Milford Sound day trip from Te Anau is one of the highlights of my New Zealand trip. In this post, I will be sharing all the tips to prepare your trip to Milford Sound.
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What is the Milford Sound exactly?
Milford Sound, located in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island is often described as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Despite its name, Milford Sound is actually a fiord shaped by glaciers during the ice age. A highlight of visiting this area is taking a boat cruise tour through the fjord. As you sail across the water, you’ll be surrounded by towering vertical cliffs and waterfall. If you’re fortunate, you might also see the local seals and dolphins.
Milford Sound Cruise
Few options are available to explore the area; by cruises or by helicopter. Cruises are by far more popular and affordable.
The cruises are operated by different companies. I recommend you to purchase the morning slots as afternoon slots are usually more swamped with tourists.
Cruises can be booked in advanced from Bookme New Zealand as early as 3 months prior. Prices usually vary from 100 – 127 NZD, but if you are lucky, you might get the tickets for only 87 NZD!
You may also book the cruise from getyourguide or viator.
Milford Sound Day Trip from Te Anau
Milford Sound is 121km from Te Anau. If you are staying in Te Anau as we did, do allow approximately 3 hours drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound. That being said, if you are planning to take the 11:15 am cruise, you need to leave Te Anau at least at 7 am, considering other factors such as weather, toilet breaks and finding parking.
Parking is available but it is a bit expensive, around 10 NZD per hour. There are public toilets, a small petrol station and a cafeteria available next to the parking lot. Allow yourself a good 10-15 minutes walk to get to the terminal for check in.
No designated seats are given in the cruise. If the weather is okay, I recommend you to station yourself on the viewing decks and prepare to enjoy the scenic views along the 2-hour cruise. And don’t forget to get the complimentary hot drinks!
Milford Sound from Queenstown
Driving to Milford Sound from Queenstown is totally possible, but as it is a 5-hour drive, I would recommend if you stay at Milford Sound Lodge for a night before driving back to Queenstown. You may also opt to stay at one of the campsites along the road.
If driving for 10 hours doesn’t seem like a plausible option for you, then you should book bus tour from Queenstown. This Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown provides a convenient and secure day trip to Milford Sound, cruise in Milford Sound as well as meals and drinks.
Preparation for your Milford Sound trip
- No petrol stations are available throughout the journey from Te Anau and Milford Sound, so make sure to fill up your car’s petrol tank before the drive.
- The road to Milford Sound from Te Anau can close due to weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, and avalanches. Plan your trip carefully and check the road conditions on the NZ Transport Agency website.
- Due to the remote location, there is no or limited mobile coverage. Ensure that you have downloaded Google Map offline to help you navigate the drive.
- Pack some insect repellent. Milford Sound does have some pestering sand flies.
- Milford Sound receives in average 200 days of rain in a year. The weather is unpredictable, so be sure to pack some warm clothes and waterproof jackets.
Driving back from Milford Sound to Te Anau: Scenic stops and highlights
Milford Sound is not the only highlight in this trip. There are some scenic stops that you should be visiting on the way to Milford Sound.
We booked ourselves Pure Milford Cruise at 11 am. We did leave early around 6:30 am from Te Anau, but we hate being rushed. So if you’re taking morning cruises, I suggest that you visit some of these key stops on the way back from Milford Sound to Te Anau.
Here are some of my top stops not to be missed in this breathtaking journey, starting from Milford Sound.
Homer Tunnel
Homer Tunnel is not exactly a stop, but a remarkable part of the journey. The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2-kilometer-long passage carved through the Darran mountains. Prior to its inauguration in 1954, following 19 years of construction, Milford Sound had no road access.
The Homer Tunnel is pretty narrow, thus only allowing traffic go one way at a time during busy hours. This tunnel is basically the main reason for the traffic jam on the way to Milford Sound. Sometimes you’ll just have to wait a minute or two, but other times you could end up stuck in a really long line.
Monkey Creek
Tucked away in the Hollyford Valley, Monkey Creek is a spring fed by glaciers, and the water is so clean you can drink it right from the source.
Despite its name, you won’t be seeing any monkeys around. The area was named after a dog named Monkey, owned by William Henry Homer, a European settler who worked as a surveyor in Fiordland back in the 1800s.
It is quite easy to spot Monkey Creek, as there is a large parking lot in front of the area. You might also bumped into Kea if you are lucky.
Mirror Lakes
Mirror Lakes is one of the highlights of the Milford Road which is a visit-worthy.
Mirror Lakes are renowned for their stunning beauty and their ability to mirror the reflections of Earl mountain landscape across the water.
Additionally, these lakes serve as a habitat for numerous wildlife species, including some of our rarest birds.
It is an easy and quick stop for families where you can simple pullover on the side of the road.
Eglinton Valley
As you continue the journey, you will notice the change of terrain through the Eglinton Valley, which was shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago.
Today, the valley is surrounded by tall, jagged mountains draped in native beech trees. The flat part of the valley is covered by stunning golden tussock grass.
There are spots along the road where you can pull over safely, thanks to the wide shoulders. It’s totally worth it to take a quick break, snap some pics of the amazing scenery, and just soak in the views for a bit.
Final Thoughts
If you are an avid hiker, you may also add other stops such as Lake Gunn, Key Summit Track or Lake Marian Track in your itinerary.
I hope you have an awesome day cruising to Milford Sound!
Fancy reading other post from my New Zealand trip? Read this Half-Day Self-Explore Trip to Paradise Glenorchy from Queenstown, New Zealand.
