Online TripAdvisor reviews for two small Fiordland tourism operators are so good they've recently made it to some of international website's top 10 picks.

Everyone's a critic, and online reviews for goods and services have a reputation for being especially brutal. 

However, for tourism operators Fiordland Tours and Cruise Milford, their glowing five-star reviews have helped land them top 10 spots in some impressive categories on TripAdvisor.

Te Anau-based guided tour operator Fiordland Tours has recently been ranked number four on the site's "Top 10 Day Cruises — World" category, ranking higher than catamaran sailing tours in the Caribbean and boat tours along the River Cam in Cambridge, England. Fiordland Tours also placed 6th on the site's "Top 10 experiences — New Zealand" category. 

The coach company, owned by Ray and Leonie Horrell, takes small numbers of tourists on particularly extensive tours along the famed Milford Road.

When guests reach their final destination at Milford, the company partners with a couple of cruise operators, including fellow top 10 ranking Cruise Milford. 

The family-run cruise company placed eighth alongside Fiordland Tours for the website's top 10 experiences for New Zealand. 

Cruise Milford sales and marketing manager Lisa Egerton said winners for the 2019 Travelers' Choice Awards were determined through an algorithm measuring the reviews and opinions left by travellers on the site. 

Cruise Milford has paired with Fiordland Tours for two years to offer the complete Te Anau to Milford Sound day trip, saying they both had similar philosophies when it came to keeping group numbers small and intimate.

Mrs Egerton said it was a humbling feeling when they got the email announcing their high ranking on the popular website, and acknowledged their crew as the reason behind their win.

"We were just so excited because it's something to be really proud of but also it's just humbling because here we are, two small Te Anau operators. It's just really exciting to actually get such a big mention."