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Te Anau Glowworm Caves Tour
ADD-ON TO MILFORD SOUND
Explore deep underground, discover a labyrinth of light in the Te Anau Glowworm Caves. Add this unique experience to a Luxe Milford Sound Tour for an extra incredible second day, or book on its own.
Rushing waterfalls, well lit walkways & thousands of little lights
Milford Sound Tour + Glowworms Inclusions
Day One - Milford Sound Tour
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Te Anau accommodation or town centre pick up.
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Unlimited chilled water, tea, coffee and cafe morning snack provided.
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Luxury small group coach with leather bucket seats, for spacious passenger comfort.
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8.5 hours total tour time with plenty of stops for photos and relaxation.
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2-hour Milford Sound Cruise on spacious boat with exclusive seating.
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Option to pre-order lunch onboard the cruise such as fish & chips, or venison burgers.
Day Two - Te Anau Glowworm Caves
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Self-drive / walk to Glowworms Departure Point on Te Anau Lakefront (free parking)
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30-min Lake Cruise on Large Catamaran Boat (+ return cruise)
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1-hour in the Caves, guided in small groups of 14.
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Very short nature walk through rainforest & nature talk.
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Well lit walkways with handrails, only one spot to dip your head.
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Full refund up to 24 hours prior.
Milford Sound Tour from Te Anau Itinerary
Coach / Cruise / Coach
8:30 am - Pick-up Te Anau accommodation/town centre.
9:00-1:00pm - Up to seven photo-stop opportunities & three special experiences.
1:00-3:00pm - Premium Milford Sound Cruise
3:00-5:00pm - Up to three photo-stop opportunities.
5:30pm - Drop-off Te Anau accommodation/town centre.
Te Anau Glowworms Itinerary Cruise / Caves / Cruise
15mins Prior - Self drive / walk to departure point in Te Anau - very easy (instructions provided).
30mins - Lake cruise with informative commentary by local guide.
5mins - Informative talk on the Cave system, history & wildlife in the area.
5mins - Nature walk into the Cave entrance.
60mins - Cave experience. Guided in groups of 14 max. Magical experience!
30mins - Lake cruise return to Te Anau.
* Limited Tickets
$429 NZD
ADULT PACKAGE
Add this Te Anau Glowworm Caves Tour onto your Luxe Milford Sound Tour. Following a 30-minute nature cruise across Lake Te Anau you will arrive at your destination, Cavern House, the gateway to the cave system. The Māori meaning of Te Anau is 'place of rushing water' and nothing could be more true of the Glowworm Caves.
Walking beside and over chasms of powerful flows descending from mountain lakes above, will see how these caves have been carved out. Further on, boarding a small pontoon boat, in absolute silence you will experience the labyrinth of light with hundreds of glow worms surrounding you.
This tour is run by our partner - RealNZ. Milford Sound Luxe Tour's guests can travel on this experience the day after the Milford Sound Tour, departing near the centre of Te Anau township. There is plenty of free parking in the immediate area. It is also a short walk from many hotels/motels in the area.
Full Refund up to 24hrs before Tour
Adding the Te Anau Glowworm Caves to your Milford Sound Tour means you need to spend two days in Te Anau. Luxe Tours does not provide accommodation. Luxe Tours does not provide transport for the second day & Te Anau Glowworm Caves excursion. It is the guests responsibility to make their own way to the RealNZ Visitor Centre at 85 Lakefront Drive in Te Anau. There is plenty of parking in the immediate area. Luxe Tours can assist with questions in regards to the Glowworm Caves.
Learn more about Day One: Milford Sound
Our departure point is Te Anau
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All Milford Sound Tours depart from Te Anau which saves you over 4 hours in a vehicle than from Queenstown.
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You'll enjoy a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience with more time at each scenic stop.
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Te Anau also offers other amazing attractions nearby - the Glowworm Caves and beautiful Doubtful Sound.
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Accommodation in Te Anau is more economical than staying in Queenstown, but with all the amenities you need.
Our comfortable & spacious van coach
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Our coaches are spacious and we guarantee that couples sit together and a good amount of window seats.
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Our 2023 & 2024 Mercedes coaches have the following safety features: brake assist, blind spot monitoring, LED headlights, lane assist.
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Extra spacious leather seating customised for maximum comfort.
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Low emission technology to meet our eco standards.
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For our passengers: USB ports, powerful climate control, tray tables, cup holders & engaging commentary.
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Satellite phone & First Aid Kits.
Our Milford Sound cruise
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We partner with RealNZ as they cap their numbers at 50% of the boat's capacity so you'll have extra comfort & space to spare.
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2-hour commentated Milford Sound Cruise for waterfall and wildlife viewing.
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Spacious inside lounges & top decks make wildlife viewing simple in all weather types.
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RealNZ's commitment to conservation aligns with our core values.
Our delicious refreshments
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We have partnered with local cafe - the 'Milford Road Merchant' in Te Anau to offer a morning muffin/scone snack, included in the cost of tour, as well as Coffee & Tea.
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We include a plant-based water bottle and unlimited chilled water throughout the day on board our coach.
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On board your cruise you will have the choice of a full A la Carte menu, craft beer bar, NZ wines, light refreshments and many snack options. All available via pre-order or on the day.
