Milford Sound Trip: Why This Epic Drive & Cruise Is Worth It
Between the epic drive through Fiordland National Park and the unforgettable cruise beneath towering peaks, a Milford Sound trip promises adventure, awe, and scenery that could only be described as extraordinary.
For us, the trip had long been on our travel bucket list. The great distance to get there, whether by long drive or expensive flight, had always held us back. Still, of all the South Island destinations, a Milford Sound tour remained at the top.
Having travelled extensively in New Zealand for over 20 years, we have found many favourite destinations, especially along the West Coast region. Jurassic is its middle name, and mountains with lush rainforests meet the sea. So, we wondered whether we had become so spoiled that Milford Sound would not astonish us the way it does for millions of tourists.
We wanted to experience something new and inspiring, imagining a scenic destination that felt like the end of the world – remote, untouched wilderness with a distinctly Jurassic atmosphere.
We pondered these things from a lakefront room in Queenstown as we researched getting there, where to stay, and the Queenstown to Milford Sound drive and cruise options.
This post is to give you options on how to get to Milford Sound, recommend what to see on the way, and help you build your Milford Sound itinerary. Most importantly, for those sitting on the fence about going, it is about what we thought of it and whether it is worth a visit!
Table of Contents
Visiting Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound, known as Piopiotahi in Māori, is part of the untouched and rugged UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park. New Zealand’s largest national park is known for its remoteness and ancient wilderness.
There are cruises on Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound.
Doubtful Sound has no direct road access, and you have to take a boat trip from Te Anau and then a coach ride just to get to the start of the cruise. It is also more expensive, so we decided to save it for another time.
We liked the idea of self-driving and exploring Fiordland National Park along the way.
There is only one road into Milford Sound, and you return on the same road.
The drive from Queenstown passes serene lakes, dense bushes, snow-capped mountain peaks, waterfalls and lush valleys.
When to Visit Milford Sound
Milford Sound has the highest rainfall in all of New Zealand with over 6000mm of rain per year. It is why the landscape is so lush and the waterfalls so impressive.
January is the rainiest month, and the waterfalls are dramatic.
Additionally, the sunniest and warmest months are January and February. Expect bursts of sunshine between dramatic downpours.
However, if you don’t like crowds, avoid the school holidays, especially during Late December to early February.
Alternatively, Milford Sound in winter is a snowy wonderland adventure. Though the day temperature can drop to 0-1 degrees Celsius. Also, flights may get cancelled, and road closures may occur due to the weather. Further, snow chains are essential if you travel in the winter.
Also, if you are combining your visit with hiking, note that the hiking season starts in late October and runs through to late April.
How To Get To Milford Sound
The drive to Milford Sound is approximately 4 hours from Queenstown. The long drive along narrow and winding roads through the wilderness is challenging for drivers unfamiliar with driving in this terrain. For this reason, many people choose to take a tour.
Ultimately, we love road trips and having control over where we want to stop along the way. Also, we like having the option to stay longer if we wish to. So, we chose the self-drive option for our drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound.
Tours to Milford Sound
Day tours depart from Queenstown or Te Anau early in the morning and travel by coach. They stop at a few viewpoints on the way, drop you off at the cruise terminal for a 2-hour cruise on Milford Sound, and then take you back to Queenstown. This option is easy, and you don’t need to worry about driving. Many of our friends have taken this option and absolutely loved it, and we have also read many positive online reviews.
Alternatively, for those who have more money and less time, there are scenic flights to Milford Sound. The spectacular flight, either by plane or helicopter, over the majestic Southern Alps and Fiordland National Park is a New Zealand highlight for many.
Combined with a cruise, it sounds like a mind-blowing experience. We would love to do the flight one day. It would be a different experience and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
If you wish to book a day trip to Milford Sound by coach or a scenic flight, and take the worry out of driving, there are many options. For tours in New Zealand, we use GetYourGuide. They offer the largest selection of tours on one website and comprehensive information on each tour.
The rest of this post is about what to see on the way and the Milford Sound cruise. Additionally, we cover where to stay.
The Queenstown to Te Anau Drive
The first part of the journey from Queenstown is very scenic, with the road wrapping around the lake for the first 15 minutes. There are a couple of lookouts with fantastic photo possibilities of the magical lake views. The rolling hills and farmland are a pleasant 2-hour drive to Te Anau.
Te Anau is an administrative centre. There are camping supply stores and charming cafes.
Make sure to get petrol, food, and drinks in Te Anau, as after this, there are no petrol stations, no supermarkets, and only one restaurant, plus one cafe serving light meals at the cruise terminal.
If you have time, stay in Te Anau and visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, as well as the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary.
What to See On The Way
The Milford Sound trip from Te Anau begins with mobile phone coverage dropping out. Note that the drive offers limited reception. However, once you get there, Spark and Vodafone have patchy reception. Additionally, you can purchase WiFi from the visitor terminal (the departure point for the scenic boat tours).
The drive along Milford Highway takes approximately 2 hours. This drive was the highlight of our trip! We spent a further four hours on stops to view waterfalls and take photos.
Everywhere you look, there are photo opportunities and adventures in the wilderness. Whether you want to see waterfalls, lakes or lush valleys, and epic mountain vistas or to go on hikes, the natural wonders abound. Forge your own path and stop where you fancy.
