ Lunch from Queenstown which had very high ratings on Trip Advisor.

Cruising Milford Sound is among New Zealand’s most spectacular activities, but the mountain scenery that lines the coast is just as gorgeous. Experience both on this full-day trip from Queenstown, traveling through the heart of Fiordland National Park, and then cruising all the way to the edge of the Tasman Sea. An included Kiwi-style barbecue lunch completes the excursion, which includes plenty of sightseeing stops throughout the day.

– Milford Sound Bbq Bus Description

Fiordland National Park Scenery

I have to say that the stops along the way are just as beautiful, if not even more, than Milford Sound itself. And since we were on a small bus, we had plenty more time for our photography stops, plus there were fewer people to contend with.

Aside from that, it was great to have a small coach bus which felt more comfortable and personal compared to a giant tour bus. Our tour guide was also knowledgeable and engaging and even let us watch a hilarious film shot in New Zealand called Hunt for the Wilderpeople which I later found out was directed by Taika Waititi, the same guy who directed Thor: Ragnarok.

Milford Sound Cruise

We arrived at Milford Sound after an hour and 45 minutes, where we then boarded a small boat so we could go on a cruise. The boat had huge glass windows so you could have a view of Milford Sound even from inside, in case it’s cold or raining.

However we were lucky that it was a sunny day when we went on our tour (it rains 230 days a year in the area), so of course we didn’t stay cooped up indoors and stepped out to breathe the fresh crisp air and admire the gorgeous turquoise waters, mountains teeming with green rainforests, and sparkling waterfalls which plummet down its sides. Fun fact: Milford Sound, despite its name, is not actually a sound but a fiord.

Meanwhile, our bus driver and tour guide took out his bbq equipment and supplies to cook us up lunch inside the boat. When he was done, he served us lamb-and-chicken kebabs, sausages, salads, fresh bread, and juice and they were all quite tasty.

Te Anau Stopover

The tour was very relaxing and scenic and I almost didn’t want it to end, but of course it had to, so we got back on our bus to Queenstown. On the way, we passed by a Te Anau cafe which had some very adorable alpacas in the yard.

I highly recommend this tour if you’re planning to visit South New Zealand not only because of the beautiful sights, good food, but also the comfort of a small coach bus.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND ENTRIES
🇦🇺 Australia: Bridge Climb * Canberra * Hunter Valley * Melbourne * Sydney 
🇳🇿 New Zealand: Glenorchy * Hobbiton * Milford Sound * Queenstown

See all: Australia & New Zealand Tours