# Milford Sound Tourism > Full text for answer engines. Each fact names its source and validity. ## Guide: milford-road-driving-and-safety Review status: accepted - State 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. - Drive 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. - There 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. ### 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. ### 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 | ### 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. - Fuel 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. - Check 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. - Expect changeable conditions. Visit Fiordland says heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of the year. - Plan for patchy coverage. DOC says mobile coverage is patchy on the Milford Road. In an emergency dial 111. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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 Visit Fiordland gives the Homer Tunnel as 1.3 kilometres long. The DOC pages we read give no length. - When it was built Both say work began in 1935. Visit Fiordland says it was not finished until 1953; DOC says difficult conditions and the Second World War delayed completion until 1954. - Delays at the tunnel DOC says traffic signals at the Homer Tunnel can cause delays of up to 20 minutes. ### 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. ### Driving to Milford Sound: questions answered - How far is Te Anau from Milford Sound? 118 to 120 kilometres, depending on the source. Visit Fiordland gives both 119 and 120 on its Milford Road page (119 in the text, 120 in its FAQ) and 120 on its Milford Sound page; DOC gives 119 on one page and 120 on another. RealNZ's how to get there page gives 118. - Is there fuel on the way? No. DOC advises there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and RealNZ says to fuel up in Te Anau. - When is avalanche risk highest? DOC says avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November, and that the road between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. Check the live road status before you go. - Do I need snow chains? They may be required. DOC says to check the current road conditions, that chains can be rented in Te Anau, and that you should know how to fit them before you start. - Where do I check if the road is open? On the NZTA website: Visit Fiordland says you must check the Milford Road status there before you set out. DOC adds that roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Piopiotahi Milford Sound give current road condition updates. Sources: Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); DOC: planning your journey (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Southern Discoveries: self-drive (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-self-drive); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); DOC: Lake Te Anau area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-te-anau-area/); RealNZ: how to get to Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-get-to-milford-sound/); Pure Milford: what to expect on your cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/journal/what-to-expect-on-your-milford-sound-cruise); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound cruises (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/); RealNZ: day trip guide (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/day-trip-to-milford-sound-from-queenstown/); RealNZ: day trip from Queenstown (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/day-cruises/milford-sound-day-trip-from-queenstown/) ## Guide: plan-a-trip-to-milford-sound Review status: accepted - DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds, as traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. - Expect rain: DOC says up to 7 metres a year, Visit Fiordland says around 6.5 to 7 metres, and Tourism New Zealand advises not to cancel a trip because rain is forecast. - A cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours according to RealNZ. DOC says facilities are kept to a minimum, pets are not permitted, and you should take out all you bring in, including rubbish. ### When should I arrive at Milford Sound? After 1.30 pm if you can. DOC says traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. DOC advises arriving in Milford Sound / Piopiotahi after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds, as traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. A DOC media release of 12 February 2026 reported a record summer at Piopiotahi Milford Sound with limited on site parking that fills quickly. Both points are seasonal, so check them with DOC before a summer trip. ### How much time do I need at the fiord? With a cruise booked, DOC says to allow at least 2 hours for the journey from Te Anau. Sources then give 30 minutes to an hour to park and reach the terminal, and up to about 2 hours on the water. | Activity | Time | Who says | | --- | --- | --- | | Parking and walking to the terminal, if you have a cruise | One hour (journey tips) or 45 minutes (media release); the release also says to allow at least 2 hours for the journey from Te Anau | DOC | | Parking and getting transport or walking to the cruise terminal | 30 minutes | Visit Fiordland | | Parking and transferring to the terminal | 45 minutes to 1 hour | RealNZ | | Parking and the 15 minute walk to the terminal | Up to 45 minutes | Fiordland Discovery | | Day cruise | 1.5 to 2 hours on the water | RealNZ | | Nature Cruise | Up to 2 hours, arrive 20 minutes before departure | Southern Discoveries | ### How wet is Milford Sound? Very. DOC says up to 7 metres of rain a year; Visit Fiordland says around 6.5 to 7 metres and up to 9 metres. DOC says Piopiotahi Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in New Zealand, with up to 7 metres of rain each year, and that weather can change quickly. Visit Fiordland says it receives around 6.5 to 7 metres of rain a year, has had up to 9 metres, and calls it the wettest inhabited place on the planet. Neither page explains how its figure was measured, so we show both. For the wider Fiordland area, DOC's weather page gives an average of about 7 metres a year over an average of about 200 rain days. Tourism New Zealand says it has roughly 180 days of rain each year and advises not to cancel a trip because rain is forecast: when it rains, it says, the mountains are draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls. Rain does not change the need to check the NZTA road status before you drive. ### How warm is it? Tourism New Zealand gives typical highs of 19 degrees Celsius in summer and 10 degrees in winter. | Season | Typical high | Who says | | --- | --- | --- | | Summer, December to February | 19 degrees Celsius | Tourism New Zealand | | Winter, June to August | 10 degrees Celsius | Tourism New Zealand | | Spring, September to November | Higher rainfall and even snow to sea level are possible | Visit Fiordland | ### What should I pack, and what does DOC ask of visitors? Pack for all weather, take your rubbish home, leave pets at home and do not feed the kea. - Pack for the day. DOC advises packing extra food, water, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent for the Milford Road, and its media release adds wet weather gear. - Facilities and rubbish. A DOC media release says visitor facilities are kept to a minimum and that people should take out all they bring into the park, including rubbish. - Pets. DOC's journey tips say not to take your dog, as pets are not allowed in Fiordland National Park. A DOC media release adds that this applies even in your vehicle, because pets pose a serious threat to wildlife. - Wildlife. DOC says not to feed kea or other wildlife, because human food can harm them and change their behaviour. ### What facilities, rules and safety advice apply? Toilets are few, there is no drone flying without a permit and no freedom camping beside the Milford Road, and after a strong earthquake you move to higher ground away from the water. Each point is from DOC. - Toilets. Public toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Piopiotahi Milford Sound. - Drones. Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited in the Milford Road and Milford Sound area. - Camping. Freedom camping within 200 metres of the road is not allowed on the Milford Road. There are several DOC campsites between Te Anau and The Divide. - Earthquakes. A large earthquake could trigger a landslide generated tsunami in Piopiotahi Milford Sound. Drop, cover and hold, then move to higher ground away from the water. - Arriving on foot. The Milford Track finishes at Sandfly Point, with a 20 minute boat trip to Milford Sound, where there are bus services back to Te Anau and on to Queenstown. ### What is the fiord like? Long, steep and deep, and part of a national park. Each figure is from the source named. - Length Visit Fiordland and DOC's Milford Road nature and history page both say Milford Sound Piopiotahi runs 16 kilometres to the sea. DOC's kayaking page heads its Milford paddling section 18 km, without saying what that figure measures. DOC says it is in the northwest of Fiordland National Park. - Mitre Peak RealNZ says Mitre Peak rises nearly 1,700 metres from the surface alone. - One of fourteen DOC says fourteen fiords, some stretching up to 40 kilometres inland, extend from Milford Sound Piopiotahi in the north to Preservation Inlet in the south. ### What wildlife might a cruise show? RealNZ names dolphins, fur seals and two kinds of penguin, with tawaki sightings less predictable. RealNZ says these animals are present year round, with tawaki sightings less predictable. - Bottlenose dolphins and New Zealand fur seals. Present year round according to RealNZ. - Tawaki and little blue penguins. Tawaki is the Fiordland crested penguin. ### Planning a trip to Milford Sound: questions answered - What time should I arrive? DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds, as traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. - Should I cancel if rain is forecast? Tourism New Zealand advises not to: when it rains, it says, the mountains are draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls. Visit Fiordland says to check the NZTA road status before you drive. - Can I take my dog? No. DOC says pets are not allowed in Fiordland National Park, and its media release says this applies even in your vehicle. - Can I fly a drone? Not without a permit. DOC says flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited in the Milford Road and Milford Sound area. - How long is a cruise? RealNZ says a day cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours on the water. Southern Discoveries says its Nature Cruise takes up to 2 hours. - How warm is it? Tourism New Zealand gives highs of 19 degrees Celsius in summer, December to February, and 10 degrees in winter, June to August. Sources: DOC: planning your journey (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: media release, record summer (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Fiordland National Park (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); RealNZ: how to choose a cruise (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-milford-sound-cruise/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Southern Discoveries: Nature Cruise (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/nature-cruise/); DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/); Fiordland Discovery: overnight cruise (https://www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/fiordland-cruises/milford-sound-overnight-cruise/) ## Guide: milford-road-winter-and-wet-weather Review status: accepted - DOC says winter conditions on the Milford Road, May to September, can be extremely challenging, and that avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November. - Snow chains may be required: DOC says they can be rented in Te Anau and that you should know how to fit them before you start. - DOC says the road between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. - Rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of year, so Visit Fiordland says to check the NZTA road status before you set out. This guide gives no live conditions. ### Should I drive the Milford Road in winter? Only if you are confident driving in winter conditions. DOC says winter on the road can be extremely challenging, and that otherwise you should take a coach. DOC describes winter on the Milford Road as May to September and says conditions can be extremely challenging. Its advice is plain: if you are not confident driving in winter, take a coach. DOC also suggests a coach so you can enjoy the scenery, and notes that from Queenstown it saves you the nine hour return drive. Avalanche risk runs longer than those months: DOC says avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November. ### Which months need the most care? May to September for winter road conditions and May to November for avalanches, on DOC's dates. | When | What the source says | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | May to September | Winter conditions on the Milford Road can be extremely challenging | DOC, journey tips | | May to November | Avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park | DOC, know before you go | | June to August | Typical winter high of 10 degrees Celsius at Milford Sound | Tourism New Zealand | | September to November | Spring can bring higher rainfall and even snow to sea level | Visit Fiordland | | Any time of year | Cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur | DOC, know before you go | ### How do I get ready for a winter drive? Check the road status, sort out chains, fuel up, pack for the cold and leave from 9 am. - Check the road status. 