Piopiotahi Milford Sound

Overview

Grab your camera and join us in one of the most beautiful places on earth – Milford Sound.

In Milford Sound you’ll see towering cliffs and peaks – including the much photographed and iconic Mitre Peak that rises more than a kilometre straight out of the sea. Waterfalls cascade into the fiord and luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock faces in this breathtaking place.

Milford Sound Nature Cruise

You can travel to Milford Sound in our custom-built glass roofed coaches so you won’t miss views of the mountains, glaciers and rainforest … yep, you’ll need the camera on the coach. Or for a different perspective of Milford Sound, take a scenic flight from Queenstown. 

Once there, join a Scenic cruise or go on a more leisurely and informative Nature cruise. For an immersive Milford experience, join one of our overnight cruises aboard our traditionally designed scows.

To explore this magnificent area in a more intimate way and at sea level, our sea kayaking adventures are perfect.

However you choose to experience Milford Sound and whatever its mood - teaming with rain, shrouded in mist or glistening in the sun – prepare to be inspired!

About Milford Sound

Milford Sound is the most well-known and most accessible of all the fiords in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Area.  Its 16 kilometre (14 nautical miles) length is lined by sheer rock faces that soar 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more from the water.  At 1692 metres, the iconic Mitre Peak is a spectacular sight and New Zealand’s most photographed mountain.

Milford Sound is in the heart of a rainforest (annual rainfall is 6,813mm or 268 inches) which creates walls of temporary waterfalls on a wet day receding to just two permanent waterfalls (Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls) in drier conditions.

Glorious on a fine day, Milford Sound’s ethereal, moody beauty in the rain is equally spectacular.

To explore this magnificent area in a more intimate way and at sea level, our sea kayaking adventures are perfect.

Getting There

The journey to Milford Sound is just as spectacular as the destination itself, whether you travel by road or by air.

Milford Sound is around 5-6 hours (one-way) from Queenstown and around 3 hours from Te Anau by road.

We have specially designed luxury coaches with experienced drivers that can get you there from both these towns or if you prefer we can get you there on one of our scenic flights. You could also drive yourself to Milford Sound.

The famous Milford Road

The best way to enjoy the Milford Road, one of the world’s finest alpine roads without having to worry about the often tricky driving conditions, is on one of our coaches. Our experienced coach drivers know all the right places to stop and take in the magnificent views of the Milford Road. Along the way, they will provide you with informative commentary about the region, its history and natural surroundings.

Our flights and coaches connect with our cruises. We can also organise helicopter flight connections if preferred.

If you decide to self-drive, do overnight in Te Anau as the trip to Milford and back from Queenstown can get very tiring. Also, leave plenty of time to stop at the many scenic trails and sightseeing lookouts along the way.

• Road to Milford Map (pdf 590KB)

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Weather

Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world with a mean annual rainfall of 6813mm (268 in). It rains for around a 180 days of the year, with rainfall reaching 250mm (10 in) over a 24 hour period.

The temperature in Milford can vary depending on the season and can go from an average high of around 19C in summer (Dec - Feb) to  around 9.5C in winter (Jun - Aug).

History

Milford Sound is believed to have been discovered by the Maori over 1,000 years ago. They named the sound Piopiotahi after the legend of a single Piopio bird which flew here mourning the death of its partner.

Milford Sound was well known to Maori but not discovered by Europeans until 1812 when Captain John Grono named it Milford Haven after his homeland in Wales. Its name was later changed to Milford Sound by Captain John Lort Stokes.

The fiord’s natural beauty soon became well known. The Mackinnon Pass was discovered in 1888 and soon became part of the Milford Track – now one of the world’s great walks and the Homer Tunnel was developed in 1954 to provide road access to the fiord.