How To Get To Milford Sound

About Milford Audio

Milford Sound is a fiord (not a sound) which was created by the erosion of ancient glaciers over 600 million years ago. The township has a very small number of shops, which are gas stations, a café (inside of the information centre), and other offerings for visitors in the expanse such every bit scuba diving tours and an observatory. There are plenty of walks around this area, as it is located in the Fiordland National Park.

RealNZ Boat prowl in Milford Sound

5 Quick Facts Nearly Milford Township

1. The Milford Audio township has a permanent population of approximately 120 people in total.
2. This township is very pocket-sized, however up to 1 million tourists visit this area annually.
3. There is no cell phone coverage in Milford Sound.
4. Currently there is merely one accommodation provider in town, however there are plenty of DOC Huts and camping areas to stay in for a small fee.
5. There is one road into Milford Sound unremarkably known every bit the Milford Road, which is State Highway 94.

Best Activities in Milford Sound

Being ane of New Zealand's height visitor attractions, the Milford Sound has plenty of activities and things to do- from scenic cruises to fishing and hiking. Hither'south some of the all-time activities to do in Milford Sound:

• Kayaking in the Milford Sound is a not bad way to witness the surrounding wildlife and nature. You'll go plenty of time to explore, with your guide pointing out paddling tips and unmissable sights.
• The Milford Track is one of Department of Conservation's (Physician) Neat Walks, which takes almost 4 days to complete. You'll demand to book a bed in the huts and arrange a transfer to the Milford Rail.
• The Milford Audio Observatory is New Zealand's only floating underwater observatory. This will have you x meters beneath ocean level, where you lot tin can view marine life such as blackness coral species, which are usually plant at 500 meters below in the ocean.
• Book a scenic cruise for a guide will take you lot to the best sightseeing spots effectually Milford Sound. Yous'll see wildlife, spectacular waterfalls and untouched native bush.

Kayaking in Milford Sound with Real Journeys

Transport to Milford Sound

There are limited options for ways to send into the Milford Sound; these include booking a bus or coach, self-driving or past air if you're leaving from Queenstown. Below we'll talk over how to travel to Milford Sound, along with the perks and disadvantages associated with these.

Cocky-Drive to Milford Sound

Cocky-driving to the Milford Audio is a very popular selection for send to get there. The Milford Route is the only access route into the Milford Audio, which starts in Te Anau. This route is roughly 120km, but don't be fooled to retrieve this is a quick drive! Motorway 94 is known for it's steep incline at points, too as winding corners which makes this drive take approximately 4 hours 15 minutes (288km) in total from Queenstown or 121km from Te Anau, which works out at roughly 2 hours (depending on weather conditions). Information technology's packed full of beautiful scenery to stop and enjoy during the drive, so brand the nigh and terminate for a few breaks! This road is known to be mentally enervating for drivers, and so residuum breaks are a must.

Benefits of cocky-driving to Milford Sound:

• Make the most of this beautiful bulldoze and end along the Milford Road at many swell sightseeing attractions, such as Eglinton Valley, Homer Tunnel and The Chasm.
• Take as long every bit you like when y'all are self-driving; you're on your own schedule!
• This road is suitable for campervans and sleepervans to drive

Disadvantages of self-driving to Milford Sound:

• If you're unfamiliar with driving in New Zealand or have lilliputian experience, information technology volition be more enjoyable if yous let someone else do the driving.
• The Milford Sound collects over 6 meters of pelting annually, which means this road can sometimes temporarily close due to slips or water on the road.

Bus or Charabanc to Milford Sound

Taking a omnibus or a bus to Milford Sound is great because you can accept in the amazing scenery without having to focus on driving as well. There are many companies which run passenger vehicle tours and coaches to Milford Sound, with many making at least i stop for y'all to get the perfect photo opportunity. Some coach tours too talk nigh areas when passing, making a more interesting and insightful journey to your destination. Due to the steep road and stops for photograph opportunities, busses tend to take at least 30 minutes longer compared to travelling in a machine.

