Te Anau to Milford Sound: Milford Sound Cruise
Cruise Milford Sound and experience one of the most beautiful and wettest places on earth that almost virtually untouched by humans. Sitting in Fiordland National Park on the South Island (Te Waipounamu), Milford Sound is one of our top tourist destinations for locals and international tourists, due to its pristine environment and amazing landscapes. Taking a Milford Sound cruise has always been on my travel to-do list so this is the first thing we booked when we touched down in Queenstown in 2018.
I’ve been to some pretty isolated regions during my time of travelling, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt as isolated as I did at Milford Sound. The one road in, one road out system through Homer Tunnel makes Milford Sound feel a lot more rural than it should be. But getting to the other side of Homer Tunnel made the 2-hour drive from Te Anau well worth it.
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About Milford Sound, New Zealand
Milford Sound is located on the South Island of New Zealand, around a 2-hour drive from Te Anau and 8 hours round trip from Queenstown. It rains on average 182 days a year and can have an annual rainfall of 6,412mm, making it the wettest place in New Zealand, so no matter what your origin-destination is always take a jacket and beanie along for the trip.
Milford Sound is approximately 16km from the head of the fiord out to the Tasman Sea. The fiord is also included in a UNESCO world heritage site that covers other areas in the region. Due to its untouched, natural landscape and rugged terrain, unspoiled by mass human disruption allowing natural wildlife and ecosystems flourish.
Around 120 people populate the area, and small lake flies are the biggest contender for air space. A scarf wrapped around your face will make for a more pleasant experience when waiting to board your vessel.
A Milford Sound Cruise can be booked online through the following website, otherwise, you can visit any of the tourist kiosks at Queenstown airport to pre-book. https://www.milford-sound.co.nz/milford-sound-cruises/
Getting from Te Anau to Milford Sound
If you have a personal vehicle then getting to Milford Sounds from Te Anau is easy enough, but if you’re staying in Queenstown then I would suggest booking a return trip tour with your Milford Sounds cruises, otherwise check out this Queenstown to Milford Sound road trip itinerary. There are a few companies that offer the 8 hour round trip with a helpful tour guide to drive and guide you through the amazing landscapes on your way to Milford Sounds. However there is also nothing stopping you from driving the return trip back to Queenstown yourself if you wish, it’s definitely a doable drive but it would make for a long and tiresome day.
We stayed in Te Anau for 2 nights while we visited Milford Sound, as the distance from Te Anau to Milford Sound is much more manageable in a day compared to the 8-hour round trip from Queenstown. If you’re travelling through the snowy season you’ll see some amazing sights of snow capped mountains and beautiful low lying fog until at least mid morning which makes for amazing photos.
The drive was just as spectacular as the sound itself and is worth being awake for as a passenger. We traveled during the middle of spring so the snow was scarce, however, it was layered on the mountain tops and scattered within the ranges. The air was crisp and the fog was just settling below mountain peaks when we set off at 08:30 am
There is only one road in and out of Milford Sound, called Milford Road or State Highway 94. This route includes Homer Tunnel, which is a 1.2km long tunnel that opened in 1953. Be careful though, there are usually scavengers that eagerly wait outside the Home tunnel begging for scraps of food… they might be small, cute and fluffy but please don’t feed the Kea! They are New Zealands’ very loved alpine parrot and you’ll only really see them at high altitude and cold climate. Be careful when you set off again that there isn’t one standing in front of your car.
Passing through the eerie Homer tunnel was interesting; natural granite rock lined the tunnel with yesterday’s rainwater and condensation dripping onto the road. A couple of lights are spread throughout the tunnel so you have to rely heavily on your headlights unless you are lucky enough to have a bus lighting the way ahead.
If you have time for a quick stop, the Chasm waterfall has an awesome view. It’s a short distance from the roadside after Homer Tunnel and a perfect excuse to stretch your legs. Even if you’re not keen on a walk, the car park is a good place to see or hear Kea being the curious and mischievous parrots they are.
The Chasm is a series of powerful waterfalls billowing through a channel in the native forest and over centuries creating perfectly formed round holes and swirls in the rocks. It’s awesome after rainfall as you will get to experience the sheer power water can create.
Milford Sound Boat Cruise
The Milford Sound cruise can be anywhere from an hour to two hours long that takes you through some of the most incredible sights untouched by humans. The remote location means skyscrapers only exist in the form of mountains and busy city life doesn’t taint the peaceful silence. The highest mountain in the area is Mt Tutoko which stands at 2,723 meters. And the most popular mountain is Mitre Peak; standing at 1,692 meters. The height doesn’t sound like much, but due to the weather in the region it is almost always covered by cloud. So grabbing a picture of the peak is a rarity.
The best time to visit Milford Sound would be during the winter months when rainfall is heaviest. The waterfalls increase with size and volume with incredible force and can be seen clearly cascading down mountain sides and into the sea, witnessing any of these at full capacity would make for a worthwhile trip and amazing photographs.
How to Book a Milford Sound Cruise
There are several companies that run a range of cruises and tours on Milford Sounds, from day cruises to overnight stays and guided bus tours from Queenstown. Companies like Southern Discoveries, Mitre Peak Cruises and Jucy Cruises offer cruises at great prices; starting from $70 and up. Just click on any of their links and book a cruise online
Wildlife at Milford Sound
If you’re lucky you may see some wildlife that calls Milford Sounds home; seals will usually be sunbathing on any cluster of rocks at the bottom of any of the cliffs and waterfalls, ducks are a pretty typical sight depending on the weather, and dolphins and penguins are known to pop out and say hello every so often as well. Do make sure you pack some bug repellant as Milford Sound is home to a ton of tiny flies. Kea is also a common site on the road out to Milford Sound, they usually live high up in the mountains but come closer to civilization when temperatures drop during winter.
TOP TIP
When taking a Milford Sound cruise, take lunch with you. We made the mistake of dining at the cafe and paid $5 for a can of coke. A dry, white sandwich cost me more than I could have imagined; I could hear my wallet screaming at me from my back pocket.