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. - Sort out chains. DOC says snow chains may be required, that they can be rented in Te Anau, and that you should know how to fit them before you start your journey. - Fuel up. DOC advises there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound. - Pack for the cold. DOC advises packing extra food, water, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent, and a DOC media release adds wet weather gear. - Leave later in the morning. DOC says traffic is lower in winter, so it is advisable to leave from 9 am onwards. ### Where can I not stop? Between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm. DOC says that section is a restricted 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. Plan your photo stops for other parts of the road. Separately, DOC says traffic signals at the Homer Tunnel can cause delays of up to 20 minutes, so allow for waiting time as well as driving time. ### How much rain falls? DOC says up to 7 metres a year at Milford Sound and about 7 metres on average for the Fiordland area; Visit Fiordland says around 6.5 to 7 metres and has been known to receive up to 9 metres. The pages do not explain the difference, so we show each. | Source | Figure | Scope | | --- | --- | --- | | DOC, journey tips | Up to 7 metres of rain each year | Piopiotahi Milford Sound, which DOC calls one of the wettest places in New Zealand | | Visit Fiordland | Around 6.5 to 7 metres a year, and up to 9 metres | Milford Sound, which Visit Fiordland calls the wettest inhabited place on the planet | | DOC, Milford Track page | Up to 9000 millimetres a year | The whole of Fiordland National Park, not Milford Sound alone | | DOC, weather page | An average of about 7 metres a year, over an average of about 200 rain days | The Fiordland area, not Milford Sound alone | | Tourism New Zealand | Roughly 180 days of rain a year | Milford Sound; DOC gives about 200 rain days for the Fiordland area | ### What does heavy rain mean for the drive? Expect conditions to change quickly. A forecast tells you what may happen; only the road status on the day tells you whether the road is open. What DOC and Visit Fiordland say about weather on the road. - Weather changes quickly. DOC says weather at Piopiotahi Milford Sound can change quickly, and that Fiordland weather is highly changeable, so prepare for all conditions. - Hazards on the road. Visit Fiordland says you may meet heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris on the road at any time of the year. - Phone coverage. DOC says mobile coverage is patchy on the Milford Road. In an emergency dial 111. ### The Milford Road in winter: questions answered - When is winter driving hardest on the Milford Road? DOC says winter conditions on the road, May to September, can be extremely challenging, and that avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November. - Do I need snow chains? They may be required. DOC says to check the current road conditions, that chains can be rented in Te Anau, and that you should know how to fit them before you start. - What time should I leave in winter? DOC says traffic is lower in winter, so it is advisable to leave later in the morning, from 9 am onwards. - Can I stop anywhere on the road? No. DOC says the section between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. - How much rain falls at Milford Sound? Several metres a year. DOC says up to 7 metres each year; Visit Fiordland says around 6.5 to 7 metres a year and up to 9 metres. - Should I drive or take a coach? DOC says that if you are not confident driving in winter you should take a coach, and that from Queenstown a coach saves you the nine hour return drive. Sources: DOC: planning your journey (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Fiordland National Park, know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: media release, record summer (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/) ## Guide: milford-track-basics Review status: accepted - DOC lists the Milford Track in Fiordland National Park: 53.5 kilometres one way, walked in one direction over 3 nights and 4 days. - It starts on Lake Te Anau and finishes at Sandfly Point on Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, with a boat trip at each end. DOC's four days run 5, 17.5, 13 and 18 kilometres, over Omanui/McKinnon Pass (1154 metres) on day 3. - DOC says there are three huts, which must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season, and camping is not permitted. - DOC gives the 2026/27 Great Walks season as 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. Outside it, DOC says the track is only for fit, experienced, well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills. ### What is the Milford Track? A one way walk of 53.5 kilometres in Fiordland National Park, from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound, over 3 nights and 4 days. DOC lists the Milford Track in Fiordland National Park, in the Fiordland region, and gives it as 53.5 kilometres one way, walked over 4 days. It can only be walked in one direction, over 3 nights and 4 days: you start on Lake Te Anau and finish at Sandfly Point on Milford Sound. DOC says there are three huts on the track and that camping is not permitted. Everything in this guide comes from DOC. It gives no hut fees, prices or availability: check those with DOC when you plan. ### What are the key figures? 53.5 kilometres, one direction, three huts, and a boat at each end. The season dates below are for 2026/27 only. | Topic | What DOC says | Detail | | --- | --- | --- | | Length | 53.5 kilometres one way | Walked over 4 days | | Highest point | Omanui/McKinnon Pass Shelter | 1154 metres, crossed on day 3 | | Direction and time | One direction only | 3 nights and 4 days | | Hut size | Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling huts | 40 bunk beds each | | Huts | Three huts, booked well in advance in the Great Walks season | Camping is not permitted | | Great Walks season 2026/27 | 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 | Last departure 28 April 2027 | | Children | Not recommended under 10 | Exposed mountain environment and often adverse weather | | Phone coverage | No cellphone coverage | On the Milford Track | ### How do I reach the start and get back from the finish? A bus or car to Te Anau Downs, a boat to Glade Wharf, the walk itself, then a boat from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound and a bus back. - Start at the park visitor centre if you need advice. DOC lists the Te Rua-o-te-moko Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre at 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau. - Te Anau to Te Anau Downs. DOC says to take a bus or private transport from Te Anau to Te Anau Downs, which takes 30 minutes. - Boat to Glade Wharf. A boat trip to Glade Wharf at the head of Lake Te Anau takes 1 hour 15 minutes, according to DOC. - Walk the track. One direction only, over 3 nights and 4 days. - Boat from Sandfly Point. The track finishes at Sandfly Point, and DOC says a 20 minute boat trip takes you to Milford Sound Piopiotahi. - Bus back. DOC says there are bus services from Milford Sound back to Te Anau and on to Queenstown. ### What does each day of the Milford Track involve? Four days of 5, 17.5, 13 and 18 kilometres, with the climb over Omanui/McKinnon Pass on day 3, by DOC's track description. - Day 1: Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut. DOC gives 5 kilometres and 1 to 1 hour 30 minutes, after the boat from Te Anau Downs. - Day 2: Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut. DOC gives 17.5 kilometres and 6 hours. - Day 3: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut, over the pass. DOC gives 13 kilometres and 6 to 7 hours over Omanui/McKinnon Pass. The pass shelter, at 1154 metres, is the highest point of the track. - Day 3 side trip: Sutherland Falls. DOC says the side trip takes 1 hour 30 minutes return, and the falls drop 580 metres in 3 leaps from Lake Quill. - Day 4: Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point. DOC gives 18 kilometres and 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours, then the boat to Milford Sound. ### What are the Milford Track huts like? Three DOC huts of 40 bunks each, with heating, toilets and basic cooking facilities, but no cooking utensils or showers. From DOC's Milford Track description. It gives no hut fees or availability: check those with DOC when you plan. - What is there DOC says the huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities, solar lighting and cold running water, with a DOC ranger in residence. - What to bring DOC says the huts do not provide cooking utensils or showers, so carry your own cooking gear. - Water DOC lists the tap water at Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling huts as untreated: boil it before use. - Clean boots DOC says Milford Track walkers need to bring dry clothing and boots; damp boots and socks must be disinfected before the track, and there is a cleaning station at Glade clearing, to stop the spread of didymo. ### Is the Milford Track right for me? DOC does not recommend it for children under 10, and outside the Great Walks season it is only for experienced walkers with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills. Each point is from DOC's Milford Track page. - Children. The track is not recommended for children under 10, because of the exposed mountain environment and often adverse weather. - Outside the Great Walks season. The track should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills. - Booking. The three huts must be booked well in advance during the Great Walks season. ### What weather should I prepare for? Very high rainfall and changeable conditions in any month, and no cellphone coverage on the track. What DOC says about conditions in Fiordland National Park. - Rain. DOC says Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall, up to 9000 millimetres a year. - Changeable weather. DOC says cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year, so prepare for all conditions. - No coverage. DOC says there is no cellphone coverage on the Milford Track. ### The Milford Track: questions answered - How long is the Milford Track? DOC lists it as 53.5 kilometres one way, walked over 3 nights and 4 days. - Can I walk it in either direction? No. DOC says the Milford Track can only be walked in one direction, starting on Lake Te Anau and finishing at Sandfly Point. - When is the Great Walks season? DOC gives the 2026/27 season as 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, with the last departure on 28 April 2027. - Can I camp on the Milford Track? No. DOC says camping is not permitted, and that the three huts must be booked well in advance during the Great Walks season. - Can children walk the Milford Track? DOC does not recommend it for children under 10, because of the exposed mountain environment and often adverse weather. - How do I get back from the end of the track? DOC says the track finishes at Sandfly Point, with a 20 minute boat trip to Milford Sound, where there are bus services back to Te Anau and on to Queenstown. Sources: DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Milford Track description (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/description2/); DOC: Prevent the spread of freshwater pests (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/prevent-the-spread-of-freshwater-pests/) ## Guide: milford-sound-the-fiord Review status: accepted - DOC says Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is in the northwest of Fiordland National Park, stretches 16 kilometres to the open sea and is 265 metres deep in places; Visit Fiordland gives the same length. DOC's kayaking page heads its Milford paddling section 18 km, without saying what that figure measures. - DOC says Mitre Peak has sheer rock walls rising 1,692 metres directly from the water. - In DOC's words, the Māori name Piopiotahi comes from the native thrush, the piopio, now probably extinct. DOC says the English name was given by sealing captain John Grono after his birthplace, Milford Haven. - DOC says Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is one of 10 marine reserves in Fiordland. ### What is Milford Sound? A fiord in the northwest of Fiordland National Park, 16 kilometres long by DOC's Milford Road page (its kayaking page heads the Milford section 18 km) and 265 metres deep in places. DOC says Milford Sound Piopiotahi is in the northwest of Fiordland National Park, and that it stretches 16 kilometres to the open sea and is 265 metres deep in places. Visit Fiordland gives the same length, saying the sound runs 16 kilometres to the Tasman Sea. DOC's kayaking page heads its Milford paddling section 18 km, without saying what that figure measures. We give both by page. DOC says fourteen fiords, some stretching up to 40 kilometres inland, extend from Milford Sound Piopiotahi in the north to Preservation Inlet in the south, and gives the size of the national park around them as over 1.2 million hectares. ### How big is the fiord, by source? DOC's Milford Road page gives 16 kilometres long (its kayaking page heads the Milford section 18 km) and 265 metres deep in places, with Mitre Peak rising 1,692 metres from the water. | Feature | Figure | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Where it is | In the northwest of Fiordland National Park | DOC | | Length | 16 kilometres to the open sea | DOC Milford Road page and Visit Fiordland; DOC's kayaking page heads its Milford section 18 km | | Depth | 265 metres in places | DOC | | Freshwater layer | Permanent, from 5 centimetres to over 10 metres deep in the fiords, stained by tannins | DOC marine reserves page | | Life on the walls | A concentrated 40 metre band of unusual marine life below the freshwater layer | DOC Milford Road nature page | | Black coral | About 7 million colonies in the fiords, some up to 200 years old | DOC marine reserves page | | Mitre Peak | Sheer rock walls rising 1,692 metres directly from the water | DOC | | Fiordland's fiords | Fourteen, some stretching up to 40 kilometres inland | DOC | | Marine reserves | Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is one of 10 in Fiordland | DOC | | Fiordland National Park | Over 1.2 million hectares, declared a World Heritage Area in 1986 | DOC | ### Where do the names Piopiotahi and Milford Sound come from? DOC says Piopiotahi is named after the native thrush, the piopio, and that Milford Sound was named by John Grono after his birthplace, Milford Haven. In DOC's words, the Māori name for Milford Sound is Piopiotahi, after the native thrush, the piopio, now probably extinct. This guide repeats only what DOC says about the name and adds no story or translation of its own. DOC says the English name was given by a Welsh sealing captain, John Grono, after his birthplace, Milford Haven. DOC gives no date for the naming, so we do not give one either. ### What makes the fiord stand out? Mitre Peak, the marine reserve and the scale of the national park around it, each described here in DOC's words. Each card is from DOC. - Mitre Peak DOC calls Mitre Peak one of the most recognised and photographed peaks in the world, with sheer rock walls rising 1,692 metres directly from the water. - The marine reserve DOC says Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is one of 10 marine reserves in Fiordland, which border the national park from Milford Sound in the north to Preservation Inlet in the southwest. DOC's rules: no fishing of any kind, do not take, kill, remove or disturb marine life or materials, do not feed fish, and take care when anchoring. - The national park DOC says Fiordland National Park covers over 1.2 million hectares and was declared