Let me tell you all about how exactly to travel from Queenstown To Milford Sound. I will go over your transport options such as driving, taking a bus or a flight, and let you know what to expect, travel times, how to book, and more!
Now if you are traveling in the South Island of New Zealand one of those must visit highlight places is Milford Sound. The closest major town to this is Queenstown, so therefore a lot of travelers often find themselves looking to travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound.
Now looking at these two places on a map they are crazy close together! Unfortunately, what you can’t see is the mountain range making this route inaccessible, meaning taking a longer way around. But surely there has got to be a better option?
Well as a Kiwi myself, albeit from further North, I have spent quite a bit of time traveling around the South Island checking out all the tourist hot spots, including traveling from Queenstown to Milford Sound.
So let’s get into what is exactly the best transport method to make this journey, is it worth booking a 12 hour long bus tour, or should I just hire a car, and so much more!
How To Travel From Queenstown To Milford Sound: BEST Transport Options
🚌 How I Book Cheap Buses In New Zealand: Intercity
Queenstown To Milford Sound Distance
Now as I briefly touched on in the introduction Milford Sound and Queenstown look crazy close together on a map! Surely they can dig through the mountains and create us an ultra modern highway?
Well unfortunately not, and considering the famous 1.4 kilometer Homer Tunnel took nearly 20 years to build, it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Therefore the distance from Queenstown to Milford Sound is approximately 287 kilometers / 178 miles by road via Te Anau.
Honestly, it doesn’t sound too long especially if you go on the fact that driving an average of 100 kilometers per hour should take you 3 or so hours to complete. However, it should be noted the second half of the journey can be quite windy and difficult, especially if you have bad weather or are traveling in winter.
Queenstown To Milford Sound Travel Time
Typically, on a straight journey traveling from Queenstown to Milford Sound would take around four hours by car. Though this is a super scenic drive and you will want to allow plenty of opportunities to stop.
Some of the highlights include:
- Eglinton Valley
- Mirror Lakes
- Monkey Creek
- Homer Tunnel
- The Chasm
- Hollyford Valley Lookout
- Tutoko River Bridge
Those are just SOME of the things you can see along the Milford Sound Highway so it’s pretty easy to see how you can stretch out the driving time quite a bit more.
Alternatively, if you can’t be bothered sitting in a car or bus all day there is the other option of taking a scenic flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound. This is a lot quicker taking about 40 minutes, short cutting through the mountains and providing some epic views along the way.
Drive From Queenstown To Milford Sound
One of the most popular ways to travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound is by driving yourself. Whether you have your own vehicle down there or decide to hire one, this is a great option if you want a bit more freedom.
Also, driving allows you to start early and beat the tour buses, which are no fun to be stuck behind on the roads. Especially for someone who gets a bit antsy behind large vehicles who will be blocking some epic views. Because the roads, especially on the second half of the journey, are quite windy, it leaves little chance to overtake.
However, with that comes a few cons that you will definitely need to consider before deciding if driving is the right choice for you.
The road between Queenstown and Te Anau may be relatively straight forward, but the one to Milford Sound can be quite demanding. This is especially so in winter when conditions can be icy and snow-covered. Drivers need to be prepared for potential delays, carry snow chains, and know how to fit them.
The journey can also be tiring, especially for those not used to driving long distances on winding New Zealand roads. Keep in mind that the route is remote, with limited services and amenities along the way, so it’s essential to be well-prepared with fuel, food, and water.
The total drive will take you around 4 hours, however there are numerous places worth stopping along the way. Regardless you will definitely want to make sure you stop to top up fuel in Te Anau, as this is the last place to do so on the journey.
Where To Hire A Car In Queenstown
Unless you own a car in New Zealand, and it is decent enough to make the journey through the mountains (mine definitely wouldn’t), you will need to look into a car or camper hire in Queenstown.
You don’t need to worry whether you get a 4WD or not on the road to Milford Sound. It is all sealed, you may just come across a gravel carpark which is the norm in NZ. You will just need to make a return trip to Milford Sound in one day or book accommodation overnight (which can be pricey).
