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What is Milford Sound?
Milford Sound is one of the most highly-anticipated activities for many people exploring New Zealand. Over 700,000 people visit per year, making it one of New Zealand’s top attractions.
Located in Fiordland National Park, in the south-west of the South Island, Milford Sound has been referred to as the ‘8th Wonder of the World’. The towering cliffs, picturesque waterfalls, and abundance of wildlife creates a truly astounding environment.
A day out to Milford Sound is almost as much about the drive there as the main event itself… but more about that below.
The Best Time to Visit:
Milford Sound is amazing to visit all year round. However, different months will give alternate experiences, as shown in the table.
I have not mentioned rain on this chart as Milford Sound is considered one of the wettest places on Earth! It experiences rain on average 182 days a year, equating to approximately 6,813mm. Therefore you must be prepared, bring a rain jacket and waterproof trousers if you have them, as well as warm layers.
I have visited on both sides of the spectrum: a pristine sunny day, and a gloomy torrential rainy day. They were both amazing but, to be honest, I think I enjoyed the rainy day more! On sunny days you can only see the 2 main waterfalls, whereas on a rainy day there are hundreds and it is just magical. Many people actually purposely try to schedule it so they get a rainy day.
| Season | Conditions |
| Summer: December – February | Peak season so expect larger crowds, 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F), long sunny days |
| Autumn: March – May | Fewer tourists so a quieter tour, 8°C-18°C (46°F-64°F), settled conditions |
| Winter: June – August | Cold! 2°C-10°C (35°F-50°F), snow-capped mountains, increased chance of seeing penguins |
| Spring: September – November | Powerful waterfalls due to snowmelt, lush greenery returns, getting warmer, 10°C-20°C (50°F-68°F) |
How To Get To Milford Sound?
From Te Anau
Te Anau is the closest town to Milford Sound, located a 2 hour drive away. If you are travelling New Zealand by car or camper van, then this is probably the best place to go from.
As the gateway to explore all Fiordland National Park has to offer, Te Anau is a charming town nestled on the shore of Lake Te Anau. I drove straight here from Queenstown, stayed 1 night, then made the rest of the drive north the next day. There is a Fresh Choice Supermarket and a range of cafes and restaurants, as well as some campsites (see below).
You can either drive to Te Anau and then book a tour that takes you to Milford Sound, or drive yourself the whole way, and just book the cruise itself.
From Queenstown
If you have less time to spare, or do not have your own vehicle, your other option is to visit Milford Sound from Queenstown. This is a 4 hour drive both ways, so it is a long day with an early start and late finish.
Click here for 10 things to do in Queenstown!
There are many great companies to choose from. You can either pre-book online or compare prices once you get to Queenstown and can visit their offices. I have linked some good options in the Cruises section below.
Camping spots near Milford Sound:
Milford Sound is just incredible, but there is so many other things to do in Fiordland National Park too. If you want to spend more than one day here and you are in a camper van, here are your best camping options:
- In Te Anau: there are no free camps in town and 4 paid sites. Prices vary in different seasons but we paid NZ$68 for 2 at the Top 10 Holiday Park here. This felt quite expensive for what it was but it was great to have a shower and a kitchen for once – and there was a certain lack of any better options!
- Cascade Creek Campsite: a very popular DOC campsite costing NZ$18 per adult per night. Located 50 minutes south of Milford Sound, this is a big site with over 100 spaces and multiple toilet blocks. We had a very enjoyable stay here, with amazing views of the surrounding mountains and a waterfall.
- There are some other options but the above 2 are the best ones. I use Campermate to find all my campsites.
Cruise Options and Costs:
To be honest I think you could spend hours comparing tours, when in reality they are all very similar.
My ultimate hack is to use Book me New Zealand to book your cruise. It honestly feels like a scam, and I don’t know how it works, but the same cruises are way cheaper on here than the original websites. You can get between 25-40% off your cruise, especially if you are booking for only a few days ahead.
Therefore, I would simply recommend booking the cheapest, most budget-friendly option! They will email you confirmation but no obvious bar code or ticket, don’t worry, you just give your name at the desk when you check in.
However, for efficiency, I have included the link and cost of a few different tours below if you want to compare.
Day cruises where you self-drive to Milford Sound:
- Milford Sound Cruise: 2 hour cruise with an optional lunch, costing from NZ$145
- Real NZ: 2 hour cruise costing from NZ$175
- Southern Discoveries: Nature-focused cruise costing NZ$165
Tours from Te Anau
- Milford Sound Cruise: Full day guided tour, costing from NZ$229
- Pure Milford: Full day tour from NZ$205
- Real NZ: Full day tour, costing from NZ$229
Full day tours from Queenstown:
- RealNZ: Full day tour with coach transport and commentary, costing NZ$292
- Altitude: Specialises in premium small group tours, full day tour with a complimentary picnic lunch, costing NZ$379
- Milford Sound Cruises: Full day tour with door to door pick-up included, costing NZ$269
- Southern Discoveries: Full day tour costing $245
Must-visit Stops On The Way:
Milford Sound is obviously the main event but there are so many great stops on the way there from Te Anau. If you are taking a tour, most of them stop at these points, but it would be worth checking their websites to confirm this. There are more than these, but here are my absolute top recommendations:
Eglinton Valley
Eglinton Valley is the first great stop after you enter Fiordland National Park. This is one of only a few road-accessible valleys in the whole of Fiordland National Park. Signs for the valley are very obvious and you simply pull off the road to take in the view.
