Fiordland & Milford Sound Travelers Recommend

The peaks of the Southern Alps splinter into a dramatic landscape of cliffs, mountains, and waterways in Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose scenic crown jewel is Milford Sound. Whether you’re based in Queensland or Te Anau, you can explore Milford Sound in just one day. Here’s how to plan.

Morning: Getting to Milford Sound

Spectacular mountain scenery begins long before you arrive at Milford Sound; Fiordland National Park is one place where the journey is as spectacular as the destination. Bus trips to Milford Sound follow winding mountain roads from Queenstown or Te Anau, often with stops to walk and take photos along the way. For a glimpse of even more-remote places in Fiordland National Park, scenic flights cut right across the park’s roadless interior, giving aerial views of Fiordland’s most isolated peaks and hidden waterfalls. 

Afternoon: Mitre Peak to the Tasman Sea

Once you step off the bus or plane in Milford Sound, leave land behind altogether to discover the narrow fjord by boat. Classic sightseeing cruises of Milford Sound go from the compact harbor to the mouth of the Tasman Sea, passing seal colonies, rain-fed waterfalls, and the towering profile of Mitre Peak. If you’d rather see the sights from the waterline, guided kayak tours let you nose along the shore; while you won’t cover as much distance, the maneuverable boats are perfect for a quieter and more independent experience.

Night: Out of the Fiordlands

Very limited accommodations in Milford Sound mean most travelers leave by late afternoon, but that doesn’t mean the day is over. If you’re headed back by plane, you’ll see evening light glint off the glaciers and waterfalls. With the sun setting in the west, this is a great time for photography from the plane’s viewing windows. Coach trips are just as scenic and mean a mountain twilight on the road back to Te Anau or Queenstown. 

With two days to spend in Fiordland National Park, you can visit Milford Sound and still have time to see Doubtful Sound, both fjords as beautiful as they are remote. Start in Te Anau or Queenstown for day trips into the wildly scenic destinations, or opt for an overnight cruise to either Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound. Here’s where to start.

Day 1: Cruising Milford Sound

**Morning:**Choose between a scenic flight and overland trip as you travel to Milford Sound from Te Anau or Queenstown. Just don’t snooze through the ride, since the journey into Fiordland National Park is as dramatic as the coastal scenery.

**Afternoon:**Hit the water on the boat of your choice, with the option to cruise Milford Sound in a sightseeing boat or join a kayak tour along the shoreline. As you head toward the Tasman Sea, watch for the native seals, dolphins, and birds that thrive in the pristine environment.

**Night:**Head back to shore for the return trip through Fiordland National Park, unless you’ve opted for an overnight cruise. Keep your camera out for the return journey, since evening is a gorgeous time to see the winding roads, lakes, and peaks that you’ll pass along the way.

Day 2: Doubtful Sound Discovery

**Morning:**Spend your second day in Fiordland exploring remote Doubtful Sound, which enchants with clear water, soaring granite, and resident penguins. Get there by boat and coach from Te Anau, then step off the bus to take a closer look; as with Milford Sound, exploring Doubtful Sound is best done by boat. 

**Afternoon:**The lush vegetation that grows here is thanks to impressive annual rainfall, but boats with both indoor cabins and open-air decks ensure you can see Doubtful Sound in any weather; if you arrive in a rainstorm, you’ll be treated to views of the fjord transformed by hundreds of waterfalls.

**Night:**Unless you’re on an overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound, enjoy sunset views as you wind back through Fiordland National Park on your way back to Te Anau; all that exploring means working up an appetite, but you’ll be back in time for dinner.

With three days in Fiordland, you can explore seal colonies, hike into the rain forest, and soar above the mountains and coast at Fiordland National Park; enjoy outdoor adventures in Milford Sound; and still have time to take a day trip to remote Doubtful Sound. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: Flying Over Fiordland

To get your bearings and take in the full scale of this oversize landscape, take a flight above Fiordland National Park from Te Anau or Queenstown and see tumbling waterfalls, remote glaciers, stony mountain peaks, and hidden lakes. When Milford Sound finally comes into view, touch down to see the magnificent fjord from water level and try to spot fur seals and dolphins. After you take in Milford Sound’s wildlife and scenery, board the plane for a return trip to Te Anau or Queenstown, or add on a Milford Sound cruise or guided hike for an all-day adventure.

Day 2: Active Adventure in Milford Sound

Stretch your legs on your second day with a hike or paddling trip to Milford Sound. If you’ve already flown there, consider traveling from Te Anau by bus, as you’ll get a different perspective on the park, stopping to walk and snap photos along the way. At Milford Sound, kayak trips can take you into tiny coves and inlets too small to see from a full-size sightseeing boat, and hiking is the perfect way to explore the thick forests that flank the fjord. Even if you’re not planning a multi-day trek along the Milford Track, you can get a taste on a day-long trip that begins and ends with a boat ride.

Day 3: Travel to Doubtful Sound

On your last day in Fiordland, set your sights on beautiful Doubtful Sound, far to the southwest of Milford Sound. Here the cliffs are higher, the views are bigger, and the inlet is longer, but the remote location means you’ll share it with far fewer visitors. Day trips from Te Anau combine overland coach travel with a boat trip, since visitors must cross Lake Manapouri to access the road to Doubtful Sound. Once you reach the fjord, watch for penguins and bottlenose dolphins. In addition to the basics—camera, waterproof jacket, and some warm layers—throw a bottle of bug repellent in your bag, since the sandflies in Doubtful Sound can be a nuisance.

Home to some of New Zealand’s most epic scenery, Milford Sound is prime cruising territory, with towering glacier-cut peaks, dramatic waterfalls, and cute-as-a-button seal colonies awaiting around every turn of the fjord. Here’s what you need to know about overnight cruises in Milford Sound.

Highlights

• Experience the peaceful natural splendor of the fjord in the evening after the day-tripping crowds have departed.

• Watch as the dark skies above Fiordland National Park become blanketed in a canopy of stars.

• Rise at dawn and soak up the silence of the early morning as the rising sun illuminates the waters.

• Sail by scenic highlights, such as the imposing Mitre Peak, whose summit is covered with snow for much of the year.

• Take part in kayaking RIB boat excursions during your overnight cruise.

• Watch for wildlife, such as seals, penguins, and dolphins, in the surrounding waters.

Things to Know

• Overnight cruises typically depart from Milford Sound and often include land transfers from Queenstown or Te Anau.

• Most overnight cruises include dinner and breakfast on board.

• Most cruise ships that operate on Milford Sound are relatively small, with a capacity of between 60 and 70 passengers, and thus offer an intimate experience.

• Overnight cruises typically dock at sheltered bays for the night and include accommodation in private en suite cabins.