Most major car rental companies have branches at Queenstown Airport, including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, and Europcar. This makes it easy to pick up a vehicle as soon as you arrive.
In addition to the airport, you can find car rental agencies in the town center, such as Apex Car Rentals, Omega Rental Cars, and JUCY Rentals.
Alternatively, you will also have the option to hire a campervan, which is exactly what we decided to do. There are completely of hire companies out there though the most popular are Britz, Maui, and Jucy Rentals.
We ended up booking with Maui as they were the mid budget option and had a deal on at the time. Of course, we made sure we had snow chains when we picked up the camper and knew how to use them.
Honestly, I made my partner drive the whole way as I was not experienced nor comfortable enough to drive larger vehicles, which is something you need to keep in mind if you hire a beefy one. Some campervan rental companies will also rent out converted vans, which are a lot easier to drive,
Nevertheless, make sure you take out insurance and drive to the condition!
My Experience Driving To Milford Sound
We decided to do an overnight trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown while we rented a campervan in the South Island for the month of June. However, I will be the one to say it was very touch and go regarding the weather and the roads being closed.
However, luckily enough we woke up and everything was open, no matter the questionable weather so we packed up from our Queenstown campsite and headed on our way. Now the drive is quite uneventful, well compared to what is to come until you reach Te Anau where we made a petrol stop.
Weather was still alright so we headed on with the first signs of rain reaching us as we drove along. Stopping at Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lake we grabbed our umbrella before continuing further into Fiordland. The deeper we went the worse the weather got.
It didn’t help that this was the off season and there was a lot of road works going on. New gravel is being spread over the road, and a lot of stopping bays are closed off. No views were to be seen at the famous Hollyford Valley Lookout.
Luckily continuing further into the mountains the rain started to calm and clouds slowly started to lift. We pulled over at Monkey Creek. Here we were really able to see the snowy mountains peaking through and appreciate our surroundings.
Continuing on we had to wait at the Homer Tunnel for traffic to pass, though lucky we had a couple of naughty keas to keep us company. As a Kiwi tunnels aren’t really part of the norm here, so it was quite a strange experience going through such a narrow one!
However, it proved worth it as the other side is no doubt the best view in all of Fiordland National Park. From the heavy rain, waterfalls were cascading 360 degrees around us down the mountainsides. Honestly, it was ethereal, and that is something I have never said before.
Unfortunately, all stopping areas were closed, something you will get used to visiting Milford Sound in winter, so my partner carefully drove the camper while I hung my camera out the window, in the rain, determined to get a good photo.
Heading closer to Milford Sound we decided to make one last stop before arriving. This was at Tutoko River Bridge which was surprisingly pretty cool. The water was moving under the bridge so powerful from all the heavy rain that it honestly felt like it could be washed away.
Luckily enough it was just a short drive from here to our campsite at the Rainforest Campervan Park. However, you know we popped down to the shore of Milford Sound first off to get a glimpse of some more incredible views!
🚌 How I Book Cheap Buses In New Zealand: Intercity
Bus Tour From Queenstown To Milford Sound
If you aren’t too keen on driving yourself the perfect option is taking a bus tour to Milford Sound departing from Queenstown. A lot of travelers use this option if they are traveling solo or limited on time. Plus it takes the pressure of you driving and navigating the roads in a foreign country!
There are PLENTY of reputable tour operators offering bus tours to Milford Sound.
Typically the itinerary looks like this:
- Departure Around 7 am
- Pass By Lake Wakatipu
- Te Anau Morning Break
- Eglinton Valley
- Mirror Lakes
- Monkey Creek
- Homer Tunnel
- Milford Sound Cruise & Lunch
- Te Anau Afternoon Break
- Return To Queenstown approx 7 pm
A cool thing about the buses used to operate these tours is that they typically have glass roofs. This means you can still look up and check out those incredible mountain views all from the comfort of your seat.
My personal favorite bus tour is run by Pure Milford which offers a Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full-Day Trip.
The price of this tour is $245.00 NZD / $150.00 per person, though it includes transfers, lunch, tea and water, a cruise around Milford Sound, as well as a guide.