a World Heritage Area in 1986. ### What lives under the surface of the fiord? DOC says a tea coloured freshwater layer sits on the sea water, and below it a concentrated 40 metre band of unusual marine life grows on the rock walls. DOC says heavy rainfall creates a permanent freshwater layer on the fiords, from 5 centimetres to over 10 metres deep and stained by tannins, which restricts most marine life to the top 40 metres. In Milford Sound, DOC says, the layer is stained a tea colour by forest material, and below it a concentrated 40 metre band of unusual marine life grows on the sheer rock walls. DOC says the fiords hold one of the world's largest populations of black coral trees, about 7 million colonies, some up to 200 years old. Bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, tawaki and little blue penguins are resident in the fiords: DOC asks you not to approach them and to let any close contact be at their initiation. ### How can I see the fiord? By road and then on the water, by kayak, by scenic flight, or on the short walks from the main car park. There is one road to the fiord. Times below are from the publisher named; this guide gives no prices or availability. - By road. Visit Fiordland says State Highway 94 is the only road access to Milford Sound Piopiotahi. - By cruise. RealNZ says a day cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours on the water, covering the full length of the fiord out toward the Tasman Sea and back. - By scenic flight. RealNZ gives the flight from Queenstown as around 40 minutes on one page and approximately 45 minutes each way on its Fly Cruise Fly page. We show both. - By kayak. DOC calls the fiord very steep-sided and busy with boat traffic, with the southern side more sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds, in particular the afternoon day breeze common in summer. Access is by the boat ramp off Deepwater Basin Road. You can paddle to Sandfly Point for day walks on the Milford Track, but not up the rivers that flow into the sound, and DOC says any vessel, even a kayak, entering the Fiordland Marine Area must hold a Clean Vessel Pass. - On foot from the car park. DOC lists the Milford Foreshore Walk as a 400 metre loop from the main visitor car park, easy, suited to all ages and accessible to wheelchairs, with some of the best views of Mitre Peak. The Milford Sound Lookout Track is 400 metres return by the same track, 20 minutes, easy to intermediate, with a number of steps up to views over the sound; DOC's directions lead from the car park behind the café towards Donald Sutherland's grave. - Not to Bowen Falls. DOC says the Bowen Falls Walk is permanently closed because there is no boat service for access. ### How do I see the fiord in a day? Leave Te Anau with a full tank, aim to arrive after the late morning rush, allow time to reach the terminal, then get on the water and take a short walk. - Leave Te Anau ready. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and to check the latest road status before you leave. - Time your arrival. DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm, as traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm; the journey is busiest from October to April. - Allow time to reach the boat. DOC's journey tips say to allow one hour to park and walk to the visitor terminal if you are taking a cruise. A DOC media release says 45 minutes, and Visit Fiordland says 30 minutes to park and get transport or walk to the cruise terminal. RealNZ says 45 minutes to 1 hour, and Fiordland Discovery up to 45 minutes including a 15 minute walk. We show all five. - Get on the water. RealNZ says a day cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours on the water. If you paddle instead, keep to DOC's kayak rules above. - Walk the foreshore. Take the 400 metre Foreshore Walk loop or the Lookout Track, and carry repellent: DOC warns there may be a lot of sandflies on the Foreshore Walk and advises sandfly repellent on the Lookout Track. - Know the earthquake rule. DOC says a large earthquake could trigger a landslide generated tsunami at Milford Sound: drop, cover and hold, then move to higher ground away from the water. - Expect patchy phones. DOC's Milford area page lists Milford Sound as having mobile reception, though it is limited on the road; its journey tips list a card phone at Milford Sound. In an emergency dial 111. ### Milford Sound, the fiord: questions answered - How long and how deep is Milford Sound? DOC says it stretches 16 kilometres to the open sea and is 265 metres deep in places. Visit Fiordland also gives 16 kilometres. DOC's kayaking page heads its Milford paddling section 18 km, without saying what that figure measures. - How high is Mitre Peak? DOC says Mitre Peak has sheer rock walls rising 1,692 metres directly from the water. - Where does the name Piopiotahi come from? In DOC's words, the Māori name for Milford Sound is Piopiotahi, after the native thrush, the piopio, now probably extinct. - Is there a marine reserve at Milford Sound? Yes. DOC says Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is one of 10 marine reserves in Fiordland. There is no fishing of any kind, and you must not take, kill, remove or disturb marine life or materials, or feed fish. - Is there phone reception at Milford Sound? DOC's Milford area page lists Milford Sound as having reception, though reception is limited on the Milford Road. DOC's journey tips say coverage is limited outside Te Anau and list a card phone at Milford Sound. - Can I walk to Bowen Falls? No. DOC says the Bowen Falls Walk is permanently closed because there is no boat service for access. The Foreshore Walk and the Lookout Track start from the main car park instead. Sources: DOC: Milford area, nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/nature-and-history/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Fiordland National Park (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); RealNZ: how to choose a cruise (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-milford-sound-cruise/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); RealNZ: Fly Cruise Fly (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/scenic-flights/milford-sound-fly-cruise-fly/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/); DOC: Fiordland marine reserves (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-marine-reserves/); DOC: Journey tips for Piopiotahi Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford Foreshore Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-foreshore-walk/); DOC: Milford Sound Lookout Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-sound-lookout-track/); DOC: Bowen Falls Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/bowen-falls-walk/); DOC media release: record summer at Piopiotahi (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); Fiordland Discovery: overnight cruise (https://www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/fiordland-cruises/milford-sound-overnight-cruise/) ## Guide: fiordland-national-park-guide Review status: accepted - DOC gives Fiordland National Park three sizes on three pages: 1,260,740 hectares on its getting there page, 1.3 million hectares on its avalanche page and over 1.2 million hectares on its park page. We show all three. - DOC says Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, covers 2.6 million hectares and takes in four national parks, Fiordland among them. Keep that figure apart from the park's own. - DOC names Te Anau as the largest town for the park, followed by Manapouri and Milford Sound, and the visitor centre, Te Rua-o-te-moko, is on Lakefront Drive in Te Anau. - DOC's park rules: no open fires (fires only in designated fireplaces where DOC provides them), no drone without a permit, no pets, and check, clean and dry your gear between waterways. Expect no cell phone coverage in most of the park. ### What is Fiordland National Park? A national park in the south-western corner of New Zealand, established in 1952, of ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys. DOC says Fiordland National Park is in the south-western corner of New Zealand, was established in 1952 and has ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys, rugged granite tops and mountain to sea views. DOC says glaciers have at times covered the area over the last 2 million years, carving U-shaped valleys that are now lakes or fiords. Fourteen fiords, some stretching up to 40 kilometres inland, run from Milford Sound / Piopiotahi in the north to Preservation Inlet in the south, and DOC places Milford Sound in the northwest of the park. Hundreds of lakes dot the park, among them Lake Hauroko, which DOC gives as the deepest in New Zealand at 462 metres. DOC says Captain Cook and his crew were the first Europeans to visit Fiordland, in Tamatea/Dusky Sound in 1773. How long they stayed depends on the DOC page: five weeks on its park, history and Astronomer's Point pages, six weeks on its southern fiords page. How big the park is depends on which DOC page you read, and the next section shows each figure with its page. ### How big is Fiordland National Park, by source? DOC gives 1,260,740 hectares on one page, 1.3 million on another and over 1.2 million on a third. | Feature | Figure | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Park size | 1,260,740 hectares | DOC getting there page | | Park size | 1.3 million hectares of remote mountainous terrain | DOC avalanche page | | Park size | Over 1.2 million hectares | DOC park page | | Established | 1952 | DOC visitor centre page | | Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area | 2.6 million hectares, almost 10% of New Zealand's land area, across four national parks | DOC World Heritage page | | Fiords | Fourteen, some up to 40 kilometres inland | DOC park page | | Deepest lake | Lake Hauroko, 462 metres, the deepest in New Zealand | DOC park page | ### Is Fiordland a World Heritage Area? Yes. DOC says it is part of Te Wāhipounamu, which covers 2.6 million hectares across four national parks. DOC says Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, covers 2.6 million hectares, almost 10% of New Zealand's land area, and takes in four national parks: Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland. That is the World Heritage Area's figure, not the park's, so do not add the two together or swap one for the other. DOC's park page says Fiordland National Park was declared a World Heritage Area in 1986; DOC's World Heritage page gives no year, so 1986 is the only year we give. DOC says the area holds rocks, plants and animals going back 80 million years to Gondwana, and ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys among the finest glaciated landforms in the Southern Hemisphere. Three endemic kiwi taxa live in it: rowi, Haast tokoeka and Fiordland tokoeka. ### How do I get into the park? By road through Te Anau or Manapouri, by air to one of three airports, or on foot. - Head for Te Anau or Manapouri. DOC says road access is via Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and the Southern Scenic Route, and that Te Anau is the largest town for the park, followed by Manapouri and Milford Sound. - Allow the drive to Te Anau. DOC gives 179 kilometres and 2 hours 20 minutes from Queenstown by SH6 and SH94, and 150 kilometres and 2 hours from Invercargill by SH1 and SH94, with regular bus services from both. - Go on to Milford Sound by the one road. Visit Fiordland says State Highway 94 is the only road access to Milford Sound. DOC's Te Anau area and Milford area pages allow about 2 hours from Te Anau; DOC's journey tips give about 2.5 hours, without stops. Operators differ: about 3 hours (RealNZ), 2.5 hours (Pure Milford), about two hours (Southern Discoveries). From Queenstown the sources give about 4 to 6 hours one way, and RealNZ's own pages differ; the day trip guide sets every figure side by side. Check the NZTA road status before you set out, as Visit Fiordland advises. - Or fly. DOC says there are airports in Te Anau, Manapouri and Milford Sound, with some commercial flights and private aviation services. - Or walk in. DOC says you can walk into the park from Te Anau or Manapouri, or from the Queenstown area via the Routeburn Track. - For Doubtful Sound, start at Manapouri. DOC says Lake Manapouri is 21 kilometres and about 20 minutes drive from Te Anau, and Doubtful Sound is reached from the Manapouri township via West Arm and Wilmot Pass. ### What is at Te Anau and Manapouri? The park's visitor centre and the starts of three Great Walks at Te Anau; the boat to Doubtful Sound at Manapouri. DOC calls Te Anau the closest town with facilities to the park and the start of the Kepler, Routeburn and Milford Track Great Walks. The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Rua-o-te-moko, is on Lakefront Drive in Te Anau; DOC says it has Great Walks and backcountry track information, tickets and maps, track conditions and weather forecasts, and hunting permits. It is the place to ask about anything this guide cannot give you, such as current track conditions. DOC's Kepler Track page calls Lake Te Anau the largest body of fresh water in Australasia. At Manapouri, DOC warns that the lake can quickly become rough and choppy, particularly in the afternoons, and that watercraft are prohibited from entering its tributary rivers because of didymo. ### What are the rules in Fiordland National Park? No open fires outside DOC's designated places, no drone without a permit, no pets, no feeding wildlife, and clean your gear between waterways. Each rule is DOC's. Breaking some of them is an offence. - No open fires. DOC's Fiordland safety page says no open fires are permitted in the park, to reduce the risk of wildfires. The same page says to put ashes from hut fireplaces in the metal drums and, at campsites, to use only the designated areas. DOC's Cascade Creek Campsite page allows fires there only in designated fire places and only when there is no fire ban. Read together, fires belong only where DOC provides a place for them; check the rules and any fire ban before you light. - No drone without a permit. DOC says flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited in the park. Drones are aircraft, all aircraft on conservation land need a permit, and recreational, commercial and research use each have their own permit. - No pets. DOC says no pets are allowed on conservation land, including national parks, even on a lead or in a carrier. Having a pet in your vehicle, even briefly in a car park, is an offence unless DOC grants an exception, and can lead to a fine or prosecution and the pet being seized. Certified disability assist dogs are allowed while assisting. - Do not feed wildlife. DOC says kea and other wildlife must not be fed, because human food can harm them and change their