Milford Sound is a gorgeous natural spectacle tucked away in the southwest part of New Zealand’s South Island. It is known for its phenomenal rainforests and waterfalls. If you want to fly into Milford Sound, you must fly into Queenstown and then charter a plane. From Queenstown, you can also drive a car or take a coach bus. You can hike the Milford Track, go on shorter hiking trails, fish, and dive in the Milford Sound. Visit Milford Sound to see the beauty of New Zealand!
StepsPart 1Part 1 of 3:Planning Your Trip
1Visit the New Zealand immigration website to find out if you need a visa. New Zealand has an immigration policy where you can stay up to three months without a visa if you are a citizen of a country with a visa waiver agreement. If your country does not have an agreement with New Zealand, you must apply for a travel visa to visit Milford Sound. You will also need a valid passport to enter New Zealand, whether you need a visa or not.XTo see if your country has an agreement with New Zealand, visit https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/general-information/visa-waiver-countries?utm_source=newzealand.com&utm_medium=referral.
2Visit Milford Sound using a valid passport if you do not need a visa. If your country of citizenship has a visa waiver agreement with New Zealand, all you need is a valid passport from your country of residency.XNote that if you are a citizen of the United States, you can only travel to New Zealand for a total of three months without a visa. Take your valid passport with you.If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, you can travel to New Zealand for six months without a visa, as long as you have a valid passport.If you are a citizen of New Zealand or Australia, you do not need a passport. Simply travel with your photo identification.
3Go to Milford Sound in the summer to explore the national park. From December to February, it is summer in Milford Sound, and this is the most popular season to explore because of the beautiful weather. Temperatures are the warmest, and the nature looks breathtaking in bright sunshine.XThis is a great time to complete the Milford Track.However, keep in mind this is when humidity is at its peak in Milford Sound.Aim to book your arrangements at least 4-8 months in advance if you want to travel during these months.
4Visit Milford sound in the winter or autumn to take advantage of smaller crowds. In March and April, the weather is still nice during these months, though they are less populated with visitors as it is the off season. Make sure you pack clothing for all weather conditions, in case it gets cold or rains during your trip.XThis is a great option if you want to go hiking or fishing but don’t want to fight with crowds, howver any of the amenities are closed and hiking trails are restricted. If you are up for the adventure, you can see ample wildlife, including penguins. X5Visit in June, July, or August if you don’t mind cold weather.If you are interested in hiking the Milford Track, note that it is unregulated from May to October and there are no lodging services. You can only go on day hikes, and there is a severe risk of avalanches and deep snow.
6Create a packing list including light clothing and waterproof layers. To write a packing list, first account for how many days you are traveling and budget at least one outfit per day. It is helpful to pack 1-2 extra layers per day, as well. Your list should include many light layers and be sure to include a rain jacket with a waterproof hood.XMilford Sound gets an average of about 300 inches (7.6 m) of rainfall per year, so you want to be prepared for all weather conditions when you visit.For example, if you are traveling for one week, you can pack three pairs of jeans and four pairs of waterproof hiking pants. Don’t forget a rain jacket or poncho.Be sure to have waterproof shoes or hiking boots A hat can be helpful as well.Part 2Part 2 of 3:Booking Your Accommodations
1Find a travel package to reserve your flight and lodging all together. If you want to bundle together your airfare, lodging, and transportation, search online for “Milford Sound travel packages,” and browse options that work with your location and travel desires. There are many different travel companies offering package deals and reduced rates.With some options, you can choose between bus and cruise tours in addition to your airplane ticket and transportation.
2Book your flight to New Zealand four months in advance if you are flying. You need to fly into a nearby airport to Milford Sound, like Queenstown or Te Anau, and then make additional travel arrangements. To find flights, search online and include your desired travel dates. Review your options based on the date and price. When you find an airline and flight that works for your budget and travel plans, detail your payment information, and purchase your flight!XQueenstown is the largest airport and the most popular choice to fly into if you are visiting Milford Sound.
