Home/Top places …/Piopiotahi Milford Sound
The best way to experience Milford Sound's majestic beauty is on a scenic Milford Sound cruise. Nestled in the heart of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is one of the most stunning places in New Zealand.
Famous for its powerful waterfalls, dramatic mountains rising from the waters and the kilometre-high Mitre Peak. Visitors are transported to a prehistoric world and immersed in raw New Zealand nature. Experience it all on a scenic cruise with RealNZ. Choose from a Day Cruise, Overnight Cruise, or Premium Cruise, with coach and flight transport options available.
How ever you choose to experience Milford Sound, let us take you on an adventure you'll never forget. Grab your camera and join us in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
ExperiencesMore InfoImagesVideos
Filter Our Experiences
Displaying items with:
Save 10% | Code: Milford10Milford SoundMilford Sound CruisesFrom NZD$135 Book NowView Details
Canapes and Bubbles IncludedMilford SoundMilford Sound Premium CruiseFrom NZD$219 Book NowView Details
Milford SoundMilford Sound Overnight CruisesFrom NZD$599 Book NowView Details
Book NowView Details
Te AnauMilford Track TransportFrom NZD$129 Book NowView Details
Overview
Grab your camera and join us in one of the most beautiful places on earth – Milford Sound.
In Milford Sound you’ll see towering cliffs and peaks – including the much photographed and iconic Mitre Peak that rises more than a kilometre straight out of the sea. Waterfalls cascade into the fiord and luxuriant rain forest clings to sheer rock faces in this breathtaking place.
Milford Sound Nature Cruise
You can travel to Milford Sound in our custom-built glass roofed coaches so you won’t miss views of the mountains, glaciers and rainforest … yep, you’ll need the camera on the coach. Or for a different perspective of Milford Sound, take a scenic flight from Queenstown.
Once there, join a Scenic cruise or go on a more leisurely and informative Nature cruise. For an immersive Milford experience, join one of our overnight cruises aboard our traditionally designed scows.
To explore this magnificent area in a more intimate way and at sea level, our sea kayaking adventures are perfect.
However you choose to experience Milford Sound and whatever its mood - teaming with rain, shrouded in mist or glistening in the sun – prepare to be inspired!
About Milford Sound
Milford Sound is the most well-known and most accessible of all the fiords in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Area. Its 16 kilometre (14 nautical miles) length is lined by sheer rock faces that soar 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more from the water. At 1692 metres, the iconic Mitre Peak is a spectacular sight and New Zealand’s most photographed mountain.
Milford Sound is in the heart of a rainforest (annual rainfall is 6,813mm or 268 inches) which creates walls of temporary waterfalls on a wet day receding to just two permanent waterfalls (Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls) in drier conditions.
Glorious on a fine day, Milford Sound’s ethereal, moody beauty in the rain is equally spectacular.
To explore this magnificent area in a more intimate way and at sea level, our sea kayaking adventures are perfect.
Getting There
The journey to Milford Sound is just as spectacular as the destination itself, whether you travel by road or by air.
Milford Sound is around 5-6 hours (one-way) from Queenstown and around 3 hours from Te Anau by road.
We have specially designed luxury coaches with experienced drivers that can get you there from both these towns or if you prefer we can get you there on one of our scenic flights. You could also drive yourself to Milford Sound.
The famous Milford Road
The best way to enjoy the Milford Road, one of the world’s finest alpine roads without having to worry about the often tricky driving conditions, is on one of our coaches. Our experienced coach drivers know all the right places to stop and take in the magnificent views of the Milford Road. Along the way, they will provide you with informative commentary about the region, its history and natural surroundings.
Our flights and coaches connect with our cruises. We can also organise helicopter flight connections if preferred.
If you decide to self-drive, do overnight in Te Anau as the trip to Milford and back from Queenstown can get very tiring. Also, leave plenty of time to stop at the many scenic trails and sightseeing lookouts along the way.
- Road to Milford Map(pdf 590KB)
+ More
– Less
Weather
Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world with a mean annual rainfall of 6813mm (268 in). It rains for around a 180 days of the year, with rainfall reaching 250mm (10 in) over a 24 hour period.
The temperature in Milford can vary depending on the season and can go from an average high of around 19C in summer (Dec - Feb) to around 9.5C in winter (Jun - Aug).
Flora & Fauna of the region
Tenuously clinging to the steep rock faces of the fiord, the beech tree canopy towers over a rich green world where ferns, mosses and lichen flourish. Shallow rooted, this ecosystem depends on heavy rainfall for survival - the same rain which causes massive slips often sending whole tracts of forest crashing into the water below.
Native New Zealand birds thrive in this nearly untouched wilderness – tui, bellbirds, kea and even the rare kakapo and takahe. Colonies of New Zealand fur seals and other sea life thrive in the fiord which is home to a marine reserve. Bottlenose dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and little penguins are also resident in the fiords.
The high rainfall has also created a unique underwater environment - as fresh water drains through the lush forests, it becomes stained with tannins to the colour of strong tea. This dark water sits on top of the seawater blocking light and allowing normally deep sea life to exist in relatively shallow waters. The fiords support the world's biggest population of black coral trees - about seven million colonies, some of them up to 200 years old. They are home also to brachiopods; primitive clam-like animals that have been bypassed by evolution, remaining unchanged in over 300 million years.
+ More
– Less
History
Milford Sound is believed to have been discovered by the Maori over 1,000 years ago. They named the sound Piopiotahi after the legend of a single Piopio bird which flew here mourning the death of its partner.
Milford Sound was well known to Maori but not discovered by Europeans until 1812 when Captain John Grono named it Milford Haven after his homeland in Wales. Its name was later changed to Milford Sound by Captain John Lort Stokes.
The fiord’s natural beauty soon became well known. The Mackinnon Pass was discovered in 1888 and soon became part of the Milford Track – now one of the world’s great walks and the Homer Tunnel was developed in 1954 to provide road access to the fiord.
Explore Map
Why RealNZ?
- Tourism pioneers since 1954
- Local experts
- Multi-award winning
- Best price guarantee
Learn More
Did You Know?
The popular origin of why Milford Sound was called Piopiotahi by local Maori was that it came from a native bird, the piopio, now thought extinct.
Legend has it that when mythical adventurer Māui died, a single piopio flew to the sound in mourning.
RealNZ | Milford Sound Sovereign Day Cruise
RealNZ | Milford Sound Sinbad Day Cruise
RealNZ | Milford Sound Mariner Overnight Cruise
RealNZ | Milford Sound Haven Day Cruise