behaviour. - Check, clean, dry. DOC asks you to check, clean and dry all gear when moving between waterways, to stop the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests. ### How do I stay safe in the park? Plan for no phone coverage, tell someone your plans, and treat rivers, wind and avalanche risk with respect. From DOC's safety guidance. None of this is a forecast or a live condition. - No phone coverage DOC says your cell phone is unlikely to have coverage in Fiordland, even from high points, and recommends a mountain radio or personal locator beacon in the backcountry. On the Milford Road, DOC says coverage is patchy and in an emergency you dial 111. - Tell someone DOC recommends telling someone your plans and leaving a date to raise the alarm if you have not returned. - Rivers rise fast DOC says flooding of tracks is common during and after heavy rain. Streams drop quickly once rain stops, so wait on higher ground and never cross flooded rivers or streams. - Wind and weather DOC says weather is highly changeable, with cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain at any time of year. On saddles and ridges, winds can be over 80 kilometres an hour. - Avalanches DOC says the best way to understand avalanche danger in the park is the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory from the Mountain Safety Council. ### Fiordland National Park: questions answered - How big is Fiordland National Park? DOC gives 1,260,740 hectares on its getting there page, 1.3 million hectares on its avalanche page and over 1.2 million hectares on its park page. DOC does not explain the difference, so we show all three. - Is Fiordland National Park a World Heritage Site? DOC says the park is one of four national parks in Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, which covers 2.6 million hectares. DOC's park page says it was declared a World Heritage Area in 1986. - Where is the Fiordland National Park visitor centre? DOC says the visitor centre, Te Rua-o-te-moko, is on Lakefront Drive in Te Anau, with track information, tickets, maps, track conditions and weather forecasts. - Can I fly a drone in Fiordland National Park? Not without a permit. DOC says flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited in the park, and all aircraft on conservation land need one. - Can I bring my dog? No. DOC says no pets are allowed on conservation land, including national parks, even in your vehicle. Certified disability assist dogs are allowed while assisting. - Will my phone work in Fiordland? Probably not. DOC says coverage is unlikely, even from high points, and recommends a mountain radio or personal locator beacon in the backcountry. Sources: DOC: Fiordland National Park, getting there (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/getting-there/); DOC: Fiordland National Park (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/); DOC: Be avalanche alert in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/be-avalanche-alert-in-fiordland/); DOC: Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/international-agreements/world-heritage/te-wahipounamu/); DOC: Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre (https://www.doc.govt.nz/footer-links/contact-us/visitor-centres/fiordland-national-park-visitor-centre/); DOC: Lake Te Anau area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-te-anau-area/); DOC: Lake Manapouri area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Journey tips for Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); DOC: Know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Drone use on conservation land (https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/apply-for-permits/all-permissions/drone-use-on-conservation-land/); DOC: Pets on conservation land (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/pets-on-conservation-land/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); DOC: Southern fiords area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/southern-fiords-area/); DOC: Fiordland history and culture (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/about-fiordland-national-park/history-and-culture/); DOC: Astronomer's Point (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/heritage-sites/astronomers-point/); DOC: Cascade Creek Campsite (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/cascade-creek-campsite/); Pure Milford: what to expect on your cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/journal/what-to-expect-on-your-milford-sound-cruise); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound cruises (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/); RealNZ: how to get to Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-get-to-milford-sound/); RealNZ: day trip guide (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/day-trip-to-milford-sound-from-queenstown/); RealNZ: day trip from Queenstown (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/day-cruises/milford-sound-day-trip-from-queenstown/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Southern Discoveries: self drive (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-self-drive) ## Guide: fiordland-wildlife Review status: accepted - DOC gives the takahē population as around 500 as of October 2023; the bird was rediscovered in 1948 in the Murchison Mountains above Lake Te Anau. - DOC says tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin) can be seen in Milford Sound, best in the breeding season from July to November. - DOC says around 66 bottlenose dolphins are resident in Doubtful Sound/Patea and 120 in Tamatea/Dusky Sound, as at 2025. - DOC's rule everywhere: do not approach or feed wildlife, and let close contact be at the animal's initiation. ### What wildlife can you see in Fiordland? Kea, tawaki, fur seals and bottlenose dolphins in the wild; takahē at the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary; kākāpō nowhere the public can visit. DOC's pages describe some of New Zealand's rarest birds living in Fiordland, and say where a visitor can and cannot see them. DOC lists the Kepler, Routeburn, Key Summit and Milford tracks and the Homer Tunnel area as places to see kea. Tawaki, the Fiordland crested penguin, can be seen in Milford Sound in their season. DOC says bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals (kekeno), tawaki and little blue penguins (kororā) are resident in the fiords, and RealNZ, a cruise operator, says the dolphins, seals and both penguins are present year round, with tawaki less predictable. Takahē live wild in the Murchison Mountains, but DOC points visitors to Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary for a glimpse of them. Kākāpō are part of Fiordland's history, but DOC says there is currently no place where the public can see them in person. Everything here is from DOC unless another publisher is named, and no sighting is promised. ### How many are there, and where? DOC's own figures, each with its date where DOC gives one. | Animal | Numbers, from DOC | Where | | --- | --- | --- | | Takahē | Around 500 as of October 2023 | Murchison Mountains in Fiordland, Gouland Downs in Kahurangi National Park and the Greenstone Valley | | Kea | 1,000 to 5,000, classed Threatened, Nationally Endangered | Only in New Zealand; DOC lists the Kepler, Routeburn, Key Summit and Milford tracks and the Homer Tunnel area | | Tawaki | 2,500 to 3,000 breeding pairs, in decline since the 1950s | Milford Sound, and the coast near Long Reef at Martins Bay | | Kākāpō | 325 alive today, on an undated DOC page | Protected offshore islands and a fenced mainland sanctuary; no public viewing | | Fur seals (kekeno) | The most common seals in New Zealand, population growing | Resident in the fiords | | Bottlenose dolphins (aihe) | Around 66 in Doubtful Sound/Patea and 120 in Tamatea/Dusky Sound, as at 2025 | One of New Zealand's three main coastal populations | ### Which birds is Fiordland known for? The takahē, the kea, the tawaki and, in its history, the kākāpō. - Takahē DOC says the takahē, presumed extinct for nearly 50 years, was rediscovered in 1948 by Geoffrey Orbell and his party in the Murchison Mountains above Lake Te Anau. A stoat plague in 2007 halved the population there. - Kea DOC says feeding by people harms kea and teaches them to approach people, and kea are often hit by cars on roads where people have taught them food may be available. - Tawaki DOC calls the tawaki one of the rarest mainland penguins in New Zealand. The breeding season, July to November, is the time to see them, and sometimes in the moult from mid-January to early March. - Kākāpō DOC says Richard Henry, a pioneer of threatened species work, moved kākāpō and kiwi to islands in Tamatea/Dusky Sound in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Today they live only on protected islands and in a fenced sanctuary. - Kiwi DOC says three endemic kiwi taxa live in the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area: rowi, Haast tokoeka and Fiordland tokoeka. - Forest birds DOC calls the Eglinton valley on the Milford Road a stronghold for native birds, including South Island robin/kakaruai, kākā, yellowhead/mohua, and short-tailed and long-tailed bats. ### Seals and dolphins Fur seals are common and growing; Fiordland's bottlenose dolphins are few, and DOC protects them closely. DOC says kekeno, New Zealand fur seals, are the most common seals in New Zealand and their population is growing. All seals, whales and dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978. Fiordland has one of New Zealand's three main coastal bottlenose dolphin populations. DOC says research in 2008 estimated the Doubtful Sound dolphin population at 56, down a third since 1994; protection measures were introduced that year and the population has slowly increased since. DOC's bottlenose dolphin page gives around 66 as at 2025. Dolphins also turn up away from the big fiords: DOC says schools of dolphins regularly visit Lake McKerrow/Whakatipu Waitai via the Hollyford River mouth, and that seals and tawaki can be seen on the coast near Long Reef at Martins Bay from July to November. ### What lives under the surface of the fiords? Life squeezed into the top 40 metres under a freshwater layer, and one of the world's largest populations of black coral trees. DOC says Fiordland's ten marine reserves border the national park and run from Milford Sound in the north to Preservation Inlet in the southwest. Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is one of them, and Doubtful Sound holds three. Heavy rainfall creates a permanent freshwater layer on the fiords, from 5 centimetres to over 10 metres deep and stained by tannins, which DOC says restricts most marine life to the top 40 metres. Under it, the fiords hold one of the world's largest populations of black coral trees, about 7 million colonies, some up to 200 years old. In a marine reserve, DOC's rules are no fishing of any kind; do not take, kill, remove or disturb marine life or materials; do not feed fish; and take care when anchoring. ### How should I behave around Fiordland's wildlife? Keep your distance, never feed anything, and on the water follow DOC's dolphin rules. - Let them come to you. DOC says do not approach dolphins, fur seals or penguins in the fiords, and let close contact be at their initiation. - Never feed a kea. DOC says kea and other wildlife must not be fed, because human food can harm them and change their behaviour. - Give tawaki room. DOC says tawaki are very timid: do not approach birds, nests or beaches where penguin tracks are common. - Leave pets at home. DOC says no pets are allowed on conservation land, including national parks, even in your vehicle. Its tawaki page adds: keep dogs leashed around penguin areas. - Near dolphins in a boat, slow down. DOC says approach from the side and slightly behind, go at no wake speed within 300 metres, and do not approach if three or more boats are already within 300 metres. - In Doubtful Sound, respect the zones. DOC says Dolphin Protection Zones extend 200 metres from shore: do not enter them if dolphins are present, keep to five knots or idle inside them, and leave dolphin encounters to chance. ### Fiordland wildlife: questions answered - Can I see penguins at Milford Sound? DOC says tawaki can be seen in Milford Sound, best in the breeding season from July to November, and sometimes in the moult from mid-January to early March. Do not approach them. - Where can I see a takahē? DOC says Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary offers a glimpse of the rare, flightless takahē. Wild takahē live in the Murchison Mountains. - Can I see kākāpō in Fiordland? No. DOC says kākāpō now live only on protected offshore islands and in a fenced mainland sanctuary, and there is currently no place where the public can see them. - Are there dolphins in Doubtful Sound? Yes. DOC says around 66 bottlenose dolphins are resident in Doubtful Sound/Patea, as at 2025, protected by Dolphin Protection Zones. - Can I feed the kea? No. DOC says feeding harms kea, teaches them to approach people, and leads to kea being hit by cars. Sources: DOC: Takahē (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/takahe/); DOC: Kea (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kea/); DOC: Fiordland crested penguin/tawaki (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/fiordland-crested-penguin-tawaki/); DOC: Kākāpō (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kakapo/); DOC: Seals (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/); DOC: Bottlenose dolphin (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/bottlenose-dolphin/); DOC: Doubtful Sound bottlenose dolphins (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/bottlenose-dolphin/doubtful-sound-bottlenose-dolphins/); DOC: Fiordland marine reserves (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-marine-reserves/); DOC: Fiordland National Park (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/); DOC: Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/international-agreements/world-heritage/te-wahipounamu/); DOC: Lake Te Anau area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-te-anau-area/); DOC: Lake Gunn Nature Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-gunn-nature-walk/); DOC: Hollyford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/hollyford-track/); DOC: Hollyford Valley area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/hollyford-valley-area/); DOC: Doubtful Sound/Patea area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/doubtful-sound-patea-area/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Journey tips for Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Pets on conservation land (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/pets-on-conservation-land/); RealNZ: how to choose a cruise (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-milford-sound-cruise/) ## Guide: kepler-routeburn-hollyford-tracks Review status: accepted - DOC lists the Kepler Track as a 60 kilometre loop of 3 to 4 days, and the Routeburn Track as 33 kilometres one way over 2 to 4 days. - The Hollyford Track is 56 kilometres one way to the sea at Martins Bay. DOC's track facts give 4 to 5 days; the same page's introduction calls it a 4 to 8 day tramp. - Kepler and Routeburn huts and campsites must be booked in the 2026/27 Great Walks season; all six Hollyford huts must be booked in advance. - DOC's avalanche page and its track pages give different avalanche windows: check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory before you go. ### Which Fiordland track is right for me? The Kepler for a loop from Te Anau, the Routeburn for a shorter crossing between two national parks, the Hollyford for a low route to the sea in any season. Besides the Milford Track, DOC describes three other multi-day tracks in and beside Fiordland National Park. The Kepler Track is a loop from near Te Anau, so it needs no transport between ends. The Routeburn Track crosses from Fiordland into Mount Aspiring National Park and can be walked in either direction. The Hollyford Track runs from the Lower Hollyford Road to the sea at Martins Bay; DOC calls it an advanced tramping track, but it has no alpine sections and can be walked in any season, depending on weather. DOC does not recommend the Kepler, the Routeburn or the Milford for children under 10, because of the exposed mountain environment and often adverse weather. This guide gives DOC's facts only: no hut fees, prices or availability, which you check with DOC when you book. ### How do the tracks compare? Length and days from DOC, with the Milford Track for comparison. | Track | Length and time, from DOC | Season, from DOC | | --- | --- | --- | | Kepler Track | 60 kilometre loop, 3 to 4 days; most walkers take 4 days and 3 nights | Great Walks season 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 | | Routeburn Track | 33 kilometres one way, 2 to 4 days, either direction; most take 3 days and 2 nights | Great Walks season 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 | | Hollyford Track | 56 kilometres one way; track facts give 4 to 5 days, the page introduction 4 to 8 days | Any season depending on weather; no alpine sections, but flooding can affect it | | Milford Track | 53.5 kilometres one way, one direction only, 3 nights and 4 days | Great Walks season 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 | ### When is avalanche risk on the tracks, by source? DOC's avalanche page gives May to late October or early November; each track page says the risk can extend into December. | Track | DOC avalanche page | DOC track page | | --- | --- | --- | | Kepler Track | May to late October | Risk can extend into December; DOC may close the alpine section between Luxmore Hut and Iris Burn Hut in the Great Walks season | | Routeburn Track | May to early November | Risk can extend into December; sections may be closed in the Great Walks season if there is avalanche hazard | | Milford Track | May to late October | Risk can extend into December; DOC manages it to a low level in the Great Walks season, and walkers may be flown, at their cost, over dangerous sections | ### How do I prepare for a Fiordland track? Match the track to the season and your skills, book the huts, arrange transport at each end and check the avalanche advisory. - Match the season to your skills. DOC says outside the Great Walks season the Kepler should only be attempted by fit, experienced, well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills, and facilities are greatly reduced. - Book huts well ahead. DOC says the Kepler's three huts and two campsites must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season, and Routeburn huts and campsites must be booked in its season. Outside the season, only Luxmore Hut on the Kepler needs a booking. All 6 Hollyford huts must be booked in advance; DOC says they have heating, mattresses and a pit toilet but no cooking facilities. - Arrange transport at each end. DOC says the Routeburn starts at Routeburn Shelter, 25 kilometres from Glenorchy, or The Divide Shelter, 85 kilometres from Te Anau, and the road distance between the two ends is 325 kilometres. For the Hollyford, DOC says the Hollyford Road leaves the Milford Road at Marian Corner, about 87 kilometres from Te Anau; allow 2 hours to drive from Te Anau to the end of the road. - For the Kepler, start near Te Anau. DOC says the Kepler Track car park is 5 kilometres from Te Anau, Rainbow Reach car park is 12 kilometres from Te Anau, and the visitor centre is a 50 minute walk along the lakefront from the track entrance. - Check the avalanche advisory. DOC says the best way to understand avalanche danger in the park is the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory from the Mountain Safety Council. - Pack for the track. On the Kepler, DOC says carry water from Luxmore Hut, because there are no reliable water sources on the alpine section until Iris Burn Hut. On the Routeburn, DOC warns of wasps and sandflies and recommends insect repellent, and antihistamines if you are allergic to wasp stings. ### What will I see on each track? Alpine views on the Kepler and Routeburn; lakes, coast and Fiordland's highest mountain on the Hollyford. - Kepler: Luxmore summit DOC gives the highest point as Luxmore summit at 1,472 metres, a 30 minute return side trip. DOC's Kepler page calls Lake Te Anau the largest body of fresh water in Australasia, and DOC's kea page lists the alpine section and Iris Burn area as places to see kea. - Routeburn: two parks DOC says the Routeburn lies in both Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks. Its highest point is Harris Saddle/Tarahaka Whakatipu at 1,255 metres, and Earland Falls is 174 metres high. - The Divide DOC says The Divide on the Milford Road, at 532 metres, is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. - Hollyford: mountain to sea DOC says Mount Tūtoko, at 2,723 metres Fiordland's highest mountain, is seen from Little Homer Saddle. Lake McKerrow/Whakatipu Waitai was originally a fiord, cut off from the sea by sediment at Martins Bay. - Hollyford: the coast DOC says from July to November seals and tawaki can be seen on the coast near Long Reef at Martins Bay, and schools of dolphins regularly visit Lake McKerrow. ### What else should I know? A race day on the Kepler, a lost hut on the Routeburn, and no phone signal. - Kepler Challenge. DOC says the Kepler Challenge mountain run is held on the first Saturday in December each year, when the track is busy with runners. - No camping in the Kepler shelters. DOC says camping or staying in the Forest Burn and Hanging Valley shelters is not permitted. - Lake Howden Hut. DOC says Lake Howden Hut on the Routeburn was destroyed by storm damage in February 2020. - No signal, steep drops. DOC says there is no cellphone coverage on the Routeburn and there are steep drop-offs along sections of the track. ### Kepler, Routeburn and Hollyford: questions answered - How long is the Kepler Track? DOC lists it as a 60 kilometre loop taking 3 to 4 days; most walkers take 4 days and 3 nights. - Is the Routeburn Track in Fiordland National Park? Partly. DOC says it lies in both Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, in the Otago and Fiordland regions. - How many days is the Hollyford Track? DOC's track facts give 4 to 5 days one way; the introduction on the same page calls it a 4 to 8 day tramp. DOC does not explain the difference, so plan with both in mind. - Can I walk the Hollyford Track in winter? DOC says it has no alpine sections, is rarely cut off by snow and can be walked in any season depending on weather, though flooding can affect it. - When is avalanche season on the Kepler and Routeburn? DOC's avalanche page gives May to late October on the Kepler and May to early November on the Routeburn; each track page says the risk can extend into December. Sources: DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Routeburn Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/); DOC: Hollyford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/hollyford-track/); DOC: Hollyford Valley area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/hollyford-valley-area/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Be avalanche alert in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/be-avalanche-alert-in-fiordland/); DOC: Kea (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kea/) ## Guide: milford-road-short-walks Review status: accepted - DOC lists Mirror Lakes (10 minutes), The Chasm (20 minutes) and the Milford Foreshore Walk as wheelchair accessible walks on or at the end of the Milford Road. - Lake Mistletoe (45 minutes), the Lake Gunn Nature Walk (a flat 45 minute loop), Lake Marian Falls (20 minutes) and the Milford Sound Lookout (20 minutes) are short and easy; Key Summit is 3 hours return from The Divide. - Lake Marian is an advanced tramping track; the East Eglinton and Gertrude Saddle are expert routes. DOC's rule for Gertrude Saddle: if there is rain or snow, don't go. - DOC says the Bowen Falls Walk is permanently closed, and its saved Chasm page describes repair work on a timetable that has passed: check The Chasm's current state with DOC. - Two road distances differ between DOC pages, Te Anau Downs and Cascade Creek, so we give both with their page. ### Which walks can I do on the drive to Milford Sound? Eleven open DOC walks and routes, from 10 minutes return at Mirror Lakes to the expert routes up the East Eglinton and Gertrude Saddle, two of them at Milford Sound itself. The Bowen Falls Walk is closed. The Milford Road has walks for every level, and the ones in this guide are DOC's, with DOC's times and grades. Three are wheelchair accessible: Mirror Lakes, The Chasm and the Milford Foreshore Walk at the end of the road. Lake Mistletoe, Lake Gunn, Lake Marian Falls and the Milford Sound Lookout are short and easy to intermediate. Key Summit and Lake Marian are tramping tracks that need fitness and the right gear, and the East Eglinton and Gertrude Saddle are expert routes for people with backcountry and alpine skills. Distances are DOC's, measured from Te Anau, so you can plan your stops in road order; where two DOC pages give different distances for the same place, we show both. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and mobile coverage is patchy on the road. Check the NZTA road status before you set out, as Visit Fiordland advises. ### How long is each walk, in road order? From 10 minutes return at Mirror Lakes to 4 to 6 hours return on Gertrude Saddle, per DOC. | Walk and where | Length and time, from DOC | Grade, from DOC | | --- | --- | --- | | Lake Mistletoe, opposite the hotel complex at Te Anau Downs: 27 kilometres (30 minutes drive) from Te Anau on DOC's Mistletoe page; DOC's kayaking page puts Te Anau Downs 30 km north of Te Anau | 1.3 kilometres return by the same track, 45 minutes | Easy to intermediate | | East Eglinton, about 55 kilometres north of Te Anau, at the East Branch sign near the road bridge | To the river forks in about 2 hours | Expert route | | Mirror Lakes, about 56 kilometres from Te Anau | 400 metres return, 10 minutes | Short walk, wheelchair accessible | | Lake Gunn Nature Walk, from Cascade Creek: about 78 kilometres from Te Anau on DOC's walk page, 71 km on its campsite page | 1.4 kilometre flat loop, 45 minutes | Suitable for all fitnesses | | Key Summit, from The Divide, about 85 kilometres from Te Anau | 3.4 kilometres one way, 3 hours return | Intermediate tramping track | | Lake Marian Falls, Lake Marian car park, 1 kilometre down the Hollyford Road | 720 metres return, 20 minutes | Easy to intermediate | | Lake Marian Track, an alpine lake in a hanging valley | 3.1 kilometres one way, 1 hour 30 minutes one way | Advanced tramping track | | Gertrude Saddle, Gertrude Valley car park, about 98 kilometres from Te Anau | 7 kilometres return by the same track, 4 to 6 hours | Expert route | | The Chasm, about 109 kilometres from Te Anau | 400 metres return, 20 minutes | Wheelchair accessible | | Milford Foreshore Walk, main visitor car park at Milford Sound | 400 metre loop | Easy, wheelchair accessible | | Milford Sound Lookout, from the car park behind the café | 400 metres return, 20 minutes | Easy to intermediate, with steps | | Bowen Falls Walk | Permanently closed | No boat service for access | ### What will I see on each short walk? Wetland birds, reflections, beech forest birds, alpine views, waterfalls, a carved river channel and Mitre Peak. - Lake Mistletoe DOC says the lake is home to New Zealand scaup, frogs and other wetland wildlife, and the track has views of Lake Te Anau. - Mirror Lakes DOC says the walk gives reflections of the Earl Mountains. DOC lists it as wheelchair accessible. - Lake Gunn A flat loop from Cascade Creek. DOC calls the Eglinton valley a stronghold for native birds, including South Island robin/kakaruai, kākā, yellowhead/mohua, and short-tailed and long-tailed bats. - Key Summit DOC says the track follows the Routeburn Track from The Divide, with views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. DOC also lists the Routeburn and Key Summit tracks as places to see kea. - Lake Marian Falls An easy to intermediate walk to the falls. DOC says stay away from the creek edge because of swift water and slippery rocks. - Lake Marian DOC says the track climbs to an alpine lake in a hanging valley. Do not walk around the lake edge in the snow and avalanche season (winter and spring), and watch for stinging nettle (ongaonga). - The Chasm DOC places The Chasm about halfway between Milford Sound and the Homer Tunnel. It says the February 2020 storm washed away the viewing bridges. - Milford Foreshore DOC calls it an easy loop suited to all ages, with some of the best views of Mitre Peak. DOC warns there may be a lot of sandflies. - Milford Sound Lookout A number of steps climb to views over Milford Sound, on a track that leads towards Donald Sutherland's grave. DOC advises taking sandfly repellent. ### Why do Key Summit times differ? Because DOC times it from two different start points. DOC's Key Summit page lists the walk as 3.4 kilometres one way and 3 hours return, starting from The Divide. DOC's Routeburn Track page describes Key Summit as a side trip and times it from the Key Summit turn-off on the Routeburn Track, not from The Divide, so its figure is shorter. If you are driving the Milford Road and walking from the car, plan on the time from The Divide. DOC says The Divide, at 532 metres, is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. The Routeburn Track lies in both Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks, and DOC says there is no cellphone coverage on it. ### Should I try the East Eglinton or Gertrude Saddle? Only with backcountry skills. DOC grades both as expert routes, and Gertrude Saddle is not for rain, snow or winter. Both start from the Milford Road, and both are graded by DOC as expert routes, its hardest grade in this guide. - East Eglinton. DOC says the route needs above average fitness, high level backcountry skills including navigation and survival, and river crossing skills. It reaches the river forks, where the East Branch meets Annear Creek, after about 2 hours. - Gertrude Saddle needs alpine experience. DOC says it needs tramping and alpine experience and is not recommended in winter because of avalanche danger. - Steep slabs. The route climbs steep rock slabs that DOC says are treacherous when wet or frosty, with steel cables to assist. - No markers on top. DOC says there are no permanent markers above the bushline, so alpine and navigation skills are essential. - If there is rain or snow, don't go. That is DOC's own rule for Gertrude Saddle. On a clear day DOC says it gives views of the valley and part of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. ### What changes along the road? Red beech and grasslands in the Eglinton Valley, stunted silver beech beyond Lake Gunn, then an ice-carved cirque before the Homer Tunnel. DOC says that as the Milford Road enters the Eglinton Valley, red beech becomes the dominant tree, among important remnants of native grasslands and wetlands. Beyond Lake Gunn the silver beech trees are stunted by the harsh climate, and just before the Homer Tunnel the road enters a cirque basin, a steep walled amphitheatre carved by ice. DOC says a predator plague in the Eglinton Valley in 1999 to 2001 cut bird numbers dramatically; since then intensive pest control and a 2010 transfer of birds from Chalky Island have helped mohua increase. Kea are often seen around the Homer Tunnel, so watch your belongings, and on the East Homer Nature Walk you may hear or glimpse a rare rock wren among the large boulders. Native long-tailed bats are active around dusk and dawn near streams and forest edges along the road. ### How do I fit the walks into the day? Fuel and pack in Te Anau, check the road, pick your walks by time, and keep moving through the no-stopping zone. - Fuel and pack in Te Anau. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and advises packing extra food, water, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent. - Check the road. Visit Fiordland says check the NZTA road status before you set out. - Choose walks by the time you have. The short walks take 10 to 45 minutes each, by DOC's times. Key Summit takes 3 hours return, Lake Marian 1 hour 30 minutes each way and Gertrude Saddle 4 to 6 hours return. - Turn off for Lake Marian Falls. DOC says the Hollyford Road leaves the Milford Road at Marian Corner, about 87 kilometres from Te Anau, and the Lake Marian car park is 1 kilometre down the unsealed road. - Do not stop between the Hollyford Road and The Chasm. DOC says the road between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. - Leave the kea alone. DOC says kea and other wildlife must not be fed, because human food can harm them and change their behaviour. - Finish at Milford Sound. The Foreshore Walk and the Lookout start from the car parks at Milford Sound. DOC says the Bowen Falls Walk is permanently closed, because there is no boat service for access. ### Milford Road short walks: questions answered - Is The Chasm open? DOC says the February 2020 storm washed away the viewing bridges, and its saved page describes reinstatement work on a timetable that has already passed. Check the walk's current state with DOC or the visitor centre before you go. - Which Milford Road walks are wheelchair accessible? DOC lists Mirror Lakes (400 metres return, 10 minutes), The Chasm (400 metres return, 20 minutes) and the Milford Foreshore Walk (a 400 metre loop at Milford Sound) as wheelchair accessible. - How long does Key Summit take? DOC gives 3 hours return from The Divide, 3.4 kilometres each way. DOC's Routeburn page times it from the Key Summit turn-off instead, so its figure is shorter. - Is Lake Marian hard? DOC grades Lake Marian Track as an advanced tramping track, 1 hour 30 minutes one way, needing good fitness and backcountry skills. Lake Marian Falls is an easier 20 minute return walk. - How far from Te Anau is Mirror Lakes? DOC says about 56 kilometres north of Te Anau. - Can I walk to Bowen Falls? No. DOC says the Bowen Falls Walk is permanently closed, because there is no boat service for access. The Foreshore Walk and the Lookout Track at Milford Sound are open walks on DOC's pages. Sources: DOC: Mirror Lakes Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/mirror-lakes-walk/); DOC: Lake Gunn Nature Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-gunn-nature-walk/); DOC: Routeburn Track: Key Summit Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track-key-summit-track/); DOC: Lake Marian Falls Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-marian-falls-track/); DOC: Lake Marian Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-marian-track/); DOC: The Chasm Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/the-chasm-walk/); DOC: Routeburn Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/); DOC: Hollyford Valley area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/hollyford-valley-area/); DOC: Journey tips for Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Kea (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kea/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); DOC: Lake Mistletoe Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-mistletoe-track/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/); DOC: East Eglinton Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/east-eglinton-track/); DOC: Cascade Creek Campsite (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/cascade-creek-campsite/); DOC: Gertrude Saddle Route (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/gertrude-saddle-route/); DOC: Milford Foreshore Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-foreshore-walk/); DOC: Milford Sound Lookout Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-sound-lookout-track/); DOC: Bowen Falls Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/bowen-falls-walk/); DOC: Milford Road nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/nature-and-history/) ## Guide: doubtful-sound-patea Review status: accepted - DOC calls Doubtful Sound a remote fiord known as the Sound of Silence, with no direct road access, quieter and more remote than Milford Sound. - DOC says the easiest way there is by boat from Pearl Harbour wharf in Manapouri across the lake to West Arm, then by coach over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove, booked in advance with a transport operator. - DOC says around 66 bottlenose dolphins are resident in Doubtful Sound/Patea, as at 2025, and boats must respect its Dolphin Protection Zones. ### What is Doubtful Sound / Patea? One of the largest of the fiords, remote, with no road to it, reached from Manapouri. The NZ Gazetteer gives the official name as Doubtful Sound/Patea. DOC describes it as a remote fiord known as the Sound of Silence, with no direct road access, and one of the largest of the fiords, with three main arms. DOC says it is quieter and more remote than Milford Sound. It also holds three of Fiordland's 10 marine reserves, and a resident population of bottlenose dolphins. You reach it from Manapouri, which DOC lists after Te Anau as the next largest town for Fiordland National Park. ### How do I get to Doubtful Sound? Drive to Manapouri, cross the lake by boat to West Arm, then take a coach over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove. - Drive to Manapouri. DOC says Lake Manapouri is 21 kilometres and about 20 minutes drive from Te Anau. - Book the crossing in advance. DOC says the trip is booked in advance with a transport operator. This guide gives no prices or availability. - Cross Lake Manapouri. DOC says the boat leaves from Pearl Harbour wharf in Manapouri and crosses the lake to West Arm. - Cross Wilmot Pass. From West Arm, DOC says a coach takes you over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove on Doubtful Sound. ### What are the ways in, by source? By boat and coach, or with your own vehicle on the barge and a permit for the Wilmot Pass Road. | Option | What the source says | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Boat and coach | Boat from Pearl Harbour wharf to West Arm, coach over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove; the easiest way | DOC | | Your own vehicle | Vehicles can be barged across Lake Manapouri to West Arm and driven over Wilmot Pass, but you must buy a permit for the Wilmot Pass Road | DOC | | On foot from Deep Cove | Four tracks start from Deep Cove Hostel | DOC | | From Queenstown | A very long day trip, adding about four hours | Visit Fiordland | ### Are there dolphins in Doubtful Sound? Yes: DOC gives around 66 resident bottlenose dolphins as at 2025, and protects them with special zones. DOC says Fiordland has one of New Zealand's three main coastal bottlenose dolphin populations, with around 66 dolphins resident in Doubtful Sound/Patea as at 2025. Research in 2008 estimated the Doubtful Sound population at 56, down a third since 1994; protection measures were introduced that year and DOC says the population has slowly increased since. DOC describes them as a small resident population living at one of the southernmost places in the world for the species. The causes of the decline are not well understood, DOC says, but may include human effects such as vessel activity and habitat modification, and DOC says the measures are still in place although the population has slowly increased since 2008. DOC says bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, tawaki and little blue penguins are resident in the fiords: do not approach them, and let close contact be at their initiation. ### What are the rules on the lake and the sound? Respect the Dolphin Protection Zones, follow the marine reserve rules, and watch for rough water and didymo on Lake Manapouri. - Dolphin Protection Zones. DOC describes the zones, in parts of the Doubtful Sound complex, as areas extending 200 metres from the shore where motorised vessels are not permitted. Do not enter them if dolphins are present, keep to five knots or idle inside them, and leave dolphin encounters to chance. - Leave it to chance. DOC says encounters that the dolphins start are permitted, but vessels should not change course to look for dolphins. - If dolphins come to you. DOC says that if dolphins approach while you are stationary in a Dolphin Protection Zone, let them pass before moving off; if you are already moving, stay on the same heading where safe. - Near dolphins anywhere. DOC says approach from the side and slightly behind, go at no wake speed within 300 metres, and do not approach if three or more boats are already within 300 metres. - Marine reserves. DOC's rules: no fishing of any kind; do not take, kill, remove or disturb marine life or materials; do not feed fish; take care when anchoring. - Lake Manapouri. DOC warns the lake can quickly become rough and choppy, particularly in the afternoons, and watercraft are prohibited from entering its tributary rivers because of didymo. Check, clean and dry your gear between waterways. ### Doubtful Sound / Patea: questions answered - Can you drive to Doubtful Sound? Not directly. DOC says there is no direct road access. You can barge a vehicle across Lake Manapouri and drive over Wilmot Pass, but you must buy a permit for the Wilmot Pass Road. - How is Doubtful Sound different from Milford Sound? DOC says Doubtful Sound is quieter and more remote than Milford Sound, with no direct road access, and is one of the largest of the fiords. - Why are the Doubtful Sound dolphins protected? DOC says research in 2008 found the population had fallen by a third since 1994. The causes are not well understood but may include vessel activity and habitat modification, so protection measures were introduced that year and remain in place. - How far is Manapouri from Te Anau? DOC says Lake Manapouri is 21 kilometres and about 20 minutes drive from Te Anau. - Is Doubtful Sound a day trip from Queenstown? Visit Fiordland calls Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound very long day trips from Queenstown, adding about four hours. - What is the official name? The NZ Gazetteer gives the official name as Doubtful Sound/Patea. Sources: DOC: Doubtful Sound/Patea area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/doubtful-sound-patea-area/); DOC: Lake Manapouri area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, getting there (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/getting-there/); DOC: Bottlenose dolphin (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/bottlenose-dolphin/); DOC: Doubtful Sound bottlenose dolphins (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/bottlenose-dolphin/doubtful-sound-bottlenose-dolphins/); DOC: Fiordland marine reserves (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-marine-reserves/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); NZ Gazetteer (Toitū Te Whenua LINZ) (https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/gaz.csv) ## Guide: fiordland-weather-and-seasons Review status: accepted - DOC's weather page says about 7 metres of rain falls a year in the Fiordland area, over about 200 rain days. Other sources give different figures for Milford Sound, and we show each. - DOC says Fiordland summer days are typically between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, and winter (May to November) between 1 and 9 degrees, though cold weather can come at any time. - DOC says avalanche risk is mainly in winter and spring, especially between late August and early November; its avalanche and track pages give different windows by track. - DOC advises planning for all conditions, including at least one wet day, and checking the latest weather and conditions before you go. This guide gives no forecast. ### How wet is Fiordland? Very: DOC gives about 7 metres a year over about 200 rain days for the Fiordland area. Other sources differ for Milford Sound. Rain is part of the place. DOC says Fiordland's rainfall comes from the Roaring Forties westerlies, which pick up moisture over the Tasman Sea and drop it as heavy rain in the west and snow higher up. How much, and on how many days, depends on which source you read and which place it measures: the Fiordland area, the national park or Milford Sound itself. The sources do not agree exactly, so the