One Day Tour To Milford Sound, New Zealand
Contrary to its prominent name, Milford Sound is actually one of New Zealand’s South Island fiords, not a sound! Sounds are formed from overflows of river valleys, whereas Milford was formed by the erosion of glaciers overtime – making it a fiord. A remarkable one at that.
Be sure not to leave the South Island before taking a day trip to Milford Sound! Continue reading for a look at what to expect, and all of the best sights you’ll see during your day tour to Milford Sound.
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Milford Sound is about a 10 mile long inlet of the Tasman Sea, accessible through Fiordland National Park in the Southland region of New Zealand. Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Te Wahipounamu, Milford Sound is recognized for its standout landscapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, and endangered fauna.
The average cruise through Milford runs between 2 – 3 hours for a trip out to the open ocean and back, with several tour agencies to choose from (Cheeky Kiwi Travel, Go Orange, Great Sights, Cruise Milford, Mitre Peak Cruises, and more). All day cruises provide great views of the fiord, so you really can’t go wrong. This post features photos taken from a day cruise from Te Anau, but highlights key sights shown on all tours.
Tour From Te Anau
Tour From Queenstown
Lady Bowen Falls
One of the most photographed spots in the fiord, Lady Bowen Falls is the highest waterfall in Milford Sound at about 530 feet high. While many of the smaller streaking waterfalls often enjoyed in Milford are the result of the heavy rainfall seen in the region throughout the year, Lady Bowen is one of the permanent waterfalls in the fiord, fed by the Bowen River instead of runoff. So regardless of if you visit during one of the 182 rainy days Milford gets rain per year, or if you luck out with some sunshine, you will get to marvel at Lady Bowen either way!
Harrison Cove & Mount Pembroke
Harrison Cove is a peaceful, sheltered bay in the fiord that provides a clear view of Mount Pembroke in its center. Though not part of the standard day cruises, you can also sign up for a stop at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory through Southern Discoveries’ tour to take a trip 10 meters under the water’s surface and explore the surrounding coral & fish.
If you prefer a more active excursion, you are also able to sign up to kayak through the cove on your cruise through the same agency.
Seal Rock
“Seal rock,” so named for its frequent inhabitants that like to snooze on its base, is one of the only accessible landings for the local fur seals to climb up onto in the fiord. A drive-by of the rock on your cruise is one of the best ways to get a look at this threatened species up close in a natural setting. Fur seals will spend up to two days peacefully basking in the sunlight in between their adventures hunting for food in the water.
Sinbad Gully & Mitre Peak
The Sinbad Gully within Milford Sound is located behind the famous Mitre Peak, pictured below. The steep cliffs surrounding the area form prime examples of the stark & stunning landscapes that the fiord is so well known for. The gully is also home to many local species, including the rare Sinbad skink – one of the most rare lizards in the world.
Stirling Falls
Stirling Falls is another one of Milford Sound’s permanent waterfalls. Clocking in at just under 500 feet tall, Stirling is the second highest waterfall in the fiord. Cruise ships will often get so close to the waterfall that a good portion of the boat falls within its “splash zone.” Rumor has it that, much like the elusive fountain of youth, a dip in Stirling’s water will make you look ten years younger!
With so few accommodation options in Milford Sound, the cruise through the fiord itself is often only half of the day’s fun. Most visitors see the fiord as part of a day-trip from either Te Anau or Queenstown, though the drive from the latter is an additional two hours each way.
The basic full itinerary of most day-trips from either location includes a bus tour and a cruise featuring all of the Milford Sound sights listed above. Each bus tour is run by a knowledgeable host who will teach you about the surrounding land and its history as you make your way to the Sound. You will also get to disembark several times throughout your route for short walks or photo-ops. Though they may vary slightly by agency, the pit stops should be similar for all tours from each city. The remainder of this post features some common stops along the drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau:
Mirror Lakes
One of the most popular stops along the drive down Milford Road is Mirror Lakes. This stop offers the opportunity to take a short, flat walk to a small lake off of the side of the road that is so still that it provides a near “mirror” reflection of its surroundings, including the nearby Earl Mountains.
The Chasm
Another quick & flat walk to stretch your legs, the path to the Chasm will take you over two small bridges so that you can walk over a small waterfall from the forceful (and loud!) Cleddau River that runs through the forest.
Eglinton Valley
This scenic stop on your tour is a wide open valley covered in gold tussock grass with a panoramic view of the Eglinton Mountains. Surrounded by beech forests, the valley is home to a wide variety of endangered wildlife and vegetation.
Lake Gunn
The Lake Gunn Nature Walk is a short and flat loop trail through a red beech forest off of Milford Road. The sign estimates 45 minutes to complete the loop, but the total distance is only 0.9 miles so you will likely be able to complete it more quickly. At the start of the loop, you can cut through some trees to a small shoreline of Lake Gunn beneath a mountain view.
Hollyford Valley Lookout
A serene view, the Hollyford Valley Lookout is only accessible by Milford Road and peers out over the Hollyford River cutting through another beech forest. Depending on the recent rainfall at the time of your trip, this lookout also provides a relatively close view of some streaking waterfalls streaming over the nearby mountains.
Long story short, a day trip to Milford Sound is a day of endless sightseeing. With as much as is included in this post, it still doesn’t nearly capture all you’ll get to see on your trip! Let us know in the comments what your favorite spot was, and please share anything we missed!
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
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Milford Sound looks like an amazing place to be outside and explore nature! I would like to visit all of these stops, but most of all, seal rock!! It sounds so fun to go see all of those adorable seals!
Lady Bowen Falls looks beautiful! We always try to see any waterfalls we can. And seal rock would be so fun, especially for my kids!
Milford Sound looks like a beautiful place to explore! I’d love to visit Sinbad Gully & Mitre Peak, the landscape looks so dramatic! Lake Gunn looks beautiful too! Thanks for the great guide!
Wow! The photos are stunning, I’d love to see the Lady Bowen falls or the Mirror Lakes! Definitely need to add Milford Sound to my New Zealand bucket list.
What a beautiful sights! Lady Bowen Falls looks great and I’d love to pass by the seal rock
Love it!! We had a day in Milford Sound and it rained most of the time, but it was still one of our best days in NZ!! I loved all the little hikes you can do in the area too. <3
p.s. did you see the sign at mirror lakes that was upside down, so you could only read it properly as a reflection in the lake!?
what a great adventure it must have been! Such a great place, thank you for sharing!
New Zealand is so high on my list. I really want to visit one day. The scenery looks out of this world, and I’d love the chance to see seals in their natural habitat and in the wild. Thanks for the great guide.
New Zealand is super high on my travel bucket list — it looks so beautiful out there! Lady Bowen Falls is gorgeous and it’d be awesome to see those seals (they’re so cute!). :]
Those seals are so cuteeee!! I want to see all the beautiful waterfalls, especially Lady Bowen Falls!