No matter which tour you end up deciding to book you should know it is a full day tour which no doubt will leave you exhausted. There is a lot of time spent on the bus as it does take 4 hours to reach Milford Sound, however, the drivers are great at making plenty of stops allowing you to check out the highlights.
Private Tour From Queenstown To Milford Sound
Now if you aren’t keen on a tour no worries you can also book private tours from Queenstown to Milford Sound. These are definitely on the pricey side, however for a lot of people exploring New Zealand is a once in a lifetime experience, so it’s worth it.
And think about it, you don’t have to share a bus with 35+ other people, waiting for them at each stop, or pulling over when someone gets motion sick. To be honest the price is definitely worth it if you can afford it!
Nevertheless, you can book the Milford Sound Private Tour With Lunch and Boat Cruise over on Viator. They do require a minimum booking of 2 people so it’s a good choice if you are traveling as a couple, friend group, or family. I know solo travelers, but unfortunately, this one isn’t for us.
You can enjoy the freedom of getting to stop wherever and whenever you want for those epic photos. Plus you will have a knowledgeable driver/guide who will tell you all about the area.
Not only do you have a private transfer, you will also get a private boat cruise around Milford Sound. This will allow you to really appreciate your surroundings, without all the tourists pushing for photos. Also, a big plus is you will have a better chance of seeing wildlife as it will be a whole lot quieter.
Scenic Flight Tour To Milford Sound From Queenstown
Last, but nowhere near least is our final option of taking a scenic flight tour to Milford Sound from Queenstown. Here you will cut across the mountains, with some incredible views, with a travel time of only 40 minutes one way!
This is a great option if you are under a time constraint or perhaps don’t want to spend 8+ hours on a bus, which I totally understand.
Just note that by doing the scenic flight you do miss out on the stops along the Milford Sound Highway. However, the views you see from the plan easily rival this, and will no doubt be one of the highlights of your trip.
If you are considering a flight and cruise tour the Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat, run by Milford Scenic Flights is a great option.
It is definitely a pricey option costing $645.00 NZD / $395.00 per person, but keep in mind this is a once in a lifetime experience, and it is definitely on my bucketlist!
Enjoy a bit more of a sleep in, before boarding your plane on your complimentary window seat. Sit back and relax as you soar over mountains, glaciar fed lakes, and some of the best views the South has to offer.
On arrival at Milford Sound, you will jump onboard a boat and cruise around for 2 hour cruise to explore from the water and check out the views at a lower level. Then take that same epic flight back over Mt Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park.
🚌 How I Book Cheap Buses In New Zealand: Intercity
Milford Sound Travel Tips
Now you know exactly how to get to Milford Sound let’s get into some other tips worth knowing for your visit.
Where To Stay In Milford Sound
Well, you will just need to worry about staying in Milford Sound if you decide to drive there since booking a tour has same day return transfers.
Honestly, you don’t HAVE to stay in Milford Sound, but I do highly recommend it as it will take your experience to the next level. You can spend more time here, do local hikes, hang on the shoreline for sunrise or sunset, and just take your time appreciating the beauty.
Now you do need to know you are SUPER limited when it comes to accommodation in Milford Sound itself. There is only one option here called Milford Sound Lodge. Be aware before clicking on that link, it is pricey, but you can be assured of a comfortable stay, with epic views, and incredible hospitality, plus breakfast and dinner are included in the rates.
If you happen to be traveling in a camper, congratulations you have a second choice! This is the Rainforest Campervan Park which is actually where I ended up staying. It is located on the same property as Milford Sound Lodge, and the facilities provided for the campers are super nice. It’s a lot more affordable than the lodge rooms, but still quite pricey for a powered site.
THE place to stay here in Milford Sound. They have incredible rooms in an equally incredible location. Prices start from $370.00 in winter and $620 in summer this breakfast and dinner included. BOOK NOW |
Located halfway between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and surrounded by nature. Rooms here start from $140.00 per night which is great considering the location! BOOK NOW |
Your budget friendly option in Te Anau. Dorms rooms start from $25.00 per night, and they also have private rooms available. BOOK NOW |
A clean and comfortable typical kiwi motel, the perfect choice for families. Double rooms start from $100.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
Things To Do In Milford Sound
So if you have free time in Milford Sound what exactly is there to do here? I don’t want to drive myself the entire way just to find absolutely nothing going on apart from the obligatory boat cruise!?
