Milford Sound Tour Ranked #1 in New Zealand
Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s Milford Sound Tour and Cruise from Queenstown has been ranked the #1 activity in New Zealand on Tripadvisor, based on traveller feedback over the past 12 months.
The same tour also placed #5 globally in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best for Day Cruise Experiences, putting a New Zealand small group tour among the best travel experiences in the world. This marks another milestone in a consistent run of recognition for the tour, which has received Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best recognition every year since 2023.
The Best of the Best Awards recognise the top 1% of experiences worldwide and are based on traveller reviews and ratings.
New Zealand’s top-ranked Tripadvisor activity
Milford Sound is already one of New Zealand’s most iconic destinations, known for its dramatic fiords, waterfalls, rainforest, mountain scenery and views of Mitre Peak.
Now, Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s Milford Sound tour has been recognised by travellers as the #1 ranked activity in New Zealand on Tripadvisor, based on reviews from guests over the past year.
That recognition reflects more than the destination itself. The tour combines a fully-guided small group journey from Queenstown, scenic stops through Fiordland National Park and a boutique Milford Sound cruise, making it one of the easiest and most memorable ways to experience Milford Sound in a single day.
Explore all Cheeky Kiwi Milford Sound tours
Why the Tripadvisor recognition matters
The Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best are based on reviews and ratings collected from travellers over a 12-month period. Tripadvisor describes Best of the Best winners as traveller favourites chosen from real reviews and ratings, with the award recognising a very small proportion of listings worldwide.
For travellers choosing a Milford Sound tour, that makes the ranking especially meaningful. It is not based on advertising or internal judging. It reflects the feedback of people who have actually experienced the tour.
Cheeky Kiwi Travel General Manager Rhys Utting said the result was a proud moment for the team.
“To be ranked #5 in the world is a huge result for a New Zealand operator. What we’re most proud of is the effort our guides put in every day to make each experience memorable. It’s those small, extra touches that travellers remember and review.”
He said the award carries weight because it comes directly from guests.
“It comes directly from the people who have experienced the tours. That’s what makes it meaningful.”
A Milford Sound tour from Queenstown with the details taken care of
The journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound is spectacular, but it is also a long alpine road trip through changing weather and remote terrain. Joining a guided Milford Sound tour means the driving, timing, cruise connection and scenic stops are all planned for you.
On Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s Milford Sound Tour from Queenstown, guests travel in a small group with an experienced local guide, with time to enjoy the landscapes, photo stops and stories along the way before joining a boutique cruise through Milford Sound.
This makes the tour ideal for travellers who want to experience Milford Sound without hiring a car, navigating the road themselves or worrying about missing their cruise departure.
A world-class result for a New Zealand tourism operator
The result places Cheeky Kiwi Travel firmly on the global stage.
Alongside being ranked the #1 activity in New Zealand, Tripadvisor also ranked the Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown at #3 in its Best of the Best Top Experiences in the South Pacific and #5 globally in Day Cruise Experiences.
The South Pacific list also features Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland from Auckland, further reinforcing the operator’s strong traveller feedback across New Zealand.
Cheeky Kiwi Travel operates more than 50 small group tours across New Zealand, including tours to Milford Sound, Hobbiton, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Aoraki / Mt Cook, Franz Josef and Lake Tekapo. Tours depart from Auckland, Queenstown, Te Anau, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Dunedin and Invercargill.
Utting said the result reflects the wider team behind each guest experience.
“It reflects the work of our crew, our partners and the guests who choose to travel with us.”
FAQs about Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s award-winning Milford Sound tour
Is this Milford Sound tour really ranked #1 in New Zealand?
Yes. Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s Milford Sound Tour and Cruise from Queenstown has been ranked the #1 activity in New Zealand on Tripadvisor, based on traveller feedback over the past 12 months. The tour also ranked #5 globally in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Best of the Best Day Cruise Experiences category.
What does Tripadvisor Best of the Best mean?
Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best Awards recognise highly-rated experiences based on traveller reviews and ratings over a 12-month period. The award highlights a small proportion of experiences that consistently receive exceptional feedback from guests.
Which Milford Sound tour won the award?
The recognition is for Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown. The tour includes a fully-guided small group journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound, scenic stops through Fiordland National Park and a boutique Milford Sound cruise.
Can I take a Milford Sound tour from Te Anau instead?
Yes. Travellers staying in Te Anau can join a Milford Sound tour from Te Anau with Cheeky Kiwi Travel. This offers a shorter travel day while still including the scenic journey into Milford Sound and a cruise through the fiord.
Can I add a scenic flight to the Milford Sound tour?
Yes. Travellers joining the Milford Sound tour from Queenstown can choose the Premium Milford Sound Fly Back Experience that includes a scenic return flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown, combining the guided road journey into Fiordland with an aerial view of the region on the return.
Experience New Zealand’s #1 ranked activity
For travellers planning a trip to Queenstown or Fiordland, Milford Sound remains one of New Zealand’s must-see destinations.
Cheeky Kiwi Travel’s award-winning Milford Sound tour brings together small group travel, expert local guides, carefully planned scenic stops and a boutique cruise through one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country.
