Experience the Wonder of Milford Sound from Queenstown

Stay in Queenstown long enough to make sure you allow time to encounter Milford Sound’s magnificent natural beauty and wildlife. Book a Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown or stay a little longer and enjoy an overnight stay on a boat in the heart of the Sound. This guide to Milford Sound introduces you to the local businesses who do a wonderful job sharing the magic of the Sound and caring for this precious treasure.

The Natural Treasures of Milford Sound

Milford Sound is truly spectacular. The imposing pyramid of Mitre Peak towers 1,692 metres above the dark waters of the Sound, while Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls plunge hundreds of metres down sheer cliffs in dramatic cascades. After rain these two mighty falls are joined by many other smaller falls, veiling the sides of the sound with a mist of falling water. Beech forests grow on the hills surrounding the Fiord. More than 700 plant species are unique to Fiordland, with new species are still being discovered.

The sound is also the last refuge for many threatened species. The takahē was believed to be extinct until it was rediscovered in Fiordland in 1948, and the Fiordland forests were the last place the kākāpo – a flightless parrot – survived, until populations were established on predator-free islands. Fiordland is the endangered pāteke or brown teal’s only South Island habitat, while endangered mōhua or yellowheads and southern brown kiwi live surrounding Milford Sound. The world's rarest penguins, the tawaki or Fiordland crested penguin, visit the Sound in summer, along with rare dusky dolphins, and rare black coral grows beneath the waves.

Exploring Milford Sound by Boat  

Boat tours are a popular way to explore Milford Sound, with tours devoted to sightseeing, and wildlife, as well as overnight experiences that offer opportunities for stargazing.

Real NZ

Real NZ runs tours to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound as well as Rakiura or Stewart Island. Visiting these pockets of wilderness since the company was founded in 1954 has made the Real NZ team acutely aware of how precious and fragile these places are.

They contribute funds to a portfolio of conservation projects including creating a sanctuary for takahē in Rees Valley near Queenstown, relocating a population of kākāriki karaka or orange-fronted parakeets to the safety of a predator-free island, working on a recovery programme for the whio or blue duck, and a research project into the kārearea or native falcon in Cardrona Valley. They’re also restoring habitat in Walter Peak, on Cooper Island in Dusky Sound, and on Rakiura, by trapping predators and felling invasive pines.

Real NZ offer a selection of cruises in Milford Sound, from a two-hour introduction to the Sound with a specialist nature guide, to an unforgettable overnight experience with a three-course dinner and the chance to swim in the fiord or explore the shoreline on a kayak.

Southern Discoveries

Southern Discoveries support two conservation initiatives in Milford Sound. The Tawaki project with the University of Otago has been researching these rare penguins since 2014. The breeding population in Milford Sound is now 180 pairs, 20 times more than recorded at the start of the programme. Meanwhile the Sinbad Sanctuary Project is a pest control programme to help threatened species in Sinbad Gully in Milford Sound. The programme supports the rarest lizard in the world, the Sinbad skink, whio, kiwis, and South Island robins.

Choose from their Nature Cruise where you may spot seals, penguins, and dolphins, as well as getting up close with Stirling Falls, or their longer Discover More Cruise, which explores more of the Sound and includes a visit to the underwater observatory.

Fiordland Discovery

Cruise company, Fiordland Discovery are going over and above to measure and lower their carbon footprint. They’re tracking all emissions, making activities more efficient, and have started their own native reforestation project in The South Island in conjunction with Queenstown’s Waste to Wilderness initiative.

Book their luxury lunch cruise, which combines the awe-inspiring scenery of the Sound with a seasonal lunch prepared by their onboard chef. They also offer an overnight experience, where you cruise the Sound twice, in the afternoon and at dawn to see its many moods. Take a tender boat to explore highlights close up, or soak in the on-deck hot tub, while you soak up the sights and sounds of this remote location.

Exploring Milford Sound on Foot

The Milford Track runs 54 kms through Fiordland National Park and takes four days. Take a boat from Te Anau Downs to the start of the Milford Track at the head of Lake Te Anau. There you’ll follow the Clinton River before ascending Mackinnon Pass into the alpine zone where you’ll pass glaciated valleys and waterfalls.

The track follows the Arthur River downstream towards Milford Sound, with the option for a side-trip to the famous Sutherland Falls. The trail ends at Sandfly Point, a 15-minute boat ride from Milford Sound, where shuttles collect walkers for the drive back.

Ultimate Hikes offers guided hikes along the Milford Track from Queenstown. Their expert guides will introduce you to the landscape, history, and wildlife of this spectacular hike through New Zealand's most remote national park. Ultimate Hikes contribute to the Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust set up to protect birdlife around the Rees and Dart rivers, as well as supporting kea conservation on the Milford Track.

Hiker shuttles run from Queenstown to Te Anau, and there are vehicle relocation and storage options available for self-drivers. If you plan to do the Milford Track as a self-guided walk, we recommend you book the huts for accommodation on the track well in advance.

Make Queenstown your Base for a Southern Odyssey

Queenstown’s international airport and location in Otago, means it’s the ideal hub for exploring surrounding attractions, as well as adventuring further afield to Fiordland, the West Coast, and Southland. Stay a while and enjoy the delights of slowly immersing yourself in this beautiful part of New Zealand, meeting local people as you go.

These two itineraries combine Milford Sound with other Queenstown attractions.

1. This six-day Queenstown travel itinerary combines meeting local artists, with discovering hidden gems, and exploring the surrounding regions of Gibbston, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, and Milford Sound.
2. The Southern Way network of scenic driving routes connects the Central Otago hubs of Queenstown and Wānaka with Fiordland and Murihiku Southland. This 10-day itinerary takes you to Milford Sound and beyond.

Getting to Milford Sound from Queenstown

There really isn’t a bad time of year to visit Milford Sound, unless you plan on walking long distances, in which case we recommend sticking to late spring through early autumn (November-March). While some beauty spots are better in fine weather, many say Milford Sound is at its finest in the rain, when hundreds of waterfalls thunder down the sheer cliffs. The best bit about visiting in summer is the long summer evenings, when it doesn’t get dark until after 9:00pm – wonderful if you’re planning an overnight cruise.

Bring your raincoat (It rains 200 days a year in Milford ) your sunblock, and your sandfly repellent, as you may well encounter all three on your trip to Milford Sound. It gets windy out on the boats, so if you’re planning a cruise bring warm layers.

Milford Sound is 288kms from Queenstown. That may not sound far, but you’re driving along narrow windy roads, so it takes almost four hours. The West Coast has high rainfall, and the road into the Sound can be susceptible to slips and flooding, so if you plan to drive pay careful attention to weather warnings. It’s a wonderfully scenic route, but not for everyone, so if you prefer to leave the car at home you can fly in or join a guided tour from Queenstown.