Te Anau
Your journey begins in the picturesque township of Te Anau. With 120km ahead of you, our luxury 12-seater coach will pick you up from your accommodation before departing for the first stop of the morning - Te Anau Downs. The Māori name, Te Ana-au refers to a cave of swirling water, perfect for a place known well for its 'Glowworm Caves' halfway down the lake. Surprisingly Te Anau only receives 1200mm of rain per year, compared to Fiordland's 7000mm.
Te Anau Downs
Te Anau Downs provides an opportunity for one final stop before officially entering Fiordland National Park. On a fine day, the Murchison Mountains provide a distant back drop for one of your first photo snapshots. It is Te Anau Downs which leads explorers to the start of the world famous Milford Track aboard several water taxi options including RealNZ and Fiordland Outdoors. This is also the last spot you will have strong cell phone reception or WiFi until Milford Sound.
Fiordland National Park
As you drive along the Milford Road, after Te Anau Downs, you are flanked by a mixture of farm and residential land until within seconds you enter a tunnel of native bush and civilisation disappears behind you - you know at this point you have entered the Fiordland National Park. The Park is over 1.2 million hectares in size, most of which is inaccessible. Not for the faint hearted, the Milford Road is one of the few public roads that twists and winds its way deep into the rainforest.
Eglington Valley
Carved out thousands of years ago by glaciers, the Eglinton Valley is an open, stunning valley flanked by steep, pointed mountains that are lined by native bush. The flats of the valley include the Eglinton Valley which is 50km long and feeds into Lake Te Anau from Lake Gunn at the head. Surrounding the river are thousands of hectares of scorched golden tussock. A very popular photo stop, Eglinton Valley will have you feeling a sense of relaxation as you take in the mountain air.
Mirror Lakes
57km deep into the Milford Road journey, Mirror Lakes is another of the very popular tourist stops along the way. From the carpark, it is a short 3 - 5minute walk to what is simply named 'Mirror Lakes'. The large ponds of still water are flanked by the Earl Mountains, offering a crisp mirror quality reflection on a clear, calm day. The challenge of a perfect photo here is one that many take up, however it is also worth taking in the surrounding wildlife and peacefulness. Timing your stop here is therefore crucial, we avoid the crowds.
Knobs Flat
Used as the camping space for Milford Road & Homer Tunnel builders up until the 1980's, Knobs Flat is located within the Eglinton Valley and provides the opportunity for a brief bathroom stop. Accomodation options are available here where you can spend a few days fly fishing, bird watching or enjoying the many short walks in the area. In winter, your tour guide may stop here to apply snow chains!
Lake Gunn
Surrounded by red beech forest to the waters edge, Lake Gunn is a small 4km (2.48 mile) long lake that sits 480m (524 yards) above sea level. It's outflow leads into the Eglinton River, a famous fly fishing river that leads back down through the valley to Lake Te Anau. A stop at Lake Gunn makes for a scenic photo looking south, catching it at sunset is a special challenge. We typically enjoy our morning cafe snack here.
Hollyford Valley
The Hollyford Valley is home to a river with its namesake, a 56km (34.79 mile) track, and a stunning lookout that sits up above it all for a photo opportunity. A very popular stop with tourists, parking is limited and very close to the roads edge so care is essential! Step up onto the platform and take in the fresh mountain air blowing across you from the valley floor below. The road either side of this stop is incredible as well.
Marian Falls
Our special stop here includes an optional, leisurely 25-minute round-trip nature walk to Marian Falls. You'll witness the majestic cascade of water flowing over large boulders from the mountains above. Magnificent boardwalks offer stunning views. The pure beauty of nature here is a delight for all visitors. If you opt out of the walk, you can still enjoy an equally impressive view of the Hollyford River from the swing bridge near the car park.
Gertrude Saddle
Just around the corner from the famous Homer Tunnel, we stop at the start of the Gertrude Saddle track. It is the perfect place for a deep breath of fresh, cool mountain air. At this point, over 900m above sea level, Kea mountain parrots are likely to join us so hold onto your loose items as these are the 'thieves of Fiordland'. Soon after we will descend through the tunnel and into the Cleddau Valley.
Other Waterfalls / Local Secrets
We leave this one to our guides to show you the best on the day. There are waterfalls, rapids and chasms of water throughout the Milford Road, each different depending on the weather of the day. We also have some spots up our sleeves that as locals we know can put even more of a show for you on certain days.
Milford Sound
As you journey down through the Cleddau Valley and enter into the Milford Sound basin, your tour is really only beginning. Your premium Milford Sound cruise will be awaiting you. In the background you will see the distant sight of waterfalls and the famous postcard shot of Mitre Peak. This is where your heart will start to accelerate, butterflies flutter in your stomach and you will know that the best is yet to come. Your cruise is two hours and the cruise terminal is host to toilet, coffee and food amenities.
Monkey Creek
Monkey Creek is a unique stop where our tour at Luxe will give you a very special 'fresh treat' to fully enjoy this one. The glacier fed creek is surrounded by steep mountains which in almost all weather conditions look stunning. Rare Blue Ducks live in the area, as well as Kea who use the carpark as a meet and greet spot with visiting tourists. Two of our 'special experiences' are at this location.
Other Milford Sound Day Tour Options
You can add a helicopter flight onto your Milford Sound Tour plus Te Anau Glowworm Caves experience. Or you might prefer to do a day trip to Doubtful Sound! Check out all our special tour offers when you book online. Our booking team can also help you with your entire Fiordland experience - contact us.