Milford Sound Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

In spite of its remote location on the South Island and its wet climate (roughly 200 in/550 cm of rain a year), Milford Sound is one of New Zealand's premier natural attractions. (In summer, it's visited by 50 or more tour buses a day.) Although it's called a sound, it's really a glacier-carved fjord, with sheer mountain cliffs rising up on both sides. Waterfalls spill down the rocks—there can be hundreds after rains. Postcard-perfect Mitre Peak dominates the view if it's not covered in clouds.

When it comes to getting to and from Milford Sound, there are several options. Day trips by bus can be booked from Te Anau (about seven hours round-trip) or Queenstown (12 hours round-trip). More expensive, but much quicker, are flights in small planes from Queenstown. You can also take the bus in and fly out. (We've done this, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our last trip.) If driving yourself, plan on at least two days for the trip from Queenstown, which is 185 mi/300 km to the east. Of course, you can also walk to Milford Sound by way of the famous Milford Track, though it will take you two days and three nights to make the full journey.

Fiordland National Park encompasses the southwest corner of the South Island and is New Zealand's largest national park. Popular for hiking and hunting, it should only be explored by experienced hikers because of its rugged nature, isolation and frequent bad weather.

Location

Nearly all visitors to Milford Sound take a two-hour boat cruise along the length of the fjord toward the Tasman Sea and back. (Overnight cruises are also offered.) We recommend that you opt for one of the smaller boats as they can maneuver closer to the waterfalls and the aquatic wildlife. Some operators offer kayaking and diving trips in the sound, but they can have a rather casual attitude to weather conditions.

Milford Sound is also a port of call for some longer cruises. Often, the two-hour tour of the fjord begins at sunrise and the ship is back out to sea by breakfast. This is a particularly easy way to see the beautiful waterfalls and mountain peaks, as most visits to Milford Sound require extra planning and long traveling times.