Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater...

Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater Observatory

15 Rankers Reviews

12 Face-to-Face

Maps

Photos

Milford Discovery Centre at Harrison's Cove.
One of our guides showing visitors around.
Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater Observatory

Information

Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater Observatory

New Zealand's only floating underwater observatory.

Hidden under the surface in Harrison Cove is a unique and beautiful environment – there’s nowhere else in the world quite like it. In the middle of Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, the Underwater Observatory enables you to experience the magic of this special world, previously the exclusive realm of divers.

Descend 64 steps (10 metres) underwater into a large, fully air conditioned viewing area where large windows with excellent optical clarity open your eyes to this deep underwater haven. Unlike an aquarium, the fish are free to come and go; it’s the people who are contained.

Why visit the Milford Discovery Centre?

- New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory is a unique, interacting learning experience
- Be guided through the Milford Sound story on colourful information panels covering culture, heritage, history, geology and wildlife
- Watch dramatic Milford Road and Homer Tunnel avalanche videos
- Immerse yourself in a mysterious undersea world and encounter the extraordinary rare black coral and colourful sea creatures teeming just below the surface
- Thanks to its unique underwater environment, Milford Sound is home to species of black coral usually found at depths of more than 500 metres

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Southern Discoveries

Commercial organisation

Location

South IslandFiordlandMilford Sound - Fiordland National Park

Categories

  • Activity__scenic_attractionsScenic Attractions

Business Times

Add on to any Southern Discoveries Milford Sound cruise, except the last cruise of the day. Entry is included on our Discover More Cruise. Please allow an additional 45-60 minutes.

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.6698736880105

167.92799949646

Latitude
-44.6698736880105
Longitude
167.92799949646

Reviews

    • Very beautiful.
    • Good value for money.
    • Highly qualified and passionate personal guides.
    • So Cool!
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 2
    13%
    9/10 2
    13%
    8/10 4
    27%
    7/10 2
    13%
    6/10 2
    13%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 1
    7%
    2/10 1
    7%
    1/10 1
    7%
  • 5.0/5

    Highly qualified and passionate personal guides.

    Great interactive experience of underwater eco system.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    David's avatar

    David

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The tour in the Underwater Observatory was great.

    The woman talked so fascinatingly about the phenomenon and was just great. The boat tour was okay, the Sound spectacular.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    GERMANY
    Regina Baum's avatar

    Regina Baum

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Discover More Cruise - worth the extra, not for the buffet lunch (though it was pretty good), but for the Discovery and Underwater Observatory.

    The cruise around the Sound is pretty standard but the Observatory not only gave history of the Sound but also the creatures that you can see around here.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

    CANADA
    Carmen's avatar

    Carmen

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    So Cool!

    didnt relise how much beautiful sealife lays under the sound, and its so clear. Icing on the cake of Milford.

    Reviewed about 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    VisualDelight's avatar

    VisualDelight

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    It's fascinating to see how colourful the life is underwater.

    Reviewed about 16 years ago

    CZECH REPUBLIC
    Katerina's avatar

    Katerina

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    It is not very big and you don't need much time but seeing coloured fish swim in between corals (living ones) is a unique experience.

    The actual underwater tank is only a 15 metre circumference walk.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Maite Severins's avatar

    Maite Severins

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Very beautiful.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Rob  Poels's avatar

    Rob Poels

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Really recommend the early start to avoid the tourist busses.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Niamh Duane's avatar

    Niamh Duane

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Too expensive.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013

    GERMANY
    Claudia's avatar

    Claudia

    Customer

  • 0.5/5

    Such a waste of money, there is nothing much to see, not worth paying for at all, it should be for free, even then we would have rathered miss it.

    We all spent most of our time sitting around waiting to be picked up again by the cruise boat.

    Reviewed about 13 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Sharlene's avatar

    Sharlene

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Highly qualified and passionate personal guides.

    Great interactive experience of underwater eco system.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    UNITED KINGDOM
    David's avatar

    David

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The tour in the Underwater Observatory was great.

    The woman talked so fascinatingly about the phenomenon and was just great. The boat tour was okay, the Sound spectacular.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    GERMANY
    Regina Baum's avatar

    Regina Baum

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Discover More Cruise - worth the extra, not for the buffet lunch (though it was pretty good), but for the Discovery and Underwater Observatory.

    The cruise around the Sound is pretty standard but the Observatory not only gave history of the Sound but also the creatures that you can see around here.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

    CANADA
    Carmen's avatar

    Carmen

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Really recommend the early start to avoid the tourist busses.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Niamh Duane's avatar

    Niamh Duane

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    Too expensive.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013

    GERMANY
    Claudia's avatar

    Claudia

    Customer

  • 0.5/5

    Such a waste of money, there is nothing much to see, not worth paying for at all, it should be for free, even then we would have rathered miss it.

    We all spent most of our time sitting around waiting to be picked up again by the cruise boat.

    Reviewed about 13 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Sharlene's avatar

    Sharlene

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    It is not very big and you don't need much time but seeing coloured fish swim in between corals (living ones) is a unique experience.

    The actual underwater tank is only a 15 metre circumference walk.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Maite Severins's avatar

    Maite Severins

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    So Cool!

    didnt relise how much beautiful sealife lays under the sound, and its so clear. Icing on the cake of Milford.

    Reviewed about 14 years ago

    NEW ZEALAND
    VisualDelight's avatar

    VisualDelight

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    I was sort of underwhelmed - was expecting something more...

    something bigger or deeper...

    Reviewed over 15 years ago

    UNITED STATES
    amyd's avatar

    amyd

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    It's fascinating to see how colourful the life is underwater.

    Reviewed about 16 years ago

    CZECH REPUBLIC
    Katerina's avatar

    Katerina

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Very beautiful.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Rob  Poels's avatar

    Rob Poels

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    Not worth it!

    It was nice, but really could go anywhere snorkelling and see more.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    GERMANY
    Klaus Uhl's avatar

    Klaus Uhl

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Knowledgeable guide about fish and coral life made the tour more interesting.

    Reviewed over 16 years ago

    John  Howlett's avatar

    John Howlett

    Customer

  • 1.0/5

    Rubbish!

    Waste of money and time.

    Reviewed about 17 years ago

    Charlie Wilson's avatar

    Charlie Wilson

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Good value for money.

    Wouldn't see the fish anywhere else.

    Reviewed about 17 years ago and experienced in February 2007

    NETHERLANDS
    Ralph's avatar

    Ralph

    Customer