3Charter a flight to Milford Sound from Queenstown to enjoy the views. To fly to Milford Sound, you first must fly to a common starting point, like the Queenstown Airport. Then, you can charter a plane or helicopter to Milford Sound. Your flight consists of a beautiful, scenic journey through lakes, mountains, and valleys to your destination.XYou get to fly over rainforests and waterfalls, for example.Flying to Milford Sound gets expensive, so budget accordingly.Search online for flights 2-4 months in advance to take advantage of lowest prices possible.
4Reserve a bus to Milford Sound for easy transportation. Search online for coach tours to Milford Sound. Queenstown is about a four hour ride, and Te Anau is about two hours away. Both offer beautiful, scenic drives on your way to Milford Sound. The buses leave every morning and arrive into Milford Sound around lunchtime. The return bus leaves in the afternoon and gets to Queenstown in the evening.XThe buses are timed so they coincide with the departure of cruise ships, as well.Bus to Milford Sound if you want to stay overnight or go for just the day. They cost about $150 round trip (£105.86).Consider reserving a bus if you want to complete the Milford Track. There’s plenty of room for your pack on board the bus.
5Drive to Milford Sound if you own or want to rent a vehicle. After you fly into Queenstown or Te Anau, you can easily pick up a rental car at the airport and venture to Milford Sound. You can search online and reserve one in advance to save you time and money. If you already live on New Zealand’s South Island, you can easily drive yourself to Milford Sound!XIf you take your own car, it costs about $90 (£63.51) to drive to Milford Sound. You can rent a car for as little as $20 a day (£14.11).Driving yourself is a good option if you want to take your time. You can hike or fish in different areas, for example.Keep in mind there are no gas/fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound. Fill up before you go!Frequent weather changes are common in Milford Sound. Be prepared for rain or snow, and dress appropriately.
6Camp at Knobs Flat if you want to embrace the outdoors. Milford Sound has one campsite available for visitors, located at Knobs Flat on Milford Road. To reserve a spot, visit http://www.knobsflat.co.nz/ and click on “Book Now.” You can also check availability and look into guided tours. This is a great option if you are traveling in the warm months and want to get up close to nature!XTent sites cost $20 (£14.12) a night at Knobs Flat.Alternatively, you can book a hostel style room at Knobs Flat as well. They cost between $130 and $150 (£91.81 and 105.94).Make your reservations as soon as you can to ensure you get a spot!
7Book a spot in the DOC huts if you are embarking on the Milford Track. The Milford Track is a 4-day backpacking journey through the Milford Sound. Camping is not permitted on the trail in efforts to preserve nature, though you can stay in huts arranged along the trail. Be sure to book all 3 huts on your journey.XIf you want to stay during the Great Walks season (October through April), it costs $70 per night for adults. From May through October, it costs $15 a night. Children can stay for free, but booking is still required.You can check availability at https://booking.doc.govt.nz/Menu.aspx?sg=MIL.To book your hut, visit http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/fees-and-bookings/.
8Make reservations at Milford Sound Lodge if you want to stay in a hotel. This is the only hotel in the area, and the lodge caters to travelers of all budgets. You can stay in premium riverside rooms, mountain view chalets, or backpacker-style rooms. Visit https://www.milfordlodge.com/ to review options, availability, and book your stay.XThe Milford Sound Lodge is usually booked up from October through April, so make sure you book in advance!In addition, they have spots to park your RV. RV sites costs $60 (£42.37) a night. Dormitory rooms costs about $40 (£28.25) a night. Mountain view rooms cost $415 (£293.09), and riverside rooms costs $535 (£377.84) per night.
