In spite of its remote location on the South Island and its wet climate (roughly 200 in/550 cm of rain a year), Milford Sound is one of New Zealand's premier natural attractions. (In summer, it's visited by 50 or more tour buses a day.) Although it's called a sound, it's really a glacier-carved fjord, with sheer mountain cliffs rising up on both sides. Waterfalls spill down the rocks—there can be hundreds after a rain. Postcard-perfect Mitre Peak dominates the view if it's not covered in clouds.
Nearly all visitors to Milford Sound take a two-hour boat cruise along the length of the fjord toward the Tasman Sea and back. (Overnight cruises are also offered.) We recommend that you opt for one of the smaller boats as they can maneuver closer to the waterfalls and the aquatic wildlife. Some operators now offer kayaking and diving trips in the sound.
When it comes to getting to and from Milford Sound, there are several options. Day trips by bus can be booked from Te Anau (about seven hours round-trip) or Queenstown (12 hours round-trip). More expensive, but much quicker, are flights in small planes from Queenstown. You can also take the bus in and fly out. (We've done this, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our last trip.) If driving yourself, plan on at least two days for the trip from Queenstown. Of course, you can also walk to Milford Sound by way of the famous Milford Track. 185 mi/300 km west of Queenstown by road.