For more information and a complete list of recommended stops, see Te Anau to Milford Sound Road Trip, where we list all the Te Anau highlights and attractions on the road to Milford Sound.
Where to Stay in Milford Sound
There is only one place to stay – Milford Sound Lodge. You can stay in a chalet or at the campground, Rainforest Campervan Park.
Freedom camping is not allowed in Milford Sound. However, there are several DOC campsites along the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound. They are inexpensive, but the facilities are minimal.
As we had not planned ahead, all accommodation was booked. So we stayed in a Milford Sound campsite at Rainforest Campervan Park in our van equipped for sleeping.
We named the Milford Sound campground one of the best campgrounds in New Zealand. Our campsite was nestled in the rainforest, and the sunset colours in the camp were surreal. Also, to our delight, there were many birds, and we had close encounters with keas.
Many people who self-drive choose to stay in Te Anau. There are many options, from cabins, backpackers, motels, and 4-star accommodations. Some offer stunning lake views. Also, there are many cafes and restaurants in Te Anau.
However, the best option, if you can afford it and you book ahead, is to stay in a chalet at Milford Sound Lodge. The chalets are gorgeous and offer a luxury experience with epic nature views!
Or check out other accommodation options at booking.com. We use them to book all our accommodation because of the variety they offer. Make sure to plan your Milford Sound visit ASAP, especially if you are visiting between December and April when rooms fill up.
Things to Do in Milford Sound
The Milford Sound drive is the biggest highlight on the way there. However, the Milford Sound Cruise is the do-not-miss event once you get there!
Besides that, things to do in Milford Sound include kayaking, fishing, forest bathing, stargazing, glowworm spotting and bird watching.
Other Milford Sound activities include some of New Zealand’s best Great Walks, such as the Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Kepler Track.
Besides that, the Milford Sound Lookout Track is one of the short walks we’d recommend to everyone. The 20-minute walk begins from the cafe. It is an easy uphill walk with a few steps to the lookout offering extraordinary views of the sound.
However, the most popular short walk is the Milford Foreshore Walk. The 20-minute boardwalk begins at the car park and meanders through the beech forest. The views of the foreshore, the sandy bay, the boats, and Mitre Peak in the background are likely the ones you saw on Instagram that made you want to visit.
Milford Sound Cruise
A cruise on Milford Sound is on the South Island bucket list of many New Zealanders and international visitors alike. The glacier-carved fjord is 15 kilometres in length and enclosed by steep cliffs.
We spent quite a bit of time researching and reading Milford Sound cruise reviews. We found that unless you want to add an overnight cruise, a kayaking tour, a guided hike, or an underwater observatory visit, all the boats take the same route and the same amount of time.
Therefore, the best Milford Sound cruise is the boat that most attracts you, based on availability and any promotional deals. Some do include lunch.
GetYourGuide has plenty of options for Milford Sound tours and activities, all under one website, and also offers customer reviews. Tours sell out months in advance, especially during the high season, so make sure to research and book early.
The cruise starts with one of the highlights of the cruise, Mitre Peak. As our trip was in spring, there was still snow on the peaks, which added an extra element of scenic.
There were so many waterfalls in Milford Sound. Some of our highlights were the permanent waterfalls, Stirling Falls & Lady Bowen Falls. But Fairy Falls & Bridal Veil Falls, which are the same height as Niagara Falls, were just as imposing. And we felt lucky it had recently rained, yet it was sunny on the day of our trip.
As we said earlier, we wondered if anything would impress us, as we had been to so many wondrous places. But, as we glided through the calm water of the sound, we were in awe of the towering mountains, sheer cliffs, and rocky formations formed over 600 million years ago.
Besides the impressive otherworldly landscape, the wildlife stole our hearts. Seeing the bottlenose dolphins play in their natural habitat was a delightful occasion. We saw fur seals lazing on rocks and glimpsed the rare yellow-crested penguins.
Read Next: Romantic Getaways South Island New Zealand
What We Thought of Our Milford Sound Trip
So, is Milford Sound worth it? And what about our pre-trip concerns about it being dull in comparison to what we have seen on the West Coast of New Zealand?
It’s an interesting question. The West Coast bush is a temperate rainforest with subtropical vegetation, as opposed to alpine. Dense forests and spectacular coastlines with wild seas are what give it a Jurassic feel.
But this did not diminish our Milford Sound trip as we had feared! The thrilling drive into remote wilderness, the spectacular cruise with countless scenic highlights and the epic waterfalls and landscapes made it unforgettable. Yes! Milford Sound is worth it!
Additionally, during our travels around the world, including the fjords of Norway, we have not found anything comparable either in magnitude or epic features to Fiordland National Park. And, out of all the best waterfalls in New Zealand, the region has some of the most majestic ones we have seen!
We consider the extraordinary drive to Milford Sound a dazzling road trip and the cruise one of the best in the world. The Milford Sound trip and cruise are a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Whether you live in the city, a small town with flat farmland, the fjords of Norway, or the West Coast of New Zealand, you are going to be amazed in wonder.
If you have come to New Zealand for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, make sure you do not miss it! If you live in New Zealand, you must visit this natural wonderland at least once in your life!
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