Mega ship Ovation of the Seas arrives in Milford Sound

Megaliner Ovation of the Seas enters in Milford Sound, Fiordland, on its maiden voyage to New Zealand. Photo / James Allan

The biggest cruise ship to visit New Zealand has arrived in picturesque Milford Sound.

The 168,666-tonne Ovation of the Seas arrived in Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound today after crossing the Tasman Sea from Tasmania.

Ovation is longer than three rugby fields and is too long to berth in Auckland where it will arrive on December 27. It will have to anchor in the harbour off Queens Wharf with passengers ferried about 800m on tenders to the Viaduct area.

Mega ship Ovation of the Seas enters the Milford Sound in Fiordland on its maiden voyage to New Zealand. Photo / James Allan

The ship will also visit Tauranga, Wellington and Picton.

The ship's owners, Royal Caribbean, says it is a "game changer" and has been stopping traffic in Australian cities it has visited in the past week.

The ship is the fourth biggest in the world, with up to 4905 passengers and 1500 crew.

It has a stand-up surfing pool, sky diving simulator, rock-climbing wall, dodgem cars, a circus school, and an observation gondola on a hydraulic arm rising 90m above the ship.

It has eight speciality restaurants, some bars are set up with robotic bar tenders which help deliver 127 different cocktails.

The ship is the fourth biggest in the world, with up to 4905 passengers and 1500 crew. Photo / James Allan

Ovation of the Seas enters the Milford Sound. Photo / James Allan