next section shows each one with its scope rather than picking a single number. None of this is a forecast; check the latest weather and conditions before you go, as DOC advises. ### How much rain, and on how many days? About 7 metres and 200 rain days (DOC, Fiordland area); up to 7 metres (DOC, Milford Sound); around 6.5 to 7 metres (Visit Fiordland); roughly 180 rain days (Tourism New Zealand). | Source and scope | Rain a year | Rain days a year | | --- | --- | --- | | DOC weather page, Fiordland area | An average of about 7 metres | An average of about 200 rain days | | DOC journey tips, Milford Sound | Up to 7 metres | Not given | | DOC Milford Track page, Fiordland National Park | Up to 9,000 millimetres | Not given | | Visit Fiordland, Milford Sound | Around 6.5 to 7 metres, and has had up to 9 metres | Not given | | Tourism New Zealand, Milford Sound | Not given | Roughly 180 days of rain | ### Is a wet day a wasted day? Not according to Tourism New Zealand, which advises not to cancel for a rain forecast. Tourism New Zealand advises not to cancel a Milford Sound trip for a rain forecast: in rain, it says, the mountains are draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls. Visit Fiordland calls Milford Sound the wettest inhabited place on the planet; that is Visit Fiordland's claim, and the figures above show why sources describe the rain differently. DOC calls Milford Sound one of the wettest places in New Zealand and says the weather can change quickly. The rain shapes the fiords below the surface too: DOC says heavy rainfall creates a permanent freshwater layer on the fiords, from 5 centimetres to over 10 metres deep and stained by tannins, which restricts most marine life to the top 40 metres. ### How warm or cold is it? DOC gives typical ranges for Fiordland; Tourism New Zealand gives highs for Milford Sound. They measure different things. | Source and scope | Summer | Winter | | --- | --- | --- | | DOC weather page, Fiordland | Typically between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius | May to November, between 1 and 9 degrees (an example from July) | | Tourism New Zealand, Milford Sound | Highs of 19 degrees Celsius, December to February | Highs of 10, June to August | ### What changes through the year? The busy season runs October to April; spring brings higher rain and even snow to sea level; winter roads can be extremely challenging. Each season is described in its source's own months, which do not line up exactly. - Busy season. DOC says the Milford Sound journey is busiest from October to April. The 2026/27 Great Walks season runs 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 on the Milford and Routeburn tracks and from 27 October 2026 on the Kepler, per DOC. - Spring. Visit Fiordland says spring (September to November) can bring higher rainfall and even snow to sea level. - Winter on the road. DOC says winter conditions on the Milford Road (May to September) can be extremely challenging; if you are not confident, take a coach. - Penguin season. DOC says the tawaki breeding season, July to November, is the time to see them in Milford Sound. - Any time. DOC says Fiordland weather is highly changeable: cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of year. ### When is avalanche season, by source? DOC pages give May to November, late August to early November at its peak, and track windows that may run into December. | DOC page | What it says | Applies to | | --- | --- | --- | | Know before you go | Avalanches usually occur from May to November | Fiordland National Park | | Weather and climate | Risk mainly over winter and spring, especially between late August and early November | Fiordland | | Be avalanche alert | May to late October (Milford), May to early November (Routeburn), May to late October (Kepler); over 15 metres of snow is common in the north of the park in winter and spring | The tracks | | Milford, Routeburn and Kepler track pages | Avalanche risk can extend into December | Each track | ### What should I pack and check? Plan for a wet day, pack for cold and wind, and check the weather, the road and the avalanche advisory before you go. - Plan for rain. DOC advises planning for all conditions on a Fiordland trip, including at least one wet day. - Pack layers and rain gear. DOC advises warm clothing, wet weather gear, insect repellent and sunscreen, and on the Milford Road extra food and water too. - Dress for the wind. DOC says on saddles and ridges you can meet strong, gusty winds, for example over 80 kilometres an hour, so dress warmly against wind chill. - Check before you leave. DOC advises checking the latest weather and conditions before you go; Visit Fiordland says check the NZTA road status before you set out. - Check the avalanche advisory. DOC points walkers to the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory from the Mountain Safety Council. - Wait out a flood. DOC says track flooding is common during and after heavy rain; streams drop quickly once rain stops, so wait on higher ground and never cross flooded rivers or streams. ### Fiordland weather and seasons: questions answered - How much does it rain in Fiordland? DOC's weather page gives an average of about 7 metres a year over about 200 rain days in the Fiordland area. For Milford Sound, DOC gives up to 7 metres and Visit Fiordland around 6.5 to 7 metres. - How many days a year does it rain at Milford Sound? Tourism New Zealand says roughly 180 days. DOC gives about 200 rain days for the wider Fiordland area. - What is the temperature in Fiordland in summer? DOC says summer days are typically between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius. Tourism New Zealand gives Milford Sound highs of 19 degrees in summer. - When is avalanche season in Fiordland? DOC gives May to November on one page and says the risk is mainly over winter and spring, especially between late August and early November, on another; its track pages say the risk can extend into December. - Should I cancel Milford Sound if rain is forecast? Tourism New Zealand advises not to, because in rain the mountains are draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls. Always check the road status first. Sources: DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/); DOC: Journey tips for Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Be avalanche alert in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/be-avalanche-alert-in-fiordland/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Routeburn Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/); DOC: Fiordland marine reserves (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-marine-reserves/); DOC: Fiordland crested penguin/tawaki (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/fiordland-crested-penguin-tawaki/); DOC: Milford Sound record summer media release (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/) ## Guide: fiordland-through-the-year Review status: accepted - This is a calendar of what usually happens in Fiordland through the year, taken from DOC pages. It is not today's conditions: DOC says to view the Fiordland alerts for current conditions and track updates before your trip. - DOC's 2026/27 Great Walks season runs from 27 October 2026 on the Kepler Track and from 1 November 2026 on the Milford and Routeburn tracks, to 30 April 2027. Outside it, DOC says the tracks are for fit, experienced, well equipped people. - Winter and spring are avalanche time, but DOC pages give different windows, from May to November in general to into December on the track pages. We show each by source. - For wildlife, DOC says the tawaki breeding season, July to November, is the time to see them, and the Homer Tunnel area shows alpine flowers in summer once the snow has cleared. ### This is a calendar of what usually happens, not today's conditions Use this page to plan the season. Before you set out, check DOC's Fiordland alerts, your track's DOC page and the NZTA road status. Everything on this page describes what DOC pages say usually happens in each part of the year. None of it is a reading, a forecast or a road report, and this page carries no live readings. DOC says Fiordland weather is highly changeable: cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of year. So before any trip, do three things. View DOC's Fiordland alerts for current conditions and track updates, and check with the DOC Visitor Centre, as DOC advises. Read the DOC page for the track you plan to walk. Check the latest Milford Road status before you leave: DOC says roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound also give current road updates, and Visit Fiordland points drivers to the NZTA road status. The links are in the questions at the end of this guide. ### What happens in each part of the year? Summer is the Great Walks season and flower time; autumn closes the season; winter brings snow, short days and the hardest road; spring brings snowmelt, peak avalanche risk and the tawaki breeding season. | Months | Tracks and road (by source) | Nature (by source) | | --- | --- | --- | | December to February (summer) | Great Walks season on the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks (DOC). DOC track pages say avalanche risk can extend into December. DOC says the Kepler Track will be busy with runners on the first Saturday in December, when the Kepler Challenge is held. | Native flowers, including alpine buttercups (called Mount Cook lilies) and daisies, around the Homer Tunnel once the snow has cleared (DOC). Tawaki can sometimes be seen in the moult, mid-January to early March (DOC). | | March and April (autumn) | The Great Walks season ends on 30 April 2027; the last Milford Track departure is 28 April 2027 (DOC). The Milford Journey stays busy until April (DOC). | The tawaki moult ends in early March (DOC). Leopard seals sometimes visit New Zealand in autumn and winter (DOC, New Zealand wide, not Fiordland specific). | | May and early June | Outside the Great Walks season. DOC says May to early June (King's Birthday weekend) on the Milford Track is unmanaged, more difficult and carries higher flood risk; cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain are more common in May and June. DOC's Routeburn winter season starts in May. | DOC says avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November. | | June to August (winter) | DOC says winter on the Milford Road (May to September) can be extremely challenging and to expect closures and delays from snow and avalanche in winter. DOC says snow chains may be required and can be rented in Te Anau. | DOC says daylight is limited and alpine areas are usually covered in snow. The tawaki breeding season starts in July (DOC). When snow cover is heavy, takahē move to the forest (DOC, which gives no months). The kōtuku occasionally winters over at Martins Bay (DOC). | | September to November (spring) | DOC says spring snowmelt makes Milford Track rivers rise even faster, and mid-September to late October (Labour weekend) brings higher avalanche risk and unbridged streams. The Kepler season opens on 27 October 2026 and the Milford and Routeburn seasons on 1 November 2026 (DOC). | The tawaki breeding season runs to November (DOC). Seals and tawaki can be seen around the coast near Long Reef on the Hollyford Track from July to November (DOC). Each spring, whitebait begin their migration up the Hollyford River (DOC). | ### When can I see Fiordland wildlife? DOC gives clear seasons for tawaki; for most other animals it gives behaviour or places rather than months. Only what DOC states is here. Where DOC names no months, we say so rather than guess. - Tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin). DOC says the breeding season, July to November, is the best time to see tawaki, and they can sometimes be seen during the moult from mid-January to early March. They are timid, so give them space. - Seals on the Hollyford coast. DOC says that from July to November seals and tawaki can be seen around the coast near Long Reef on the Hollyford Track. - Kekeno (New Zealand fur seals). DOC says kekeno are New Zealand's most common seals and their population is growing. The DOC seal pages we checked give no Fiordland breeding months. - Leopard seals. DOC says they live mainly in the Antarctic pack ice, but in autumn and winter some disperse north and sometimes visit New Zealand. DOC does not name Fiordland. - Bottlenose dolphins. DOC says calving peaks for most populations between spring and summer or autumn, but gives no calving season for Fiordland. - Takahē. DOC says wild takahē live in native grasslands, and when snow cover is heavy they move to the forest and feed on fern rhizomes. DOC gives no months for this. - Kea. DOC lists places to see kea, including the Homer Tunnel area and the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks, but its kea page gives no season. - Birds and fish of the Hollyford. DOC says the kōtuku, or white heron, occasionally winters over at Martins Bay, and each spring young native fish (whitebait) migrate up the Hollyford River. ### When is avalanche season? DOC pages disagree on the window: May to November, mainly late August to early November, track by track from May to late October or early November, or into December. | DOC page | Window it gives | Applies to | | --- | --- | --- | | Know before you go | Avalanches usually occur from May to November | Fiordland National Park | | Weather and climate in Fiordland | Mainly over winter and spring, especially between late August and early November | Fiordland | | Be avalanche alert in Fiordland | May to late October on the Milford Track, May to early November on the Routeburn, May to late October on the Kepler | The three Great Walks | | Milford, Routeburn and Kepler track pages | The risk can extend into December; in the Great Walks season DOC manages it and may close sections | Each track | | Milford Track page, before the season | Mid-September to late October brings higher avalanche risk | The Milford Track | ### When are the Great Walks open, and what changes outside the season? DOC runs the 2026/27 season from late October or 1 November to 30 April 2027. Outside it, the tracks are for experienced, well equipped people only. DOC gives the 2026/27 Great Walks season as 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 on the Kepler Track, and 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 on the Routeburn and Milford tracks, with the last Milford Track departure on 28 April 2027. These dated seasons are rechecked against DOC before they lapse. Outside the season, DOC says the Milford and Kepler tracks should only be attempted by fit, experienced, well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills. DOC calls May to late October the Routeburn winter season, when special skills and preparation