What You Need to Know About Milford Sound and the Road to Milford Sound
If you want mind-blowing eyeball-popping tear-inducing scenery that New Zealand is oh so famous for, then Milford Sound is the number one choice. Ok, there’s a lot of hype around this particular fiord in the Fiordland National Park of the South Island. While some travel guides refer to it as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, you can only begin to imagine what you are about to lay your eyes on with a trip down to New Zealand’s national treasure. Indeed, Milford Sound is “effing” stunning, it can’t be denied, but like anything that is overhyped, visitors do go there expecting miracles to happen and become disappointed when their grandma doesn’t come back from the dead or they aren’t cured of leprosy.
We’ll go as far as to say that Milford Sound is an absolute New Zealand must-do either that or one of the fiords of New Zealand because they are similar in appearance. Milford Sound is the fiord on everyone’s lips because it is the most accessible with a great connection of the Milford Road/Milford Highway/State Highway 94, which is a beautiful experience in itself.
This guide to Milford Sound and the Milford Road will go through the entire journey, from road trip pitstops to what to do once you arrive in Milford Sound. If you have any more questions, they’ll probably be answered in The Complete Travel Guide to Milford Sound.
Fun Facts About Milford Sound
- Milford Sound is not actually a sound. It is a fiord created by glacial action that produced U-shaped valleys. It was named when the English and Welsh explorers were unfamiliar with fiords
- Captain Cook sailed past Milford Sound twice without seeing it. It was later discovered in 1823 by John Grono who named it Milford Haven after his birthplace in Wales
- Sutherland Falls, seen on the Milford Track, is the world’s fifth-highest with water falling 580 metres (1,903 feet)
- The Maori name for Milford Sound is Piopiotahi, which means “single thrush”. According to legend, when Maui lost the treasure of immorality to the goddess of death, a thrush flew to this place of sorrow
- Milford Sound gets 6,813mm (268″) of rain per year.
© NZPocketGuide.comHow to Get to Milford Sound
Travellers usually make this trip from one of two places: Queenstown or Te Anau. We recommend starting your day trip to Milford Sound from Te Anau, as there is a lot to see on the Milford Road, which can feel rushed if you are day-tripping from Queenstown. Nevertheless, if you are strapped for time, don’t let the long return drive from Queenstown stop you from missing out.
Better yet, in the warmer months, make use of the campsites so you can explore this beautiful part of Planet Earth for longer and make use of the hiking tracks. Learn more about the campsites, as well as other ways to stay overnight in Milford Sound, using the 11 Best Accommodations in Milford Sound.
Drive Times to Milford Sound (Without Stops)
Queenstown to Milford Sound – 4 hours
Te Anau to Milford Sound – 2h30mins
Take the Coach or Drive to Milford Sound?
This all comes down to preference. The Milford Road is windy, narrow and busy with eager tourists trying to make the long trip before the sun goes down. If this is something you can handle as a driver, then you’ll reap the rewards of being able to check out every single viewpoint and hiking track that you like. Remember to have enough fuel for a 240km (150-mile) return between Te Anau and Milford Sound, as there are no fuel stations. It is also a legal requirement to carry snow chains between May and November.
For those who would rather throw themselves off a mountain than drive the Milford Road, there are more than enough coach services between Milford Sound, Te Anau and Queenstown. Many of which, like RealNZ (more info on Klook, Viator and Tripadvisor), Southern Discoveries (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook), Milford Sound Select (on Viator and Tripadvisor) and more, make stops at the shorter walks and viewpoints along the way. All the while, you can feel completely relaxed and take in the mountain views that tower around you.
© NZPocketGuide.comEssential Stops on the Milford Road
The road between Te Anau and Milford Sound is a destination in itself. Heading north from Te Anau on State Highway 94 is an alpine drive packed with walks and natural wonders. If you are doing just a day trip to Milford Sound, be choosey about what you see in order to fit it all in! However, if you make use of the campgrounds, you can even squeeze a multi-day hike into your itinerary. All the sights and walks below are well sign-posted off the Milford Road.
Expert tip: Check for road updates and whether the Milford Road is open on the New Zealand Transport Agency website.
Mirror Lakes (5-10 Minutes One Way)
Probably the most popular stop on the way to Milford Sound, take this short easy walk along boardwalks on the shore of a vivid mirror lake with the mountains reflecting the water. You will emerge just a few metres away from the start. Find out more on the Department of Conservation (DOC) website.
Lake Gunn Nature Walk (45-minute Loop)
You may have noticed how the forest of Fiordland National Park is ridiculously dense with ferns growing out of everything and treetrunks are thick with the mossy goodness. A quick way to enjoy the forest is by taking the Lake Gunn Nature Walk, a wide accessible track. Learn about said trees as you go on the information boards and spot birds. You’ll also approach Lake Gunn for more stunning photo opportunities.
