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MILFORD SOUNDTOURISM
Waterfall pouring down a forested cliff into dark water under storm cloud, with a small red boat to the left

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Milford SoundPiopiotahi

One road in, a fiord at the end of it, and weather that changes the day. Guides to the whole park, with every source named.

See cruises and toursPlan your visit

Every fact names its source. Live readings from NZTA, MetService, MET Norway, LINZ and GeoNet.

Fiordland right now

Track and park alerts

Check DOC before you walk

DOC publishes current Fiordland alerts and track updates. We link to them rather than copy them.

DOC Fiordland alerts

On the water

Get out on the fiord

Tours and guides that fit this page. A price shows only after a recent check against the booking site's data.

6 featured experiences and guides3 featured guides

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Aerial view of the Eglinton Valley on a fine day: the braided Eglinton River across grassy flats and beech forest, mountains beyond, with the road through the valley at lower left
Guide field note

Driving the Milford Road

Getting there

Distance, drive times by source, closures and chains.

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Mitre Peak and Milford Sound under low rain cloud, seen over bush from a lookout platform with a rain-wet information panel and a visitor in an orange rain jacket
Guide field note

Plan a trip

Visiting

Timing, weather, cruises and the rules at the fiord.

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Guide field note

Winter on the Milford Road

Getting there

Chains, avalanche season, the no-stopping zone and rain by source.

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Mitre Peak and Milford Sound under low rain cloud, seen over bush from a lookout platform with a rain-wet information panel and a visitor in an orange rain jacket

Plan a first visit

When to arrive, the rain, the rules and how long things take

Read the guide Aerial view of the Eglinton Valley on a fine day: the braided Eglinton River across grassy flats and beech forest, mountains beyond, with the road through the valley at lower left

Drive the Milford Road

Read McKinnon Pass on the Milford Track under deep snow, seen from the air, with snow-covered peaks and a forested valley beyond under a clear blue sky

Walk the Milford Track

Read Mitre Peak rising above Milford Sound under a clear blue sky, with tidal flats, still pools and tussock in the foreground and forested cliffs on the left

The fiord itself

Read Three bottlenose dolphins swimming underwater in blue water, with bubbles near the surface

Fiordland wildlife

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Choose a cruise

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Visit in summer

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The road in

Te Anau to the fiord, in order

SH94
the only road to Milford Sound
2 to 4 hours
from Te Anau, by source and by how often you stop
No fuel
on the road. Fill up in Te Anau

  1. Te Anau

    Start

    Fuel, advice and a road check before you go.

  2. Mirror Lakes

    About 56 km

    400 metres return, 10 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.

  3. Lake Gunn

    78 km on DOC's walk page, 71 km on its campsite page

    A flat 1.4 km nature walk, 45 minutes.

  4. The Divide

    About 85 km

    Key Summit starts here, 3 hours return.

  5. Homer Tunnel

    Beyond The Divide

    Expect signals and delays. Kea are often seen here, so watch your belongings.

  6. The Chasm

    About 109 km

    400 metres return, 20 minutes. Wheelchair accessible.

  7. Milford Sound

    118, 119 or 120 km, by source

    The road ends at the fiord.

Part of the road is a no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk.

Drive the Milford RoadEvery short walk on the way

Through the year

What usually happens, and when

From DOC pages. This is the usual pattern, not today's conditions.

The full nature calendar

  1. December to February

    Summer

    Alpine buttercups and daisies around the Homer Tunnel once the snow has cleared. Tawaki can sometimes be seen in the moult, mid-January to early March.

    Great Walks season on the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks.

  2. March and April

    Autumn

    The tawaki moult ends in early March.

    The Great Walks season ends on 30 April 2027. The Milford Journey stays busy until April.

  3. May and early June

    Early winter

    DOC says avalanches usually occur in the park from May to November.

    Outside the Great Walks season. Cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain are more common.

  4. June to August

    Winter

    The tawaki breeding season starts in July. When snow is heavy, takahē move to the forest.

    Expect closures and delays on the road from snow and avalanche. Snow chains may be required.

  5. September to November

    Spring

    The tawaki breeding season runs to November. Each spring, whitebait begin their migration up the Hollyford River.

    On the Milford Track, snowmelt makes rivers rise faster, with higher avalanche risk from mid-September to late October.

Beyond the fiord

The rest of Fiordland National Park

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