Milford Sound is one of those places whose reputation seems to precede it. Everyone we had spoken to who had visited spoke in superlatives about its beauty. From towering cliffs which rise rapidly from the vast, deep body of water to the tumbling waterfalls of every variety, the countless shades of green in the trees to the wispy white clouds which climb to the rock faces, this is nature at her best. Needless to say we were very excited to see it for ourselves! After the stunning drive from Te Anau (more about that here), which we began soon after breakfast, we arrived in Milford Sound mid morning. Although there were grey skies and low clouds, we considered ourselves lucky, as this is the kind of place that can be shrouded in mist, fog and rain on a regular basis, making views all but obsolete. After parking the car we hurriedly packed our bag and grabbed the toddler to make our way down to the docks where we bought our ticket and boarded our boat (if you are planning your time to make a particular cruise keep in mind that it is a good ten minute walk from the car park to the docks). We had done a lot of research on the best cruise to choose and the general consensus was that they generally all follow the same path so choose the time and boat that fits you the best.

Cruising with a toddler

As always, travelling with little ones is a compromise, and if your little one is as active as ours I would definitely consider which cruise you choose carefully. To be honest, I found our time on the boat a little stressful. After offering as many snacks as humanly possible Layla decided she was bored. It turns out staring out the window is just not that interesting for two year olds! She wanted to run and explore and play with everything she could find. Obviously this is not the safest thing for a little one to be doing on a rocking, moving vessel. We went outside as much as we could but it was cold and windy and keeping her away from the edges was a challenge. She loved spotting the animals when we cruised past, feeling the spray of the waterfalls on her face, looking at the people in the kayaks (I, also, looked longingly wishing I could be out there paddling with them) and watching the small planes fly overhead.

For more tips on travelling with a little one you can read about 20 things I’ve learnt whilst travelling with my toddler here.

What to pack

Definitely don’t forget to pack a rain proof jacket, so you can get out on the deck and enjoy the views even if the weather is inclement. I would also suggest dressing in layers as the weather can change quickly if the sun comes out or the wind picks up. If you are travelling with little ones pack lots of snacks and maybe something to keep them occupied, like a colouring book and pencils, toy cars, a puzzle etc. And, of course, don’t forget your camera!

Highlights of the cruise

Wildlife

Keep an eye out for the seals, penguins and ducks. If you are really lucky you might even spot a dolphin!

Waterfalls galore

There are so many waterfalls in Milford Sound it is almost ridiculous. Counting them, or picking which one is the tallest, might be a good way to keep older children occupied!

Walks around Milford Sound

There are lots of beautiful walks around Milford Sound, from very short to very long. We only managed to do a short walk along the shore (the Milford Foreshore Walk) but it was well worth it. This is where we saw our best view of the sound from and if you are lucky enough to have some sunshine to create reflections, this is a photographer’s dream!

To be very honest I was a little disappointed with cruising Milford Sound. At the risk of sounding like a spoilt brat I didn’t think the views or the atmosphere compared to cruising the fjords in Norway (spotting tiny colourful houses perched impossibly on the edge of a cliff is something I will never forget). That said, I think the weather would make a huge difference, and if you were to be lucky enough to score a blue-skied day your reaction may be different. If I had my time again I would spend more time exploring the walking tracks around the water’s edge, but I am happy to say that I’ve seen the place for myself and can tick it off my bucket list. And the stunning drive to and from the sound is worthwhile in itself!