New Zealand · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
The 15 best cruises & boat tours you can book right now, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Boat through Waitomo Glowworm Caves on a guided 1-hour tour, with Cathedral Cave acoustics and glowworms lighting the dark.
“We loved this trip. The guide was interesting and informative. The boat with glow worms was incredible.”
Kaikoura whale watching cruise on a quiet catamaran. Giant sperm whales, dolphins, seals, and albatross with expert onboard narration.
“Whales made it great, dolphins were an added bonus!”
Premium small-group Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown with UNESCO Fiordland stops, included cruise, and a picnic lunch.
“Excellent small group tour . Felt more intimate Excellent guide Drop off and pick up excellent Guide Dean was excellent”
Half-capacity Milford Sound cruise with lounge seating, live skipper narration, hot drinks, and close seal and dolphin views.
“We caught this cruise on a lovely sunny day and it was beautiful. So calm and relaxing. The skipper was very informative about the landscape!”
Kaikoura whale watching by speedy catamaran with live commentary on sperm whales, dolphins, seals, and an 80% refund if none
“This is an amazingly informative trip to see the sperm whales. The trip is well organised and the staff are very friendly, professional and knowledgeable. We had a very detailed talk on the whales and the kaikoura bays and canyons by a marine biologist which give you a massive understanding on how these animals live, hunt and survive in the sea. We managed to see a sperm whale and also on the way back we were greeted by a pod of dusky Dolphins playfully frolicking around the boat. I highly recommend this amazing trip to everyone. (Take your sea sickness tablets before departure though ) Thank you very much to…”
Enjoy a Lake Whakatipu cruise, a wood-fired Walter Peak BBQ buffet, and a working farm dog show in one easy Queenstown outing.
“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.”
2-hour small-boat Milford Sound cruise with live skipper commentary, close waterfall spray, and wildlife sightings, from $101 per person.
“Great operator, plenty of room on the boat to move around. Milford Sound is amazingly beautiful.”
Speed through the Shotover River canyon in a small-group jet boat, with 360 spins, rapids, and guided stories, from Queenstown.
“SO FUN, you don’t get as wet as you’d think but you definitely get sprayed. Loved every minute of it”
Small-group Milford Sound day from Queenstown by premium Mercedes, with scenic stops, a picnic lunch, and an included 1h45 cruise.
“Amazing day visiting Milford sound! We were blessed with a rare sunny day and our guide made extra stops for us to admire the beauty! At the end they also offer for you to fly back via Venice flight if weather permits, DO IT. Absolute highlight of the experience and trip!”
A 2-hour Akaroa catamaran wildlife cruise for Hector’s dolphins, seals, and penguins, with a drink, cookies, and dog-aided spotting.
“Excelent tour, very informative, lot of dolfins and sea lions and even a pingguin. We enjoyed it very much.”
Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound, enjoy a 1h45m cruise, then fly back with Southern Alps views.
“True South was extremely professional, well organized and out pilot was fantastic. They did a great job of communicating in advance (multiple times) including the same day reminder. They add plenty of details along the journey regarding the scenery and then they connect it back to the greater area of New Zealand and its history. But probably the most important thing to note is that they were safe. As a former aviation mechanic for a larger commercial airline, this is very meaningful to me”
Cruise from Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour on a 4.5-hour eco safari in Hauraki Gulf to spot whales, dolphins, seals, penguins, and seabirds.
“Brilliant trip. We were fortunate enough to see lots of dolphins and also one whale, but even without that, the trip was educational, inspiring and enjoyable. The team’s knowledge was excellent and they informed us on the research they do and the alliance they have with other charities and companies.”
One hour of high-speed jet boating from Queenstown, racing Lake Wakatipu then up the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers with 360 spins.
“this was a thrilling experience where our guide made many 360 spins that is quite heart stopping yet safe. we had so much fun and also got to sight see the area. never a dull moment...”
Queenstown to Milford Sound by glass-roof coach and 2-hour cruise, with photo stops, wildlife-spotting, and live guiding.
“The trip started from the main office of RealNZ with check in and introduction of our guide Brandon. He was just the right guy for that journey. During the trip he shared curious and historical facts, provided us with the beautiful opportunity to get photos of the stunning scenic nature along the way to Milford Sound, which additionally enriched the whole experience. At Milford we embarked the “Milford Monarch” cruise ship, on which we could experience the ultimate beauty of Milford Sound. The sceneries were just stunning. Its hard to describe what the eyes could see and the heart could feel at that beauty…simply captivating. Thank God for the nice…”
Fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound with guaranteed window seats, then enjoy a 2-hour cruise close to waterfalls and wildlife.
“One of the best experiences of our holiday. only way to do Milford sound i think. Amazing”
From the fiords to the geothermal belt, sorted by what you want to do with the day.
