Milford Sound

Introduction

Milford Sound Waterfall

© Laur456

Located within the Te Wahipounamu - Southwest New Zealand Unesco World Heritage Site, Milford Sound is a stunningly beautiful fiord in New Zealand's largest national park, Fiordland National Park. It's the only fiord in the park that can be reached by road, which has helped establish it as one of New Zealand's most popular attractions.

Visitors can kayak on the sound, book a cruise (including overnight cruises), fly over it, or stay at Milford Lodge. There are also excellent short walking tracks in the area, as well as the famous Milford Track.

Sights and Activities

Milford Track

Milford Track is a Great Walk stretching for over 50 kilometres from the northern tip of Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound, passing through glaciated valleys, an alpine pass and some spectacular scenery. This is a 4 to 5 day walk requiring at least moderate fitness, and you have to book it well in advance. You can do it independently or as part of a guided tour, but either way you have to book it, unless you're going in the off-peak season. The price for booking the track (which includes your stay at three huts along the way; camping is not permitted) is $162 in peak season and $15 off-peak. For more information about the walk, including booking info, visit the Department of Conservation website.

Nearest Towns

• Manapouri
• Te Anau
• Queenstown

Getting There and Around

Milford sound is almost 300 kilometres from both Queenstown and Invercargill, a solid 4 hour drive along good tarmac roads. Te Anau is about 1,5 hours away.

Milford Sound can even be reached on foot as part of the multiple-day hike Milford Track. It's the final destination of this fantastic walk.

Once there, there are boat trips, scenic flights and helicopter trips, as well as walking around (see above).