9Reserve a spot on a cruise ship if you want to explore by sea. Many cruise ships depart from either Queenstown or Te Anau, and they depart in the middle of the day or the afternoon, primarily. There are different cruises for all interests, whether you want to see the wildlife, view natural treasures, or simply travel in style.XTo reserve your cruise, visit http://book.milford-sound.co.nz/cruise/queenstown/milford-sound/homePart 3Part 3 of 3:Exploring Milford Sound
1Hike the Milford Track if you want a backpacking adventure. The Milford Track is part of New Zealand’s 9 Great Walks. It expands across Fiordland National Park and covers ice-carved valleys, mountains, forests, waterfalls, and glacier-fed rivers. It takes 4 days to walk the trail, and you must reserve huts to sleep in throughout the trip.For more information about the Milford Track, visit https://www.milford-sound.co.nz/things-to-do/milford-track/.In addition, there are many other trails you can walk if you want to hike but not go backpacking.
2Book a day tour to go sightseeing and easily explore Milford Sound. You can either book a day cruise or coach bus. Search online to find either option, and select a tour for the day you want to visit Milford Sound. You can easily make your reservations online. Provide your name and payment information at checkout. The tour bus or cruise will bring you through the Milford Sound, and they also have a tour guide to accompany your ride.XThis is a stress-free travel option, and they are usually affordable ways to get around Milford Sound.To book a bus tour, visit https://www.milford-sound.co.nz/tours/ to your review options.In addition, you can book an overnight cruise as well as a day cruise. To book a cruise, visit http://book.milford-sound.co.nz/cruise/queenstown/milford-sound/home
3Kayak through Milford Sound if you want to explore secluded areas. Search online for kayak rental companies in Milford Sound, and visit 1 when you arrive. You can easily rent a kayak for an hour, a half day, or a full day for a small fee. Then, paddle through Milford Sound!XYou can explore secluded areas that cruise ships or buses cannot reach.
4Go diving if you want an up close and personal view of the wildlife. Search online for scuba diving tours in Milford Sound, and contact a company to schedule a tour if you’d like. You can swim through cliff faces and underwater mountains. When scuba diving, you can see coral reefs, eels, stingrays, dolphins, seals, and sharks. In addition, there are over 150 species of fish in the Milford Sound area.XYou can choose from either morning or afternoon dives.There are tours available for both beginners and advanced divers.It is recommended to stay overnight after scuba diving to avoid any decompression-related health issues.
5Fish in Milford Sound if want to familiarize with local species. You can fish in Milford Sound, but you cannot fish in the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve. You can fish for Tarakihi, hapuka, kingfish, tuna, and broadbill. Pack your fishing gear and cast away!XWhen fishing for these New Zealand species, make sure you have a reel that can handle big fish. Use a short stand-up rod and 120–200 lb (54–91 kg) monofilament line. In addition, you can use a no. 4 hook. Search online to find particular bait based on the species you hope to catch.Visit https://www.mpi.govt.nz/travel-and-recreation/fishing/fishing-rules/fiordland-fishery-management-area/ for catch and release information and other fishing rules.For more information on the Marine Reserve, visit http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-marine-reserves/fiordland-marine-reserves-a-z/piopiotahi-milford-sound/.
6Visit Milford Sound Observatory to learn about the history of the area. Milford Sound has New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory. You can view the underwater ecosystems without getting wet. Look at wildlife up close and personal, and learn about the rich history of the area.XThis is a great destination for adults and children alike!The Observatory is only accessible by boat. To make arrangements and buy tickets, visit http://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/milford-discovery-centre-underwater-observatory/
7Go sailing in Milford Sound if you are a “boatie.” A “Boatie” is a term used in New Zealand to describe sailors. You can easily visit Milford Sound in your own boat, and there are marinas where you can dock your boat overnight. However, be aware that Milford Sound is one for 10 marine reserves in the national park area, and all marine life is protected.XIt is a crime to pollute or disturb the environment in any way.Before you go, visit http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/activities/boating-in-fiordland/ to review boating instructions and information.There are no boat rental services in Milford Sound, but there are some charter boat companies that offer individual tours. To find these, search online for “Charter boats in Milford Sound,” select a company, and make your reservation over the phone or online.