Lake Marian Falls Track (20 Minutes Return) and Lake Marian Track (3 Hours Return)
Signposted just off the Hollyford Road a few metres off the Milford Road, take this easy walk over a swingbridge while seeing a series of waterfalls. If you are prepared for a longer hike, continue to the glacial Lake Marian above the forest and surrounded by majestic mountains.
The Homer Tunnel
Access to Milford Sound would not be possible by land without this 1.2km (0.7-mile) tunnel pierced right through a mountain. The Homer Tunnel was completed in 1953 and has almost remained the same since its creation.
[CLOSED] The Chasm Walk (15 Minutes Return)
[Update: The Chasm is closed due to flood damage. Get the latest updates about the walk on the DOC website]. A super easy access walk, The Chasm Walk shows what the sheer force of water can do as you look over a bridge at the carved rocks below.
© NZPocketGuide.comThings to Do at Milford Sound
You finally made it: Milford Sound! Now, there are a number of ways to experience the fiord, from the relaxing short cruise to diving into the hidden depths. Look out for wildlife like dolphins, seals, kea parrots and the rare Fiordland-crested penguin. And that’s only what can be seen above the water’s surface…
Cruise
This is the most popular option for those taking day trips to Milford Sound, as it is the quickest way to see the fiord, seal colony, and have a refreshing blast of water under Stirling Falls. Most cruises will take you to the end of the fiord and back within two hours.
Milford Sound cruises are available with RealNZ (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook), Southern Discoveries (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook), Cruise Milford (on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook or KKday) and more. Compare all of your options in the 7 Best Cruises in Milford Sound.
Kayak
Make yourself feel that much smaller in the fiord by taking a kayaking tour. Kayaking experiences vary from tours of Milford Sound, getting close to wildlife and exploring those places the cruise ships cannot, to a freedom kayak around Harrison Cove. You can combine a cruise and kayak to explore Milford Sound further towards the sea.
Kayaking trips are available with Rosco’s Milford Kayaks (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) and Southern Discoveries (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook).
Scuba Diving
The combination of freshwater sitting on top of the salty seawater has created some unique deep-sea life in Milford Sound’s marine reserve. The sea creatures that you would usually see at 100-200 metres can be seen in water less than 30 metres in Milford Sound. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, you can explore the native black coral trees and the diverse fish species. Learn more about this experience in The Luxury Travel Guide to Milford Sound.
Underwater Observatory
If you prefer a more dry approach to see what lies 10 metres beneath the water of Milford Sound, visit the underwater observatory at Harrison Cove. The large windows give you an opportunity to view the fish in their natural habitat.
Cruise and underwater observatory combos are available with Southern Discoveries (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook).
Scenic Flight
Really treat yourself to a birds-eye-view of Milford Sound. Either take a helicopter or plane flight over the famous fiords. Depart from Milford Sound with Milford Sound Helicopters (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor), Te Anau with Te Anau Helicopter Services (on Viator and Tripadvisor), Wanaka with Siberia Experience (on Viator and Tripadvisor), and Queenstown with Over The Top Helicopters (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook).
Compare flights from Queenstown in the 6 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown.
Walks
There are some short walks to enjoy just to get those shoreside views of Milford Sound, like the Milford Sound Lookout Track (20-minute return) and the Foreshore Walk (30-minute return) both accessible from the main visitor car park. Additionally, there is the Bowen Falls Walk which includes a short boat ride (around NZ$10 each) to access the track from the Milford Sound Freshwater Basin Terminal. See a complete list of walks in the 10 Milford Sound Walks You Can’t Miss.
For more activity inspiration, be sure to check out the 15 Best Things to Do in Milford Sound.
© NZPocketGuide.comMulti-Day Hikes in Milford Sound
The Milford Road is the beginning/end of many multi-day hikes in the Fiordland National Park, including the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Hollyford Track and the Greenstone Walkway.
All of the above provide dramatic alpine views, bushwalks and more lakes than you can count. All of them also have their own little charms: an extra lake to see here, a magnificent waterfall to see there. These hikes are usually suitable for most travellers of average fitness yet an enjoyable and challenging experience like no other.
To check out how to access these hikes, take a look at 5 Incredible Multi-Day Hikes in the Fiordland National Park.
For those of you who are unable or unwilling to hike for days, try out a part of a great walk and return the same way. The following can be accessed from Milford Road from The Divide car park:
- Routeburn Key Summit Track (3 hours return)
- Routeburn Track: Lake Howden Track (3 hours return)
- Routeburn Track: Earland Falls Track (6 hours return)
More Milford Sound Guides
Check out these guides to see what else you could be getting up to the outstanding Milford Sound:
