Milford Sound is one of those places where, if 10 years have passed and you are trying to recall your New Zealand trip from a decade ago, the mental image of your experience with Milford Sound would be the first to come rushing back.
Cruising along the calm water of the Milford Sound, as you look up and see waterfalls and wildlife surrounding you, is probably going to be one of the most memorable experiences you can have in New Zealand. I'm here to guide you through the process of visiting this natural wonder of New Zealand.
From where to base yourself to how to get to the Milford Sound, you will find all the information you need to make a great day trip to Milford Sound in this travel guide.
Without further ado, let's take a look at your journey to Milford Sound and all the places to see along the way with the Milford Sound Itinerary Map.
Te Anau to Milford Sound Itinerary Map
Quick Summary
| 🌤️ Best time: | September-November |
| 🚘 Get around: | Tour |
| 🕓 Time to spend: | 1 day |
| 💰 Cost: | About 350 NZD |
One Day Trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound
The Scenic Drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound
The road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is one of the most scenic roads in New Zealand, and there are quite a few stops that you should check out when you are on the road. Thankfully, if you go with the tour by GreatSight, they will give you around 5-10 minutes for photos at all of the spots listed here.
When I did this trip, my journey began around 9:45 AM with the GreatSights coach from Te Anau. The current GreatSights day tour checks in at 9:45 AM and departs at 10:15 AM from Kiwi Country, 2 Miro Street. You will travel on a glass-roof coach, allowing you to enjoy the scenery along Milford Road while someone else handles the driving.
Milford Sound is about 118 km from Te Anau. Allow at least 2 hours for the drive without sightseeing stops, and considerably longer if you want to stop along the way. There are no fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and mobile coverage is very limited, so fill up before leaving and download anything you need offline. One of the first worthwhile stops is Mirror Lakes.
- Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers (Budget)
- Getaway Te Anau (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Aden Motel (High-End)
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri (7 hours)
- Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour (2 hours 15 minutes)
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau (9 hours)
Mirror Lakes is, as the name suggests, a stunning lake that provides you with magnificent reflective views of the snow-capped Earl Mountains behind it. It is a great place to stop for a little stroll before you continue down Milford Road.
As you continue down the road, you will find a beautiful vista point, Pop's View Point, where you will be able to appreciate just how beautiful and lush the forest and the valleys around the Milford Sound are.
After Pop's View Point, a few kilometers north, you will find another beautiful valley to take photos of. It's the Gertrude Valley Lookout where you will be able to have an unobstructed view of the beautiful valley you will be driving to.
After Gertrude Valley, you will enter the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2 km tunnel through the mountains. When you emerge on the Milford side, you will be blown away by the sheer beauty of the mountains along Milford Road. It is as if you are being transported through a dimension into a fairy tale world with high cliffs and snowy mountains on both sides of the road.
And one of the best stops along this road is at the 1855 Lookout Point where you will be able to see the curvy roads going between a valley towards a snow-capped mountain. This view is the reason why you visit New Zealand. This view is what I call perfection 😙👌!
As you can see, there are so many stops along the way to Milford Sound that the road is a tourist attraction in and of itself. On the current GreatSights itinerary, the coach arrives at the Milford Sound Cruise Terminal at around 1:20 PM for a 1:30 PM cruise.
Cruising the Milford Sound
Once you arrive at the Milford Sound pier, you will board the GreatSights cruise where you will find indoor seating as well as outdoor viewing areas for photos. I spent almost the entire cruise outside, and it was worth it! The current GreatSights cruise lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Out of the gate, you will see the poster image of Milford Sound with high snow-capped mountains facing you. On your right, you will see a stunning valley with the snow-covered Mount Pembroke looming behind.
The Milford Sound is the land of plunging cliffs and raging waterfalls, and as you cruise along the fjord, you will be surrounded by nothing but plunging cliffs and raging waterfalls.
Your cruise will travel toward Dale Point before making its way back through the fiord and getting closer to waterfalls and wildlife. New Zealand fur seals are commonly seen resting on the rocks, while dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins are possible sightings if you are lucky.
The cruise will also take you to the breathtaking Stirling Falls, a steep dramatic cascade standing at over 150m high. They will then plunge the head of the cruise under the waterfall, allowing you to experience the power of the Stirling Falls up close. This is when you will need a poncho or a waterproof jacket.
When I did the trip, we returned to the pier in the afternoon and took the same coach back to Te Anau. The current GreatSights itinerary has the cruise returning at around 3:15 PM, followed by the coach back to Te Anau, arriving at around 5:15 PM.
Where to Stay in Te Anau?
When to Visit the Milford Sound?
Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in New Zealand, and rain is part of the experience here. In fact, wet weather can make the fiord even more dramatic as temporary waterfalls appear all along the cliffs.
September to November is a good time to visit, especially if you want to avoid the busiest part of summer. Just do not plan your trip around getting a sunny day. Milford Sound is spectacular in almost any weather, and conditions can change quickly throughout the year.
How to Get to the Milford Sound?
Queenstown is the closest town to Te Anau, and it has an international airport that you can fly into directly or indirectly via Auckland or Christchurch.
From the US, Auckland has nonstop flights from several US cities, and you can connect onward to Queenstown from there. Queenstown also has international flights from Australia, which gives you another possible connection.
From Europe, there are no nonstop flights to New Zealand, so you will need to connect through a major hub in Asia, the Middle East, North America, or Australia before continuing to Queenstown.
From Asia, Auckland has the widest range of direct connections, while Christchurch has a smaller selection of international routes. From either city, you can connect onward to Queenstown.
To find a cheap flight to New Zealand, I would recommend using Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting from Auckland to Te Anau
By Air: Queenstown has its own airport, and Air New Zealand and Jetstar operate nonstop flights from Auckland. The flight takes around 2 hours. Airfares vary considerably by date, so compare the current options for your travel dates. You can search for flights here.
Once you arrive in Queenstown, you can take a bus to Te Anau following the instructions provided under the "Getting from Queenstown to Te Anau" section.
Getting from Christchurch to Te Anau
By Air: From Christchurch, you can fly nonstop to Queenstown in around 1 hour. Air New Zealand currently operates up to four flights a day on the route. Fares vary by date, so compare the current options before booking. You can search for your flight from Christchurch to Queenstown here.
Once you arrive in Queenstown, you can take a bus to Te Anau, following the instructions provided under the "Getting from Queenstown to Te Anau" section.
Getting from Queenstown to Te Anau
By Bus: Tracknet operates scheduled services between Queenstown and Te Anau during the Great Walks season. For the 2026/27 summer timetable, buses leave Queenstown at 7:15 AM, 10:15 AM, and 4:30 PM. The timetable changes seasonally, so check the current schedule for your dates.
When I traveled this route, the journey took around 2.5 hours and cost 49 NZD per person. Check the current fare when booking, as prices can change. You can book the bus to Te Anau here.
By Car: If you are looking for a more flexible way to travel to Te Anau, you can also rent a car from Queenstown Airport and drive there in about 2 hours. Rental prices vary significantly by season and vehicle type. To compare current rates, use the link below.
Getting from Te Anau to the Milford Sound
Once you have arrived in Te Anau, you can then proceed to Milford Sound by booking a Milford Sound Tour, which includes a transfer between Te Anau and Milford Sound, as well as a cruise to take you around the fjord.
By Tour: This is the recommended way for those who do not have a car, as everything will be organized for you and you do not have to worry about the logistics of traveling from Te Anau to Milford Sound. Most tours will include shuttle transfers to and from Te Anau.
All the Milford Sound tours will also include a ride on their luxury cruise around the attractions within the fjords, as well as lunch with some of them, with personal commentary from the coach driver and the captain.
Wondering which Milford Sound Cruise to pick? Check out the Milford Sound Cruise Tour section below.
By Car and Cruise: If you decide to rent a car, you can drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound yourself, which gives you much more freedom to stop along Milford Road. You will then book a cruise separately once you reach Milford Sound. The main car park near the Visitor Terminal currently costs 10 NZD per hour before 3 PM and 5 NZD per hour after 3 PM.
Tips: There are no fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound, mobile coverage is very limited, and SH94 can be affected by snow, ice, avalanches, and temporary closures. Fill up in Te Anau and check the current Milford Road status before setting off, especially in winter.
To learn more about which cruise to pick, check out the Milford Sound Cruise Tour section below.
Which Milford Sound Cruise Tour to Pick?
Cruise Tour With Transfers, Photo Stops, and Lunch
If you do not have a car, I highly recommend that you go with the Milford Sound Day Tour by GreatSight. The tour will pick you up in Te Anau, and then you will be transported on a glass-roofed coach where you will be immersed in the scenery along the way.
What is unique about this tour is that, while they drive you to the Milford Sound, they will stop at several stunning photo spots, such as the Mirror Lakes, the 1855 Lookout point, and more, for you to take photos.
Other cheaper tours do not include this part, and you are missing out on quite a lot as the road from Te Anau to the Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful roads in New Zealand.
For the actual cruise, you will also be offered several options for lunch, and the cruise will take you around Milford Sound's attractions, such as the Stirling Falls, the Penguin Colony, and more, for 2 hours before you are transported back to Te Anau.
When I did this trip, the GreatSights tour cost around 131 USD. The current year-round GreatSights day tour from Te Anau starts from around 218 NZD and runs for about 7 hours 25 minutes, with check-in at 9:45 AM and return to Te Anau at around 5:15 PM. Lunch is now an optional extra. I highly recommend booking it in advance with the link below:
Book the Milford Sound Tour by GreatSight
Cruise Tour Without Transfers
If you have your own car, you can save more by booking the Milford Sound Nature Cruise by Southern Discoveries. When I traveled here, this option cost 58 USD. The current Nature Cruise starts from 179 NZD for an adult and lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Lunch is optional.
Since you have your own car, you can explore the stops along Milford Road at your own pace and simply book a cruise departure that works with your drive. Cruise times vary by date and season, so check the available departures when booking and allow plenty of time to reach Milford Sound before check-in.
These tours get booked quickly during the peak season, and I highly recommend that you book them in advance. You can do so using the link provided below.
Book the Milford Sound Tour by Southern Discoveries
How Much Does It Cost To Travel to the Milford Sound?
Since we will be spending only 2 nights in Te Anau, we can calculate how much you will be spending at Milford Sound for 1 day as follows:
Accommodation: For 2 nights in Te Anau, I would budget around 80 NZD for a dorm bed, although accommodation prices vary considerably by season.
Food: Budget around 50 NZD for simple meals and snacks over the stay, especially if you self-cater some of your food.
Transportation and Activities: The current GreatSights coach-and-cruise day tour from Te Anau starts from around 218 NZD, which covers your transport along Milford Road and the Milford Sound cruise. Lunch is an optional extra.
Total Budget for 1 day in Milford Sound: Around 350 NZD (200 USD), including 2 nights in Te Anau.
Which tourist SIM card is best for New Zealand?
For a reliable internet connection while traveling around New Zealand, I recommend getting a local SIM or eSIM rather than relying entirely on public Wi-Fi.
Spark is one of New Zealand's main mobile networks and offers prepaid travel SIMs and eSIMs for visitors. Current visitor options start from 15 NZD for data-only plans, while travel packs with data, calls, and texts start from 29 NZD.
Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.
Keep in mind that mobile coverage is very limited along Milford Road outside Te Anau, so download offline maps and anything else you need before leaving town.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
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4 Comments
Crazy landscape it will be perfect for retirement!!!
Totally!
Great stuff!
Thank you!