Cruising Through Milford Sound In New Zealand's South Island - Updated 2024

Cruising Through Milford Sound In New Zealand's South Island - Updated 2024
Charlene
Charlene 
Updated
| 4 min read

Milford Sound definitely tops the list of every traveler’s New Zealand South Island itinerary, and it’s no wonder why. Facing some of the most beautiful landscapes, tall mountains, loud cascading waterfalls thundering into the depths below, and the occasional dolphin bobbing​ in their natural habitat, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with this geographical wonder.

History behind this geographic beauty

Milford Sound
Source: Istock

There are several myths and stories about how Milford Sound was created some 400 million years ago. The most recent one was during the Ice Age, when it was formed by the erosive effects of a glacier. Ice firmly embedded itself from the mountaintops down to the valleys, and when the ice melted later, it left behind lakes like this one, and the rising sea flooded in to create the fjords around the coast.

Milford Sound is known to be the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand. It rains about 182 days a year, and the rain is the push factor behind the splendid waterfalls that can be observed during a boat ride.

Route to nature's masterpiece

There are plenty of ways to get to Milford Sound: by air (plane / helicopter), coach, or own transport. While the flight to Milford Sound surely provides a unique experience and panoramic views of ice-blue glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and lakes, you’ll get an equally magnificent experience if you go there by car. It’s about a 1.5-hour car ride from Te Anau, but allow yourself more time because the roads there are narrow and winding and can be dangerous if you’re not careful! (Don’t speed!) Car rides can get a little boring, and sometimes you can’t help but allow your eyes to take a rest. But resist all urges to fall asleep, for there’s so much to see and admire on the road to Milford Sound.

There are so many lookout points on the way to stop by and take pictures, so give yourself more time to explore those stunning beauties as well. We stopped by Mirror Lakes and The Chasm, which were both spectacular. For a brutally honest opinion, the Mirror Lakes were equally mesmerizing as the other lakes on New Zealand’s South Island. After spending some time in New Zealand, you can’t help but get a little used to how beautiful the scenery is. The Mirror Lake is beautiful, but you may find that there’s no wow-factor to it; it can be a good diversion and stop to stretch the legs though.

Cruise through the 8th Wonder of the World (from USD 75.69)

cruising through milford sound in new zealand's south island | cruise through the 8th wonder of the world

Activities are plentiful at Milford Sound, but the one that cannot be missed is the boat cruise. Prices vary depending on the type of cruise. We took the scenic cruise, which was 1.5 hours long. You can book your tickets on the spot or in advance, and the great news is that booking ahead might save you some money! We booked online from Jucy Tours, and saved 10 NZD (approximately 7 USD) per person.

You get some of the most breathtaking views on Earth, with large waterfalls crashing down and rugged rocky formations that look similar yet different at the same time. Throughout the ride, there will be an audio recording telling you what to look out for and providing you with more information about the different rocks and waterfalls. If you’re fortunate enough, you’ll be able to spot the occasional dolphin, seal, and penguin! For some cruises, you can even reach out and touch the sheer rock cliffs and catch pure, snow-fed​ glacial water in a cup for a thirst-quenching drink! There are so many different types of cruise available, but however you do it, Milford Sound is an extraordinary experience not to be missed.

Milford Sound: Nature Cruise on Premium Glass-Roof Catamaran

Duration: 2.0 hour

583 reviews

A haven for nature junkies (from USD 99.0)

Nestor notabilis -Fiordland, New Zealand-8b
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mark Whatmough used under CC BY 2.0

Milford Sound is a haven for nature junkies. It is home to several rare species of bird. The most commonly found one is the kea, which is part of the parrot family. You wouldn’t have thought that the kea is a rare species, since its so commonly found in the area, but, in fact, there are only a few keas in the world! These birds are some of the most intelligent birds in the world, and they are really friendly! They like to hang around tourists because they’re likely to feed them food, but do resist feeling them as kea’s have a strict diet of local plants, berries, roots, and grubs. Feeding them might actually do more harm than good.

The Milford Track is also popular among tourists for its stunning wilderness. It runs for 53.5 kilometers (33.2 miles) from Te Anau to Milford Sound. It will be a great experience for those who love nature and trekking, but skip this during winter unless you’re properly geared and equipped.

Half-Day Milford Track Guided Hiking Tour

Duration: 4 hours

25 reviews

Why everyone should visit Milford Sound

Fans of the Lord of the Rings may know Milford Sound as one of the film sites for the world-famed trilogy. Others may know it as a top thing to do in New Zealand. The beauty of Milford Sound is that it’s constantly changing. Its formation has changed tremendously over the years, and it will continue to change as long as Planet Earth exists. Milford Sound was just land a million years ago, and today it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It’s amazing how something so beautiful can be created out of destruction. Nature is unpredictable, so you should visit this natural rugged beauty while you still can! More information:

Jucy Tours

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Charlene likes to write, especially when its about her feelings and experiences. Travel has always been of her interest as she believes the world has so much more to offer her. She has travelled to...Read more

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