Bus motorcoach ship on the Milford Road, NZ

Benefits of double-decker or charabanc to Milford Sound:

• Your experienced jitney driver will know this road well- they've probably driven it more times than you can count! Residual assured knowing you're in safety hands to sit down back, relax, and have in the incredible surrounding vistas.
• Your bus driver is also likely to know where people like to end and accept photos the well-nigh!

Disadvantages of bus or double-decker to Milford Sound:

• These trips can sometimes have a leisurely pace to them- these tend to be slower than driving.
• During peak seasons, double-decker and coach tours can ofttimes be full, meaning you lot'll need to book in accelerate to ensure your spot.

Fly to Milford Sound

Travelling to Milford Sound by air from Queenstown is another transport option. This will take considerably less time, totalling roughly 40 minutes in the air when parting from Queenstown. This mode of transport is another swell way to have in the cute scenery from a unlike perspective, nevertheless, will be pricier.

Alt Tag: Scenic flying tour in Milford Sound, NZ

Benefits of flying to Milford Sound:

• Utilise your flight as both send and a scenic flight between Queenstown and Milford Sound- The view is unreal.
• Flight instead of using the Milford Road will decrease your travel time significantly, making it from Queenstown to Milford in less than a quarter of the time.

Disadvantages of flying to Milford Audio:

• Milford Sound transfers past air tin be much more pricy than other transport options.
• Weather of the unpredictable Milford Sound could affect flight plans, which may mean your flight could be postponed.
• Booking tends to be essential for air ship to Milford, with some companies requiring a minimum number of people too.

Milford Sound has to be 1 of the best places to visit in New Zealand for and then many reasons- if you lot're wanting more inspiration check out 8 reasons why Milford Sound is a 'Must Do' in New Zealand, or browse our list of experiences in Milford Sound.

The Milford Audio is known for many things; lush rainforests, waterfalls, the Milford Track Groovy Walk, and the stunning (but sometimes challenging) Milford Road. Keep reading to discover transport options to get to Milford Sound including benefits and disadvantages of each, likewise every bit things to do in Milford Sound and facts about the township.

Almost Milford Audio

Milford Sound is a fiord (not a sound) which was created by the erosion of ancient glaciers over 600 million years ago. The township has a very small number of shops, which are gas stations, a café (within of the information center) and other offerings for visitors in the area such as scuba diving tours and an observatory. At that place are plenty of walks around this expanse, as it is located in the Fiordland National Park.

v Quick Facts About Milford Township

1. The Milford Sound township has a permanent population of approximately 120 people in full.
2. This township is very small-scale, even so upwardly to ane one thousand thousand tourists visit this expanse annually.
3. There is no cell phone coverage in Milford Audio.
4. Currently in that location is only one accommodation provider in boondocks, nevertheless there are plenty of DOC Huts and camping areas to stay in for a small-scale fee.
5. There is one road into Milford Audio commonly known equally the Milford Road, which is State Highway 94.

Best Activities in Milford Audio

Being ane of New Zealand's acme visitor attractions, the Milford Sound has plenty of activities and things to do- from scenic cruises to fishing and hiking. Here's some of the all-time activities to do in Milford Sound:

• Kayaking in the Milford Audio is a great fashion to witness the surrounding wild fauna and nature. You lot'll get plenty of time to explore, with your guide pointing out paddling tips and unmissable sights.
• The Milford Track is one of Department of Conservation's (Doctor) Great Walks, which takes about iv days to consummate. Yous'll need to volume a bed in the huts and conform a transfer to the Milford Runway.
• The Milford Sound Observatory is New Zealand's just floating underwater observatory. This volition take yous 10 meters below body of water level, where y'all can view marine life such as black coral species, which are usually found at 500 meters below in the ocean.
• Book a breathtaking cruise for a guide will have you to the all-time sightseeing spots around Milford Sound. You'll see wildlife, spectacular waterfalls and untouched native bush-league.