are needed, facilities are greatly reduced and there is more risk from snow, ice, avalanche terrain and sub-zero temperatures. On the Milford Track, many side stream bridges are removed over winter to avoid avalanche damage. Even in season, DOC says snow and ice can make the Conical Hill side trip on the Routeburn hazardous early and late in the season. The exception is the Hollyford Track: DOC says it has no alpine sections, is rarely cut off by snow and can be walked in any season, depending on the weather. ### How does the Milford Road change through the year? Summer is busy; winter is quieter but can be extremely challenging, with chains, avalanche closures and ice. DOC says the Milford Journey is busiest in summer, between October and April, and that traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. Visit Fiordland says State Highway 94 is the only road access to Milford Sound. In winter, DOC says conditions on the road (May to September) can be extremely challenging; if you are not confident, take a coach. Traffic is lower in winter, so DOC advises leaving from 9 am onwards. DOC says snow chains may be required, can be rented in Te Anau, and you should know how to fit them before you start. DOC's Milford area page says to expect road closures and traffic delays because of weather, rock falls, and snow and avalanche in winter. For the weather, DOC says Fiordland summer days are typically between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, and winter (May to November) between 1 and 9 degrees in a July example. Visit Fiordland says spring (September to November) can bring higher rainfall and even snow to sea level, and that heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of year. ### How do I turn this calendar into a safe plan? Pick your season from the calendar, then check the live sources on the day. - Choose your season. Use the table above to see what DOC says usually happens in the months you are travelling. - Check the alerts. View DOC's Fiordland alerts for current conditions and track updates, and check with the DOC Visitor Centre before your trip. - Read your track page. Each DOC track page carries its season, hazards and winter information; DOC points walkers to the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory from the Mountain Safety Council. - Check the road. Check the latest Milford Road status before you leave; DOC says the roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound give current road updates. - Plan for a wet day. DOC advises planning for all conditions on a Fiordland trip, including at least one wet day. ### Fiordland through the year: questions answered - Does this page show the conditions today? No. It is a calendar of what DOC pages say usually happens. For today, view DOC's Fiordland alerts and your DOC track page, and check the NZTA road status before you drive, as Visit Fiordland advises. - When is the best time to see penguins in Fiordland? DOC says the tawaki breeding season, July to November, is the best time, and they can sometimes be seen in the moult from mid-January to early March. - When are the 2026/27 Great Walks seasons? DOC gives 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 for the Kepler Track, and 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 for the Milford and Routeburn tracks, with the last Milford Track departure on 28 April 2027. - When is avalanche season in Fiordland? DOC pages differ: May to November on one, mainly late August to early November on another, May to late October or early November by track on a third, and into December on the track pages. - Is the Milford Road harder in winter? DOC says winter conditions on the road (May to September) can be extremely challenging. DOC says snow chains may be required, can be rented in Te Anau, and you should know how to fit them; DOC also says to expect closures and delays from snow and avalanche in winter. Sources: DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); DOC: Journey tips for Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford Road and Milford Sound area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Routeburn Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Hollyford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/hollyford-track/); DOC: Know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/); DOC: Be avalanche alert in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/be-avalanche-alert-in-fiordland/); DOC: Fiordland crested penguin/tawaki (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/fiordland-crested-penguin-tawaki/); DOC: Milford Road nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/nature-and-history/); DOC: Hollyford Valley area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/hollyford-valley-area/); DOC: Seals (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/seals/); DOC: Takahē (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/takahe/); DOC: Bottlenose dolphin (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/marine-mammals/dolphins/bottlenose-dolphin/); DOC: Kea (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kea/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/) ## Guide: southern-fiordland-dusky-sound Review status: accepted - Tamatea/Dusky Sound is a remote southern fiord with no road: DOC says its heritage sites, Astronomer's Point and Pigeon Island, are reached only by boat. - Cook named it 'Dusky Bay' in 1770 and returned in 1773. DOC's pages differ on how long he stayed: five weeks on three pages, six weeks on its southern fiords page. - The Dusky Track is DOC's advanced tramping track between Lake Hauroko and Lake Manapouri: 84 kilometres one way, 8 to 10 days, with 21 three-wire bridges. - Lake Hauroko and Lake Monowai are the southern lakes you can drive to. DOC says the Borland Road beyond Monowai is unsealed, narrow and steep in places, and not suitable for campervans, caravans or trailers. ### What is southern Fiordland? The far south of the park: Tamatea/Dusky Sound and its islands, the Dusky Track, and Lakes Hauroko and Monowai, reached by boat, air or a long unsealed road. DOC says a fiord is where the sea partly fills steep-sided valleys once dug out by glaciers, and the fiords in Fiordland have a water depth of up to 440 metres. Most of them are named 'sounds', Tamatea/Dusky Sound among them, though DOC notes that 'sound' is a general, non-technical term. The southern fiords area has hundreds of islands, from small rock stacks up to Resolution Island at 20,860 hectares. There is no road to Tamatea/Dusky Sound: DOC lists a boat with a tourist operator or your own vessel for its heritage sites, and floatplane or helicopter to Supper Cove. By road you can reach two southern lakes: Lake Hauroko, which DOC gives as the deepest in New Zealand at 462 metres, and Lake Monowai at the start of the Borland Road. Everything here is from DOC's own pages. This guide gives no boat or flight fares, timetables or availability. ### Which southern places can I reach, and how? Only the lakes by road; the sound, its islands and its heritage sites by boat or air, or on foot over many days. | Place | What DOC says | How you get there | | --- | --- | --- | | Tamatea/Dusky Sound | Named 'Dusky Bay' by Cook in 1770; site of Cook's 1773 stay | Boat, or floatplane or helicopter to Supper Cove | | Astronomer's Point, Pickersgill Harbour | Site of the 1773 observatory; one of the most visited historic heritage sites in Southland | Only by boat | | Pigeon Island, Richard Henry's house site | Registered as a Category I Historic Place | Only by boat, with a tourist operator or your own vessel | | Resolution Island | 20,860 hectares; New Zealand's first sanctuary, chosen in 1891 | Not given on the DOC pages used here | | Dusky Track | 84 kilometres one way, 8 to 10 days, advanced tramping track | Boat on Lake Manapouri or Lake Hauroko, or by air | | George Sound Route | 17.8 kilometres one way, 3 to 4 days, expert route | Transport across Lake Te Anau | | Lake Hauroko | Deepest lake in New Zealand, 462 metres | From Tuatapere, about 36 kilometres to the car park, 20 of them unsealed | | Lake Monowai and the Borland Road | About 67 kilometres (1 hour) from Te Anau | By the Southern Scenic Route | ### What did Cook do in Dusky Sound, and how long did he stay? He anchored in Pickersgill Harbour in 1773, set up an observatory and a brewery, and charted the sound. DOC's pages give five weeks or six weeks for the stay. DOC says Captain James Cook first sighted the fiord on his first voyage in 1770 and named it 'Dusky Bay'. On his second voyage he sailed the Resolution into Tamatea/Dusky Sound in the autumn of 1773 and anchored in Pickersgill Harbour. At Astronomer's Point, William Wales of the Board of Longitude set up a temporary observatory to fix the position of New Zealand. Cook was testing Larcum Kendall's copy of John Harrison's chronometer H4, and DOC says Wales's observations made New Zealand the most accurately located place on the globe at that time. Cook also set up a brewery using rimu and manuka leaves, hoping the beer would help prevent scurvy, and produced the first highly accurate chart of the sound. Some of western science's first records of New Zealand plants and animals, including weka, kereru, kākā and South Island robin, came from this stay. DOC says he sailed on 29 April 1773, by the Acheron Passage and Breaksea Sound. How long was he there? DOC's park page, its history and culture page and its Astronomer's Point page each say five weeks. DOC's southern fiords page says six weeks. DOC does not explain the difference, so we give both with their pages rather than pick one. ### Who was Richard Henry, and why does Resolution Island matter? The caretaker of New Zealand's first island sanctuary, whose bird transfers failed when a weasel arrived but still shape kākāpō recovery. DOC says Resolution Island was chosen in 1891 as New Zealand's first sanctuary, and Richard Henry was appointed its caretaker and curator in 1894. He lived on Pigeon Island, and DOC calls him the international pioneer of moving live birds to island refuges. In his first six years he moved over seven hundred kākāpō and kiwi from the mainland to Resolution Island and nearby islands. Then, DOC says, he saw a weasel on Resolution Island on 4 August 1900. He stayed and trapped, but left in 1908 to become a ranger on Kapiti Island. The project failed, but DOC says his observations helped modern bird conservation, especially kākāpō recovery, and in 2008 DOC began a new eradication project so endangered birds could return to the island. DOC lists the nature reserve on Resolution Island among the sound's New Zealand firsts, alongside an observatory and brewed beer in 1773 and a European settlement and ship built in 1792. ### How do I plan the Dusky Track? Only if you are an experienced, well equipped tramper: DOC grades it advanced, allows 8 to 10 days and says being stranded for 2 days is not uncommon. - Check it suits you. DOC describes the track between Lake Hauroko and Lake Manapouri as difficult, with huge lakes, rivers, forested valleys and lots of mud, for experienced and well equipped trampers. It is 84 kilometres one way and 8 to 10 days. - Choose your direction and transport. It can be walked either way. DOC's page lists boat services on both lakes, Lake Manapouri to West Arm at the north end and Lake Hauroko at the south, and flights to Supper Cove or Lake Hauroko; ask the visitor centre what runs when you go. - Pack for delays. Take extra food and time: DOC says being stranded for 2 days is not uncommon. It strongly recommends a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger and topographical maps. - Expect wire bridges. DOC says there are 21 three-wire bridges to cross. Between the Bishop Burn and the Henry Burn the track is flat and follows a track cut by West Coast miners in 1903. - Know the highlights. DOC calls the open tops of the Pleasant Range, between Lake Roe and Loch Maree huts, the scenic highlight, with views of Tamatea/Dusky Sound. The steep climb to Centre Pass (1051 metres) looks over Gair Loch, Tripod Hill and the Seaforth Valley. A two day optional detour goes to Supper Cove. - Not in winter. DOC says that in winter the track is often impassable and dangerous because of snow, ice and avalanches. ### What about George Sound, Lake Hauroko and Lake Monowai? An expert route to George Sound from Lake Te Anau, and two southern lakes you can drive to, one of them at the foot of an unsealed alpine road. - George Sound Route DOC lists it as 17.8 kilometres one way and 3 to 4 days, an expert route that needs transport across Lake Te Anau and is only recommended for experienced, well equipped groups. Carry a portable stove: DOC says none of its huts have cooking facilities. - Lake Hauroko From Tuatapere, DOC says head north towards Clifden (12 kilometres), then west along the Lillburn Valley Road, about 36 kilometres to the car park, 20 kilometres of it unsealed. The Lake Hauroko Track is a 1.1 kilometre loop of 40 minutes return. DOC says the lake is free of didymo and has one of the most unique and diverse water plant communities in the country: clean your vessel and gear before and after use. - Lake Monowai and the Borland Road DOC gives about 67 kilometres (1 hour) from Te Anau and 120 kilometres (1 hour 45 minutes) from Invercargill. From the gate after Borland Lodge it is about 15 kilometres up to Borland Saddle, 990 metres above sea level. The road is unsealed, narrow and steep in places, subject to slips, washouts, snow, ice, high winds and fallen trees, not suitable for campervans, caravans or trailers, and has no fuel, cell phone coverage or emergency service. - From Borland Saddle DOC says you can see the remains of the largest documented landslide of its type in the world: around 12,000 to 13,000 years ago, 27 cubic kilometres of mountain fell from the Hunter Mountains into Lake Monowai. DOC says the lake now supports a productive fishery of introduced rainbow and brown trout as well as native fish. ### What do I need to know before taking a boat in? Every vessel, even a kayak, needs a Clean Vessel Pass to enter the Fiordland Marine Area, under Environment Southland's rules. The rules at sea are not DOC's to enforce, but DOC's pages explain them. - A Clean Vessel Pass. DOC says any vessel, even a kayak, entering the Fiordland Marine Area must hold a Clean Vessel Pass. - Why it exists. The Fiordland Marine Pathway Plan protects the area from marine pests carried in on boats, with rules for all vessels entering within one nautical mile of the landward boundary of the Fiordland Marine Area. - Who sets it. DOC says the plan is an Environment Southland regulation; DOC has no authority below mean high tide except in marine reserves or for marine mammals, and does not enforce fishing regulations. - