Milford Sound is located in the Fiordland National Park on the rugged lower South West Coast of New Zealand. It is a wild and isolated place and a little planning is required when adding it to your itinerary.
The easiest way to explore Milford Sound is on a guided Milford Sound coach tour or by booking a Milford Sound Scenic Flight Package. These options allow you to sit back, relax and take it all in, with great commentary and invaluable local knowledge on the best places to stop etc. These tour options are available from Queenstown and Te Anau and are covered more comprehensively under “Coach Cruise Coach” and “Scenic Flights” sections of this website.
For those who would like to go at their own pace and aim to journey to Milford Sound on their own to save a little money the following information will be useful in helping you to get the most out of the experience.
GPS Coordinates: S 44°38.7960′ E 167°54.3000′.
Drive Times:
If leaving from Queenstown you need to allow approximately 5 hours drive time to get to Milford Sound which allows for a few scenic stops along the way. Many people opt to break up the trip and stay a night in Te Anau, this is a good idea especially if you are aiming to make the most of an early bird Milford Sound cruise special – the morning light is spectacular in Milford Sound and it is often much less crowded.
Traveling from Te Anau you need to allow approximately 2hrs 20mins to reach Milford Sound, again this allows enough time so you are not in a rush and can take in a few scenic stops along the way.
Important:
Make sure you fill up your vehicle in Te Anau – there are no petrol stations in Milford Sound or along the Milford Road so this is your last chance.
Before setting off on your journey it is important to check the status of the Milford Road, it is the only road in and out of Milford Sound and is subject to closures year round due to challenging environmental conditions. If the road is closed and you have booked a Milford Sound Cruise – don’t worry all cruise companies give the option of a full refund or the ability to reschedule if you wish.