Transport to Milford Sound

In that location are limited options for ways to transport into the Milford Sound; these include booking a bus or double-decker, self-driving or by air if you're leaving from Queenstown. Below we'll discuss how to travel to Milford Sound, along with the perks and disadvantages associated with these.

Cocky-Drive to Milford Sound

Cocky-driving to the Milford Sound is a very popular pick for transport to get there. The Milford Road is the only access road into the Milford Audio, which starts in Te Anau. This road is roughly 120km, but don't be fooled to think this is a quick drive! State highway 94 is known for its steep incline at points, likewise as winding corners which makes this drive take approximately four hours 15 minutes (288km) in full from Queenstown or 121km from Te Anau, which works out at roughly 2 hours (depending on weather weather condition). It's packed total of cute scenery to stop and enjoy during the drive, so make the about and end for a few breaks! This road is known to exist mentally demanding for drivers, so rest breaks are a must.

Benefits of self-driving to Milford Audio:

• Make the nigh of this cute drive and stop along the Milford Road at many great sightseeing attractions, such as Eglinton Valley, Homer Tunnel and The Chasm.
• Accept as long as you like when yous are self-driving; you're on your own schedule!
• This route is suitable for campervans and sleepervans to bulldoze

Disadvantages of self-driving to Milford Sound:

• If you're unfamiliar with driving in New Zealand or have little experience, it volition exist more than enjoyable if yous let someone else do the driving.
• The Milford Audio collects over half-dozen meters of rain annually, which means this route tin can sometimes temporarily shut due to slips or h2o on the road.

Bus or Coach to Milford Sound

Taking a coach or a autobus to Milford Audio is dandy considering you can take in the amazing scenery without having to focus on driving too. There are many companies which run bus tours and coaches to Milford Sound, with many making at least one stop for you lot to get the perfect photo opportunity. Some coach tours likewise talk about areas when passing, making a more interesting and insightful journey to your destination. Due to the steep road and stops for photograph opportunities, busses tend to accept at to the lowest degree 30 minutes longer compared to travelling in a auto.

Alt Tag: Motorbus charabanc send on the Milford Road, NZ

Benefits of bus or coach to Milford Audio:

• Your experienced bus driver volition know this road well- they've probably driven it more times than you lot tin can count! Rest bodacious knowing you're in rubber hands to sit back, relax, and accept in the incredible surrounding vistas.
• Your bus driver is also likely to know where people like to stop and have photos the almost!

Disadvantages of charabanc or coach to Milford Audio:

• These trips can sometimes have a leisurely step to them- these tend to exist slower than driving.
• During tiptop seasons, bus and omnibus tours can often be full, significant you lot'll need to book in advance to ensure your spot.

Fly to Milford Audio

Travelling to Milford Sound past air from Queenstown is another transport option. This will take considerably less time, totalling roughly 40 minutes in the air when departing from Queenstown. This way of transport is some other cracking mode to take in the beautiful scenery from a dissimilar perspective, withal, will be pricier.

Alt Tag: Scenic flight bout in Milford Sound, NZ

Benefits of flying to Milford Sound:

• Apply your flight as both send and a breathtaking flight between Queenstown and Milford Sound- The view is unreal.
• Flying instead of using the Milford Route volition decrease your travel fourth dimension significantly, making information technology from Queenstown to Milford in less than a quarter of the time.

Disadvantages of flying to Milford Sound:

• Milford Audio transfers by air can be much more pricy than other send options.
• Conditions of the unpredictable Milford Audio could touch on flying plans, which may mean your flight could be postponed.
• Booking tends to be essential for air transport to Milford, with some companies requiring a minimum number of people as well.

Milford Sound has to exist one of the best places to visit in New Zealand for so many reasons- if you're wanting more inspiration check out 8 reasons why Milford Audio is a 'Must Do' in New Zealand, or browse our list of experiences in Milford Sound.

Source: https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/milford-sound-travel-information-town-facts-best-activities/

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