- 1State Highway 94, the Milford Road, is the only road to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. Visit Fiordland and DOC give the distance from Te Anau as 119 or 120 kilometres, sometimes on the same page; one RealNZ page gives 118.
- 2Drive times run from about 2 hours to about 4 hours from Te Anau depending on the source and on whether you stop, and about 4 to 6 hours from Queenstown.
- 3There is no fuel on the road, DOC says snow chains may be required and part of the road is a no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk, and Visit Fiordland says you must check the NZTA road status before you set out.
01 / Start with the road
Is there only one road to Milford Sound?
Yes. State Highway 94 from Te Anau is the only road in, and the sources give its length as 118, 119 or 120 kilometres.
Visit Fiordland says State Highway 94 is the only road access to Milford Sound Piopiotahi. Its Milford Road page gives the length from Te Anau as 119 kilometres in the main text and 120 kilometres in the FAQ on the same page, and its Milford Sound page also says 120. DOC differs between pages too: its journey tips say 119 kilometres and its Milford Road and Milford Sound area page says 120. RealNZ's how to get there page gives 118 kilometres. We show every figure and do not choose between them.
02 / Drive times
How long does the drive take?
From Te Anau, sources give about 2 hours to about 4 hours; from Queenstown, about 4 to 6 hours one way, and Visit Fiordland calls it a very long day trip. The difference is mostly about stops.
| Source | From Te Anau | From Queenstown |
|---|---|---|
| DOC | About 2 hours (Milford area and Te Anau area pages) or about 2.5 hours (journey tips), without stops | About 4.5 hours one way without stops; DOC says a coach saves you the nine hour return drive |
| Visit Fiordland | A minimum of 2 hours without stopping; 3 hours with short walks; at least 3 to 4 hours (driving page) or at least 4 hours (Milford Road page) with stops for the views | Very long day trip, adding about four hours |
| RealNZ | About 3 hours one way (destination page) | About 5 to 6 hours one way (destination page); 288 km and roughly five hours with one stop, six to seven hours in winter (how to get there page); approximately 290 km and 4 to 4.5 hours including stops (day trip guide); 5 hours each way by coach (trip page) |
| Southern Discoveries | Approximately 2 hours (self drive page); about two hours (cruises page) | Approximately 5 hours |
| Pure Milford | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Tourism New Zealand | Not given | A four hour road trip |
03 / Before you leave
What should I do in Te Anau before I drive?
Fuel up, check the road status, and plan for changeable weather and patchy phone coverage.
- 01Fuel up.
DOC advises there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and RealNZ says Te Anau is the last service point.
- 02Check the road.
Visit Fiordland says you must check the Milford Road status on the NZTA website before you set out. DOC says roadside information signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Piopiotahi Milford Sound give current road condition updates.
- 03Expect changeable conditions.
Visit Fiordland says heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of the year.
- 04Plan for patchy coverage.
DOC says mobile coverage is patchy on the Milford Road. In an emergency dial 111.
04 / Winter and avalanches
Is there avalanche risk on the road?
Yes. DOC says avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November, and part of the Milford Road is a no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk.
DOC says the section of road between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. It says winter conditions on the road (May to September) can be extremely challenging, and that if you are not confident driving in winter you should take a coach. This guide gives no current conditions: read the live NZTA road status on the day you travel.
05 / Chains
Do I need snow chains?
They may be required. DOC says to check the current road conditions, and to know how to fit chains before you start.
Each point below is from DOC's journey tips.
- Check first.
Check the current road conditions, as snow chains may be required.
- Hire in Te Anau.
Snow chains can be rented in Te Anau.
- Practise fitting them.
Make sure you know how to fit them before you start your journey.
06 / The tunnel
What should I know about the Homer Tunnel?
Expect traffic signals and possible delays. Its history is told slightly differently by Visit Fiordland and DOC, so we show both.
Figures from Visit Fiordland and DOC, shown by source where they differ.
Length
When it was built
Delays at the tunnel
07 / On the way
What is on the road between Te Anau and the sound?
Toilets at Knobs Flat, and time for scenery and short walks if you allow for it. Te Anau is the place to stop for advice before you go.
Visit Fiordland recommends allowing time for the scenery and short walks on the way.
- Toilets.
DOC says public toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Piopiotahi Milford Sound.
- Te Anau visitor centre.
DOC lists the Te Rua-o-te-moko Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre at 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau.
