Milford Sound - Australia / New Zealand Cruise

[sabrefan]

The Oceania cruise from Australia to New Zealand cruises in Milford Sound before it's next port of Dunedin, New Zealand. Does anyway who may have cruised this route before know how close the ship gets to Fiordland National Park? In others words can you see the Fiords very well?

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Mura]

The Oceania cruise from Australia to New Zealand cruises in Milford Sound before it's next port of Dunedin, New Zealand. Does anyway who may have cruised this route before know how close the ship gets to Fiordland National Park? In others words can you see the Fiords very well?

 

 

 

My recollection from 2008 is that we were IN them. The fjords, I mean.

 

We had wonderful views. But we couldn't leave the ship ...

 

I don't know about the Park. Since we did not leave the ship I guess the answer is "not at all". OTOH, we had wonderful views of the fjord. We just sailed through, in other words. I suspect if you want to go to the Park you will have to do a land trip. Cruises don't get you everywhere.

 

Mura

[no fuss travel]

Depends on the weather as well. When we entered Milford Sound it was foggy, but by the end of the day it was sunny and clear. Basically it is a sailing experience and no land excursions

[rallydave]

Depends on the weather as well. When we entered Milford Sound it was foggy, but by the end of the day it was sunny and clear. Basically it is a sailing experience and no land excursions

 

Absolutely true and hope for rain. Yes, said that correctly as a lot of the beauty of Milford Sound is the hundreds if not thousands of waterfalls that flow much better when raining compared to not at all if dry and sunny.

[Hawaiidan]

The Oceania cruise from Australia to New Zealand cruises in Milford Sound before it's next port of Dunedin, New Zealand. Does anyway who may have cruised this route before know how close the ship gets to Fiordland National Park? In others words can you see the Fiords very well?

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Done this. Here is how your trip will evolve... You will enter Milford sound at around 7 am and cruise slowly in. Your best views going in will be to starboard till you reach the head of the sound and turn around.

 

Usually they put off tours here that will meet the ship at Duneedin after an overland tour.

 

Around 10 am the ship will clear the sound and turn south sailing along the scarp of the island and Fjords Land NP but about 2 miles off shore. around 1130 the ship will turn to port and enter a series of 3 different Fjords that will take about 4 hours and you will exit on the other side of the island.

 

This area is very windy and can be very wet as clouds hang in the deep oceanic clefts. It is a harsh landscape with bare rock covered in mosses and lichen with very low wind blown shrubs. The Fjords are rather narrow bring less than 1/2 mile to 1/4 mile wide... Upon exiting the last channel you can expect confused seas and rain...

 

Many times the area gets a thick fog which prevents ships from entering either channel so keep your:cool: fingers crossed

 

Hope this helps

[RJB]

Depends on the weather as well. When we entered Milford Sound it was foggy, but by the end of the day it was sunny and clear. Basically it is a sailing experience and no land excursions

A wonderful day of cruising. Milford Sound is a thing of beauty. The ship is your tour bus and it is a free day. :):):)

[Waynetor]

I have done this twice on other lines but the route is the same. Milford has the steepest cliffs making any waterfalls more spectacular. For Milford you sail in and out the same spot while the others use different enter and exit points.

The mountains are high and steep so rain water runs off rather quickly so if it was not rained recently there will be much fewer waterfalls. The other sounds are also very nice but wider and not as steep. The higher points are above the tree line. Depending on the time there may be snow on the higher points.

You may see some seals along the shore.

A local park ranger gets on board and does announcements over the PA - at least on other lines.

[cirman52]

We just did this on RCI & took advantage of the ships overnight excursion driving thru the park & meeting up with the ship at the next port. Did we like it? You have no idea how wonderful it was, totally different perspective of the mountains than just sailing along them.

Remember, the amout of waterfalls & flow depends on rainfall,it had been mostly dry before our cruise

[alexandra cruiser]

This is one I m thinking of next yr.or even 2016.Have been looking at all the lines that do this,seem very similar.

Have my first Riveriera one booked next Dec.,but have loved both on Regatta and Insignia.;)