How long from milford sound to queenstown

Let's say you're actually planning a road trip to Milford Sound, and you want to stop on the way to explore. If it's a real road trip, you might want to check out interesting places along the way, or maybe eat at a great restaurant.

That's what Trippy is perfect for, helping you figure out travel plans in detail. Drive for about 2 hours , then stop in Te Anau and stay for about 1 hour. Next, drive for another 57 minutes then stop at Milford Track and stay for 1 hour. Finally, drive for about 22 minutes and arrive in Milford Sound. To see all the details on this itinerary, including recommended restaurants, hotels, and things to do along the way, check out the full road trip planner: Road trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound Plan a trip to Milford Sound Trippy has a ton of information that can help you plan your trip to Milford Sound.

Start by reading the Trippy page on where to stay in Milford Sound. We include extra walks along the way and also your nature cruise on world-famous Milford Sound. Departing Te Anau at 7. Our knowledgeable local guides will astound you with jewels of information about the National Park and the people who lived there. Along the Milford Road we will take you to all the best photo stops and a few special places that only locals know about!

With at least 15 stops along the journey you will need plenty of space on your camera. The engineering feat of the Homer Tunnel will amaze as you travel underneath the mountain. The operation of blasting through the rock to make the tunnel is truly staggering. On arrival at Milford Sound your guide will provide you with our delicious picnic lunches and take you to the wharf ready to board the boutique Cruise Milford vessel. The skipper and crew will give you a warm welcome and will be your personal guide throughout the cruise as they mingle amongst the guests.

Your local driver-guide will meet you after the cruise to continue your journey in the Fiordland National Park. The only tour to visit the Hollyford Valley we will take you to a spectacular cascading waterfall followed by our famous picnic in the park for morning or afternoon tea.

Get to the carpark here via Holyford Road , off of the main Milford Road. This glacier-fed spring has water so pure you can drink it straight from the source! In fact, be sure to fill your bottle here! Despite its name, there are definitely no monkeys here. The rare Whio blue duck lives in the creek and the parking lot is a good place to see another kea.

Just before the Homer Tunnel, you will be greeted with the Gertrude Valley lookout point. From here spot the snow-covered peaks of the Darran Mountains, including Marian Peak. This is a short stop suited to the entire family. If you want a crazier adventure you can walk from the viewpoint to the Gertrude Saddle which will take around 6 hours. The Gertrude Saddle Route is only 7 kilometers 4.

Seriously, parts of the hike are dangerous and people have lost their lives on the trail. Kids should not attempt this scramble! Possibly one of the most famous sites on the road from Queenstown to Milford Sound is the Homer Tunnel which was completed in Construction of the tunnel took almost 20 years due to the dangerous nature of its location and 3 workers sadly lost their lives during the construction of the tunnel.

The road through the Homer Tunnel is sealed but very narrow. The tunnel itself is 1. In the winter, this area is prone to avalanches, and stopping is not allowed. Coming up to the tunnel is quite eerie especially on a rainy day when the valley surrounding it has lots of little veins of waterfalls running down. A moody atmosphere. If you get a red light you can wait up to 20 minutes.

The Hundred Falls are quite literally hundreds of veins waterfalls gushing down the side of a high rock face. These falls are especially majestic after a clearing storm.

Luckily, Milford Sound is in the wettest region in New Zealand so chances are you will see something. This is just a quick 5 minute stop — take some photos and continue on your way to Milford Sound. Follow a short trail for about 20 minutes, and you will be greeted with the mighty Chasm waterfall.

It only gets more powerful with heavy rainfall. The two footbridges over the Cleddau River give you the best viewing points for the waterfall. The stone is so smooth it looks like marble! The huge amount of water that falls here gives you an idea of just how much rainfall this area gets.

This is where it gets tricky and booking the right cruise departure time is important. For example, if you plan on doing your cruise the same day you leave Queenstown or even Te Anau then you need to pick a late afternoon cruise so you have time to enjoy the drive. Remember, if you do this, you will have to drive back to Queenstown or Te Anau afterward unless you decide to stay in Milford Sound. However, if you decide to stay in Milford Sound, I suggest doing your cruise the next morning and taking your time with the drive.

For the first option, I recommend booking this small-group tour with Cruise Milford at pm. If you need more time there is this pm scenic cruise but it is on a larger vessel. Those are the two latest cruises without doing an overnight cruise which leaves at pm. This is ideal if you plan to enjoy the road trip and then head back to Te Anau or Queenstown afterward. If you plan on staying at the Milford Sound Lodge then you should instead spend the entire day on the road, enjoy the sunset at the Milford Sound foreshore, and then do your cruise first thing the next morning.

The best part about this is Milford Sound is quiet before lunchtime when the tour buses arrive. For this option, I recommend booking t his nature cruise that leaves at am. That way you can wake up, have breakfast and do one of the first cruises in the morning.

Although a small country, buses between destinations are infrequent and expensive. Plus, some of the best experiences you can have in NZ are on road trips! You have three options when it comes to getting wheels in New Zealand; a car, a campervan, or a motorhome.

On the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound, there truly is no shortage of amazing stops. Thanks so much for reading! I sincerely hope you found this guide helpful If you did find this blog helpful, then be sure to browse around I have so many more blogs about Nz including a guide to the absolute best road trips on the South Island!

Thank you for this blog. I have driven to Milford from Queenstown before but needed a good refresher on what to expect. Driving there again in April. Thank you for the information and tips. Gail Mullon. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content This blog may contain affiliate links.

The end point is this magnificent place! How far is the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound? The drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound is How long does it take to drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound? What are the best stops between Queenstown and Milford Sound? Private Drivers. Transportation Passes. Transportation Rentals. Transportation Services. Unique Experiences. Things to do in Queenstown.

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Where to Find the Best Views in Queenstown. How to Get to Milford Sound from Queenstown. South Island. Tongariro National Park. North Island. New South Wales. South Australia.

When are you traveling? Select Dates. Up to 1 hour. Time of Day. Rating Clear. Free Cancellation. Likely to Sell Out. Private Tour. Viator Exclusive. New on Viator. Half-Day Tours Those short on time can take in the highlights on a half-day tour, with options including a combination flight and cruise with round-trip flights from Queenstown landing in the heart of Fiordland National Park. Full-Day Tours Full-day tours mean you can spend more time exploring and soak up the scenery on the spectacular drive from Queenstown.

Helicopter Tours The sweeping glaciers, rugged mountains, and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound are dazzling from the air, and helicopter tours offer the ultimate aerial view. Day tours from Queenstown typically last between 10 and 13 hours. Filter Close. Traveler Rating. Price Low to High. Price High to Low. Duration Short to Long.

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The glacial waters, soaring cliffs, and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound are spectacular from all angles, and this half-day tour takes in all the highlights.

Hotel pickup and drop-off is included. Face masks required for travelers in public areas. Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff. Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas. Arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand, Milford Sound offers a sweeping landscape of jagged snow-capped mountains, shimmering fjords and lakes, towering waterfalls and emerald greenery.

Travel with a small group by coach from Queenstown to Fiordland National Park to explore this lush wilderness, including a boat cruise on the Milford Sound. Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized. Upon reaching Milford Sound, board a luxurious catamaran. Peer through panoramic windows of a luxury coach while you travel through the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park with a guide, before a memorable sightseeing cruise by Mitre Peak and the magnificent cliff-side waterfalls of Milford Sound.