Category Cruises & Boat Tours

Queenstown · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

Top 15 Queenstown Cruises and Boat Trips

156 tours

Wakatipu is eighty kilometres of cold green water with a coal-fired steamer still working it, and Fiordland is a morning away. These 15 cruises cover the range: the Earnslaw over to Walter Peak, small boats under Mitre Peak, and the fast ones that have you back for dinner.

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown - Hotel transfers and the start point that keeps your day on track

1.Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,001 reviews · from $216Our pick

Small group Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with hotel pickup, scenic stops, and a 2-hour cruise to Mitre Peak.

“This experience was amazing! Our tour guide made multiple stops along the way to space out the trip and allow everyone to get some incredible pictures. He had some great facts to share along the way. There was a big storm the night before so we were worried they might cancel the trip but they assured us we were still good to go. Highly recommend this tour company!”

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Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience

Cruise Milford NZ Small Boutique Cruise Experience - Mitre Peak, Waterfalls, and the UNESCO Factor

Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

Queenstown: Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise - TSS Earnslaw vs Spirit of Queenstown: Choosing the Right Dining Cruise

3.Walter Peak Gourmet BBQ & Lake Whakatipu Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,713 reviews · 3h 30m · from $95

Queenstown’s Walter Peak BBQ cruise bundles a Lake Whakatipu ride, wood-fired gourmet buffet, and a farm dog and sheep show.

“The whole trip was excellent a lovely trip on the steam boat followed by a delicious varied lunch and then a very interesting talk and display of sheep shearing. Would thoroughly recommend.”

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Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip - Road to Milford Sound: how the coach ride becomes part of the show

4.Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,592 reviews · from $144

12-hour Queenstown to Milford Sound coach and cruise with onboard tea, viewing decks, lunch, and chances at rainforest waterfalls and wildlife.

“love love loved the tour. Pick up effortless driver full of knowledge cruise amazing. If you have never been to milford sounds do your best to get there it is so beautiful and serene.”

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Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise

Milford Sound: 2-Hour Small Boat Scenic Cruise - The 2-hour route: Mitre Peak, the lighthouse, then deeper into the fiord

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown - Timing, Check-In, and On-Site Details You’ll Care About

6.Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Ride in Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,540 reviews · from $113

A high-speed Shotover River jet boat with 360 spins, canyon runs, and local stories from a small group capped at 12.

“We had a blast on the river shotover boat! It was really cool to be in the canyon and be on the river. It looks like they also have tours on the lake but we thought it was super fun to be on the river. We all loved doing this tour and felt very safe yet it was definitely a thrill ride!”

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Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise

Small Group, Award Winning Milford Sound Day Experience & Cruise - The long drive: Queenstown to Te Anau and Fiordland National Park

Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown - The Scenic Flight Over the Southern Alps: Window Seats and Real-World Views

8.Milford Sound Fly-Cruise-Fly Tour from Queenstown

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,792 reviews · from $462

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound, cruise about 1h45m, and return by air for Southern Alps views plus hotel pickup.

“10/10 experience! The most amazing views of the NZ alps and Milford Sound. Views from the air and then by sea gave me the full experience. Coming into land at Milford Airport was one of the best experiences of my life. My pilot, Daniel was fantastic. Talked us through the flights, the views and any bumpy parts of the journey! He helped make the trip so special. I am a 33 year old, female, solo traveller and found everyone very welcoming, caring and lovely.”

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Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride

Queenstown: Shotover River and Kawarau River Jet Boat Ride - Lake Wakatipu speed run, where the views still make sense

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat - The 30-40 Minutes Over Central Otago and Fiordland: What You Actually See

10.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,558 reviews · 5 hours · from $447

Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound with guaranteed window seats, then enjoy a 2-hour cruise to Mitre Peak and waterfalls.

“Milford Sound from the air is absolutely unforgettable. I was blessed with perfect weather on the day of my visit, and taking the plane was definitely the right choice. The aerial views were truly breathtaking, even more so than the cruise, and the whole experience was very efficient and smooth. I highly recommend this to anyone visiting Milford Sound – it’s an experience you really shouldn’t miss.”

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2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise - The 2-Hour Route, From Milford Sound to the Open Ocean

11.2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,520 reviews · from $104

2-hour Milford Sound scenic cruise on a smaller boat, see Mitre Peak and waterfalls, spot fur seals and penguins, free tea or coffee.

“This is the 2nd time I’ve taken family members on this cruise. The Captain took great pride and care to entertain us and explore Milford Sound. Because Mitre Peak Cruises uses smaller vessels, they are able to get up close and personal with wildlife and demonstrations. Ever ride a cruise boat bow under a waterfall? We did! See a mother fur seal with her pup? We did! How about a Crested Penguin? We saw one also! Great explanations, interesting facts and information regarding history and biodiversity. Ask and see why the color of the water changes from inside the sound and the Tasman Sea. I would highly recommend this cruise…”

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Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes)

Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes) - Photo Ops That Feel Real, Not Forced

12.Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise (90 Minutes)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,462 reviews · from $49Best value

Enjoy a 90-minute Lake Wakatipu cruise from Queenstown with live captain commentary, photo stops, and heated comfort plus optional drinks.

“Relaxing, informative and entertaining. Excellent value for money. A very friendly and welcoming captain and assistant.”

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From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip - RealNZ meeting point and settling into the glass-roof coach

13.From Queenstown: Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,417 reviews · from $152

Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with a glass-roof coach, photo stops, and a 2-hour wildlife cruise with live nature guides.

“The whole day was just a great experience! Our driver Danny was incredibly helpful and kind, educating us on the history of the towns we drove past or visited as well as the environment around us. I would highly recommend this tour and especially with RealNZ and if you can choose your driver choose Danny!!”

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Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu - Exploring the Engine Room Without Rushing

14.TSS Earnslaw Cruise of Lake Whakatipu

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,255 reviews · 1h 30m · from $68

Ride the historic TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu. Explore the engine room, learn ship history, and enjoy mountain views for 90 minutes.

“nothing to improve. An experience of a lifetime. Awesome, thanks everyone for making it such a wonderful time. I loved every minute. 😁”

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Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience

Queenstown: Shotover River Extreme Jet Boat Experience - Queenstown pickup, shuttle timing, and why location matters