Well, luckily for you there are plenty of things to do here in Milford Sound. And since you mentioned it we will start with the boat cruise and work our way down:
- Scenic Cruises: Yes, one of the most popular activities here is taking a scenic cruise. You will get a chance to see some cool wildlife, explore the fjord and its incredible cliffs, as well as admire some cray waterfalls!
- Kayaking: For those seeking to really get close up to the water, kayaking in Milford Sound is another option. Enjoy going for a paddle through the calm waters allowing for a truly close view. Guided kayaking tours provide all the necessary gear, including wetsuits and waterproof jackets to keep you warm.
- Scenic Flights: As I touched on somewhere up there, a scenic flight over Milford Sound offers a unique perspective of the dramatic landscapes. From above, you can see the full extent of the snow-capped peaks, and glacial valleys. Flights depart from Queenstown, Te Anau, or Milford Sound itself, so you can drive there and still take a scenic flight.
- Hiking and Nature Walks: There is a heap of hiking trails in and around Milford Sound for such a small town. Though surrounded by such beautiful nature it is no wonder why. If you are short on time the Milford Sound Foreshore Walk is an easy trail that provides excellent views of Mitre Peak. Another popular option is the Chasm Walk, which takes you through the native forest to a powerful waterfall.
- Visiting the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory: To check out the underwater life happening here, you can visit The Underwater Observatory at The Milford Discovery Centre. Located 10 meters below the surface, you will get the opportunity to see a variety of marine life and black coral, all while staying warm and dry.
FAQs About Traveling To Milford Sound From Queenstown
Can you do Milford Sound in a day from Queenstown?
Yes, you can do Milford Sound in a day from Queenstown. It typically involves an early start, a scenic drive or bus tour, a boat cruise on the Sound, and then the return journey, all within a full day.
What is the best way to get from Queenstown to Milford Sound?
The best way to get from Queenstown to Milford Sound depends on your preference. A scenic flight offers stunning aerial views and saves time, while a bus tour provides convenience and informative commentary. Driving yourself offers the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
Is it safe to drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound?
Yes, it’s generally safe to drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound, but be cautious. The road can be challenging, especially in winter with ice and snow. Ensure your vehicle is well-equipped, check weather conditions, and carry snow chains if necessary. Drive carefully and allow extra time for stops.
Can I drive myself to Milford Sound?
Yes, you can drive yourself to Milford Sound. The journey offers stunning scenery and flexibility for stops. However, be prepared for challenging road conditions, especially in winter. Ensure your vehicle is well-equipped, check weather updates, and allow extra travel time for a safe and enjoyable trip.
Wrap Up: How To Travel From Queenstown To Milford Sound
No doubt traveling from Queenstown to Milford Sound is 100% worth it for those epic views and wildlife encounters. So mentally prepare yourself for a long day on the road, or for your wallet to be drained by a scenic flight.
Nevertheless, whatever option you choose, whether that is driving, booking a bus tour, doing a scenic flight, or splashing out for a private experience you will have an incredible time!
Milford Sound is a highlight in New Zealand and even though it can be a long and pricey journey it is a must do.
Any Questions? Let Me Know In The Comments!
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Want more New Zealand Inspiration? Check out….
- HIKING THE TONGARIRO ALPINE CROSSING
- WHITE ISLAND: NEW ZEALANDS MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO
- WAIHORA LAGOON: BEST SHORT WALK IN TAUPO
- BEST WATERFALLS IN MILFORD SOUND
- HOW TO TRAVEL FROM QUEENSTOWN TO MILFORD SOUND
- FIORDLAND & MILFORD SOUND LORD OF THE RINGS FILMING LOCATIONS
- HOW TO FIND THE MILFORD SOUND SWING
- VISITING MILFORD SOUND IN THE RAIN
- BOWEN FALLS IN MILFORD SOUND
- VISITING MIRROR LAKES IN FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK
- EGLINTON VALLEY, FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK
- VISITING MILFORD SOUND IN WINTER
- MONKEY CREEK, FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK
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