Mirror Lakes
This is an absolute highlight on the way to Milford Sound. Only a 3 minute drive after Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes is an easy 5 minutes walk from the car park. Admire the stunning views of the snow-capped peaks in the reflections of the lakes and learn about local wildlife.
Homer Tunnel
The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2km tunnel a 23 minute drive away from Milford Sound. The best thing about it is that a pair of Kea live nearby! Kea are the world’s only mountain parrot and are a cheeky, inquisitive bird. If you haven’t seen one yet in your New Zealand adventures then this is a great place to stop and observe them.
Hundred Falls
Sadly, the hundred falls is only visible if it is raining or has been raining recently. It is an absolutely astounding sight, with (as the name suggests) hundred of waterfalls cascading of the cliffs in all directions.
The Cruise Itself:
Most cruises are 1hr 45minutes to 2 hours long. Although schedules change slightly between cruises, it mostly involves doing a lap of the Milford sound lake, with a cruise into the Tasman Sea if the weather allows. Here is what you can expect to see:
Bowen Falls
The tallest waterfall in Milford Sound at 162m. This is the first of two that is a permanent feature here, whatever the weather. Bowen Falls is the first you’ll see as you leave the ferry port.
Stirling Falls
The second permanent waterfall in Milford Sound which sits at 155m in height. Cruise boats take you directly underneath so you can feel its spray.
Seal Rock
A rock that is home to a few local New Zealand fur seals. The boats take you in close so you can snap some pictures.
The Tasman Sea
A short but sweet cruise into the open sea, if the sea conditions are safe. This is one of the most common places to see some dolphins.
The Four Sisters
A group of 4 waterfalls that are only present if it is currently, or has just previously, rained.
Mitre Peak
Mitre Peak is 1692m tall and is famous for its sharp, bishop’s mitre-shaped summit, it is a key landmark in the Fiordland National Park.
Wildlife
Every day in Milford Sound is different, so there is no guarantee that you will see any wildlife. The most common to see is the New Zealand fur seal, which can often be viewed sunbathing on Seal Rock, or swimming in the lake beyond the boat.
If you are lucky you might get to see some dolphins. Two species live in Milford Sound: the bottlenose dolphin and the dusky dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins are the most common with a resident pod of 60 living in the sound. They are often viewed playing alongside the boats and riding the wake. Dusky dolphins are less common, but are seen occasionally. Very rarely, the smallest species of dolphins in the world, the hector dolphins, can be seen also.
If you are insanely lucky you might have the chance to see a whale, but it is extremely rare. While orcas, humpback, and southern right whales occasionally enter the fiord, sightings are infrequent.
From July to November, it is the rare Fiordland crested penguin’s (tawaki) and the little blue penguin’s (kororā) breeding season. They are often seen swimming in the water or resting on rocky coastlines
My Top Tips for Milford Sound:
- If you are driving with your own vehicle, make sure you fill up with fuel in Te Anau before you make the drive to Milford Sound! I forgot and then had to pay an obscene rate at the one fuel pump there once I arrived.
- Park at the Deepwater Basin car park instead of the Milford Sound public car park. It is a 30 minute walk away but will save you NZ$10 an hour of parking fees!
- If you are not using a tour company from Queenstown, book a cruise outside of 11am and 2pm. This is when all the tours operate, so outside of these hours are way less crowded.
- Although it is a super popular activity, it doesn’t actually sell out very fast, even in peak season. I have been twice, once in January and once in February, and both times only booked a few days before.
- Put a full day aside for Milford Sound so you can do all the stops on the way there.
- Use Book me New Zealand to book your cruise to get a discount and save some serious $$.
Thank you so much for reading this blog.
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Linked below are some more useful travel guides:
10 Unmissable things to do in Queenstown for first-time visitors
Tongariro Alpine Crossing Guide: What to expect and how to prepare
8 Incredible things to do in Arthur’s Pass National Park
Ultimate 2-Day Rotorua Itinerary: Must-Do Activities
Top 10 things to do in The Catlins (Complete Travel Guide)
Roy’s Peak Hike Guide: Everything you need to know before you go
The Ultimate Wanaka Guide: Top 10 things to do
8 Epic Things To Do In Franz Josef You Can’t Miss
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