Milford Sound is famed for being one of the wonders of the natural world, but have you ever wondered how to actually visit this incredibly isolated natural beauty? Let me assure you, it’s well worth the effort. Read on for the ultimate guide to Milford.
What to see
Prepare to be struck completely speechless as you venture through the Fiordland National park: a rich landscape like no other. This part of New Zealand receives so much rain that it is measured in metres rather than mm, and the result is luscious green forest and towering waterfalls. The sound itself has to be seen to be believed, and becomes all the more majestic and atmospheric the more rain you have – making it beautiful in all weathers! If you’re lucky you may find yourself accompanied by dolphins, seals, penguins and various other types of birds.
How to get there
Milford Sound is situated right in the very south of New Zealand’s south island, in an area known as Fiordland National Park. Once you pass the town of Te Anau, there will be no more phone signal, gas stations or places to buy snacks – so make sure you come prepared! The road to Milford is notoriously treacherous, so I’d suggest letting someone else take care of all the faff for you and booking a bus and boat tour. Tours generally leave from either Queenstown or Te Anau. If you do decide to drive yourself, make sure to allow plenty of time. (Note: the Milford road suffered a lot of damage from flooding in early 2020, so for now until further notice the only way to visit is by booking an authorised coach trip).
How to see the sound
The best way to see Milford Sound is from the water. You can book your Milford cruise with a variety of tour operators (if travelling down by bus you can usually get a combined coach and cruise ticket). You can buy food on the ferry – when I visited it was sunny so we just kicked back on deck and soaked up the scenery with a beer and basket of chips. If you’re feeling more active, another fantastic way to experience Milford sound is to take part in a kayak tour, allowing you to get up close and personal with nature.
Know Before You Go…
- Milford Sound is incredibly isolated with no phone signal
- There are no shops/gas stations, so make sure you have a full tank and stock up on snacks before you go!
- Parking at Milford is expensive and fills up quickly every morning, so either get there early or book a coach tour
- Milford receives a lot of rain, but this just makes the waterfalls even more impressive! Make sure to pack your waterproof
- There is a well-equipped campsite at Milford but it books up quickly! (Freedom camping is strictly prohibited)
- It’s a very long drive from Queenstown so I’d suggest either staying overnight or letting someone else do the driving for you
- You will not regret choosing to visit Milford Sound – it is truly beautiful!
Excited about visiting New Zealand? Read our list of 8 must-dos here.
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[…] The kea can only be found in New Zealand, in the mountains and forests of the south island. The easiest place to spot them is the Otira Viaduct Lookout in Arthur’s Pass. They can also be seen down in Fiordland and Otago, especially on great walks such as the Kepler Track and on the way to Milford Sound. […]