Free cookie consent management tool by TermsFeed Free Privacy Policy Generator List of cruise ships in Milford Sound - up-to-date port information and excursion tips for cruise ship fans.

Milford Sound
in New Zealand

Home Ports New Zealand Milford Sound
New Zealand

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a stunning fiord located on the South Island of New Zealand. It is located in the Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Site, and is the most visited and most iconic destination in the area. The fiord is surrounded by steep cliffs, lush rainforest, and glacial peaks, making it one of the most dramatic and breathtaking natural sights in the world.

The fiord is 15 kilometres long and up to 1,200 metres deep, with the highest peak being Mitre Peak at 1,692 metres. It is home to a variety of wildlife including fur seals, penguins, dolphins, and whales. Milford Sound is also home to the world's only permanent underwater observatory, giving visitors a unique view of the marine life beneath the surface.

The fiord was first sighted by Europeans in 1812 during the voyage of the whaling ship the Dove. It was named Milford Haven by Captain John Grono, after his hometown in Wales. In 1888, the fiord was visited by the German explorer and scientist, Baron von Mueller, who named it Milford Sound.

The area has a rich Maori history, with the local Maori people having inhabited the area for hundreds of years. The Maori name for the fiord is Piopiotahi, which means ‘one single piopio bird’, referring to the now extinct native bird that was once found in the area.

Today, Milford Sound is a popular tourist destination and a popular spot for kayaking, sailing, and diving. It is also a popular place for cruise ships, with many people taking a tour of the fiord and its many attractions. Milford Sound is a truly spectacular and awe-inspiring place, and a must-see for any visitor to New Zealand.

Excursion tips for a day in Milford Sound

As a tourist in Milford Sound, New Zealand, there are plenty of activities to enjoy in a day:
1. Take a scenic boat cruise and explore the natural beauty of the fjords.
2. Go kayaking and paddle through the sheltered waters of the Sound.
3. Hike one of the many trails in the area, such as the Milford Track or the Routeburn Track.
4. Visit the Milford Discovery Centre and learn about the area’s history, geology, and wildlife.
5. Take a scenic flight and see the spectacular views of the fjords from the air.
6. Go fishing and try your luck at catching some of the local fish.
7. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach and take in the stunning views.
8. Go stargazing and marvel at the night sky.
9. Take a guided tour of the area and learn about the local culture and history.
10. Relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Sound.

 

to business owners in Milford Sound

Experience Milford Sound with unforgettable activities by our partner GetYourGuide. The offer is also ideal as a special gift idea for family and friends who are planning to visit Milford Sound. Cancellations are possible up to 24h before the start of the activity (unless otherwise stated in the activity description), with a full refund of the booking price.

The climate in Milford Sound

Milford Sound in New Zealand experiences a temperate maritime climate, with moderate temperatures and high levels of rainfall throughout the year. In summer (December-February), temperatures range between 10-25°C and rainfall is usually light. In autumn (March-May), temperatures range between 5-20°C and rainfall increases. In winter (June-August), temperatures range between 0-12°C and rainfall is high. In spring (September-November), temperatures range between 5-20°C and rainfall is moderate. Overall, Milford Sound has a mild climate with moderate temperatures and high rainfall levels throughout the year.

Cruise weather for Milford Sound

Our weather forecast for Milford Sound helps plan your stay according to the weather. For sunny days, pack light and breathable clothes, swimwear, and sunscreen. For winter weather, it's recommended to bring warm clothes, gloves, a hat, sturdy footwear, and a raincoat.

Date Icon Temperature Wind speed/gusts Cloudiness/Visibility Air humidity/pressure Sunrise/Sunset
Apr. 3rd 2025 Apr. 3rd 2025 max: 11.5 °C
min: 9.1 °C 		16.2 m/s
39.2 m/s		 100.0 %
4.7 m		 98.6 %
1,007 hPa		 08:07:53
19:34:57
Apr. 4th 2025 Apr. 4th 2025 max: 11.5 °C
min: 7.2 °C 		19.1 m/s
50.8 m/s		 100.0 %
0.2 m		 98.4 %
999 hPa		 08:09:07
19:33:09
Apr. 5th 2025 Apr. 5th 2025 max: 9.8 °C
min: 2.5 °C 		11.9 m/s
22.7 m/s		 68.2 %
20.6 m		 88.1 %
1,001 hPa		 08:10:21
19:31:20
Apr. 6th 2025 Apr. 6th 2025 max: 9.9 °C
min: 2.4 °C 		9.7 m/s
23.0 m/s		 90.1 %
18.7 m		 91.3 %
996 hPa		 07:11:35
18:29:32
Apr. 7th 2025 Apr. 7th 2025 max: 8.1 °C
min: 5.4 °C 		19.1 m/s
45.4 m/s		 82.7 %
6.2 m		 95.9 %
999 hPa		 07:12:49
18:27:45
Apr. 8th 2025 Apr. 8th 2025 max: 6.9 °C
min: -1 °C 		17.3 m/s
43.6 m/s		 86.7 %
7.1 m		 95.5 %
999 hPa		 07:14:03
18:25:58
Apr. 9th 2025 Apr. 9th 2025 max: 5.3 °C
min: -1.9 °C 		12.6 m/s
28.1 m/s		 25.5 %
23.0 m		 84.1 %
1,016 hPa		 07:15:17
18:24:12
Apr. 10th 2025 Apr. 10th 2025 max: 8.5 °C
min: -2.1 °C 		8.6 m/s
10.1 m/s		 41.8 %
24.1 m		 78.1 %
1,022 hPa		 07:16:31
18:22:26
Apr. 11th 2025 Apr. 11th 2025 max: 7.8 °C
min: 0.5 °C 		12.6 m/s
25.7 m/s		 63.0 %
24.1 m		 88.7 %
1,021 hPa		 07:17:45
18:20:41
Apr. 12th 2025 Apr. 12th 2025 max: 9.6 °C
min: 0.5 °C 		13.3 m/s
30.6 m/s		 57.1 %
17.0 m		 87.1 %
1,018 hPa		 07:18:59
18:18:56
Apr. 13th 2025 Apr. 13th 2025 max: 12.4 °C
min: -0.5 °C 		10.1 m/s
13.3 m/s		 2.4 %
24.1 m		 73.5 %
1,023 hPa		 07:20:12
18:17:12
Apr. 14th 2025 Apr. 14th 2025 max: 10.9 °C
min: 1.3 °C 		8.6 m/s
16.2 m/s		 80.8 %
24.1 m		 78.0 %
1,023 hPa		 07:21:26
18:15:29
Apr. 15th 2025 Apr. 15th 2025 max: 12.4 °C
min: 1.2 °C 		7.9 m/s
10.4 m/s		 25.5 %
24.1 m		 80.3 %
1,025 hPa		 07:22:40
18:13:46

Cruises to Milford Sound

Would you like to travel to Milford Sound on a cruise ship or would you just like to know when a certain ship will dock there? Here you will find an overview of the cruise ships that will be calling at the port of Milford Sound.

Scheduled ship calls in Milford Sound, New Zealand
Date Ship Arrival Departure Details
Apr. 8th 2025 Tuesday, 8th of Apr. 2025 Celebrity Edge 08:00 am 09:00 am
Nov. 4th 2025 Tuesday, 4th of Nov. 2025 Celebrity Edge 08:00 am 09:00 am
Nov. 13th 2025 Thursday, 13th of Nov. 2025 Anthem of the Seas 08:00 am 09:00 am
Nov. 16th 2025 Sunday, 16th of Nov. 2025 MS Noordam 07:00 am 08:00 am
Nov. 21st 2025 Friday, 21st of Nov. 2025 Celebrity Edge 08:00 am 09:00 am
Dec. 3rd 2025 Wednesday, 3rd of Dec. 2025 Celebrity Edge 08:00 am 09:00 am
Dec. 10th 2025 Wednesday, 10th of Dec. 2025 MS Noordam 07:00 am 08:00 am
Dec. 14th 2025 Sunday, 14th of Dec. 2025 Scenic Eclipse II 12:00 am 12:00 am
Dec. 25th 2025 Thursday, 25th of Dec. 2025 Anthem of the Seas 04:00 pm 05:00 pm
Dec. 27th 2025 Saturday, 27th of Dec. 2025 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Jan. 1st 2026 Thursday, 1st of Jan. 2026 LE SOLEAL 12:00 am 12:00 am
Jan. 2nd 2026 Friday, 2nd of Jan. 2026 Celebrity Edge 04:00 pm 05:15 pm
Jan. 10th 2026 Saturday, 10th of Jan. 2026 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Jan. 11th 2026 Sunday, 11th of Jan. 2026 Azamara Pursuit 08:00 am 09:00 am
Jan. 15th 2026 Thursday, 15th of Jan. 2026 LE SOLEAL 12:00 am 12:00 am
Jan. 19th 2026 Monday, 19th of Jan. 2026 Silver Moon 10:00 am 01:00 pm
Jan. 21st 2026 Wednesday, 21st of Jan. 2026 Silver Nova 08:00 am 12:00 pm
Jan. 22nd 2026 Thursday, 22nd of Jan. 2026 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Jan. 29th 2026 Thursday, 29th of Jan. 2026 Azamara Pursuit 04:00 pm 07:00 pm
Feb. 3rd 2026 Tuesday, 3rd of Feb. 2026 Anthem of the Seas 04:00 pm 05:00 pm
Feb. 8th 2026 Sunday, 8th of Feb. 2026 Celebrity Edge 04:00 pm 05:15 pm
Feb. 15th 2026 Sunday, 15th of Feb. 2026 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Feb. 16th 2026 Monday, 16th of Feb. 2026 Silver Moon 10:00 am 01:00 pm
Feb. 18th 2026 Wednesday, 18th of Feb. 2026 Anthem of the Seas 08:00 am 09:00 am
Feb. 22nd 2026 Sunday, 22nd of Feb. 2026 MS Noordam 07:00 am 08:00 am
Feb. 25th 2026 Wednesday, 25th of Feb. 2026 Celebrity Edge 08:00 am 09:00 am
Feb. 27th 2026 Friday, 27th of Feb. 2026 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Mar. 10th 2026 Tuesday, 10th of Mar. 2026 MS Zaandam 07:00 am 08:00 am
Mar. 11th 2026 Wednesday, 11th of Mar. 2026 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Mar. 23rd 2026 Monday, 23rd of Mar. 2026 Norwegian Spirit 12:00 am 12:00 am
Mar. 26th 2026 Thursday, 26th of Mar. 2026 Celebrity Edge 04:00 pm 05:15 pm
Mar. 31st 2026 Tuesday, 31st of Mar. 2026 Anthem of the Seas 04:00 pm 05:00 pm

Alle zeigen

Galery: Milford Sound

Photos by cruise fans for cruise fans!
Share your best pictures with the community and discover authentic images from travellers who have already been there.

- There are no photos available for Milford Sound yet.

Join in, show your holiday photos from Milford Sound

Share your holiday photos with the community and inspire others to their next adventure!

There are a few basic rules to follow

.
  1. Your picture should have been taken by yourself (the author) and fit into the current category.
  2. The picture should not show persons who do not agree to be published. An exception is made for people who only appear as an accessory in the picture. You can find an example of this exception [heere].
  3. Your image should not show any protected buildings, artwork, or other protected objects, unless the architecture is freely visible from a public street or square and the photo was taken from such a publicly accessible location. The same applies to artworks in public spaces that are permanently installed (panorama freedom).
  4. Naturally, you should ensure that your images are not discriminatory, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate.

Image Upload

Take/select photo   or drag & drop here

Non-public information¹:

By uploading images to the website portguide.org, the user declares that he is the author of the works and that they are free of third-party rights. The author hereby grants DEVEY DIGITAL Inh. Oliver Devey the non-exclusive right to use the images on its websites. However, the user remains the sole owner of the images and has the right to revoke the granted usage right at any time. There is no entitlement to the publication of the images. The operator reserves the right not to publish the images if they violate applicable law or its guidelines. The operator assumes no liability for any claims by third parties regarding the use of the images.

¹If users provide images by uploading them on their own initiative, the name and address of the author will be stored in addition to the actual image file in reduced resolution (1280x720px) for the duration of the usage agreement. This personal data will not be published and will not be used for advertising purposes or shared with third parties under any circumstances. The information is required to be able to legitimize the author of a work, for example, in the event of subsequent modification requests.

Gender note: For the sake of readability, the male form has been chosen in the text, although the information refers to members of both genders.


Maritime AIS Data Milford Sound

Other ports within 300km of Milford Sound

Port Distance
Queenstown in New Zealand 74,29 km
Thompson Sound in New Zealand 98,06 km
Doubtful Sound in New Zealand 104,29 km
Fiordland National Park in New Zealand 115,23 km
Dusky Sound in New Zealand 162,45 km
Bluff - Invercargill in New Zealand 220,52 km
Dunedin in New Zealand 245,98 km
Port Chalmers in New Zealand 250,10 km
Oban in New Zealand 251,44 km
Ulva Island in New Zealand 255,30 km
Stewart Island in New Zealand 257,69 km
Timaru in New Zealand 267,57 km
footer cruise ship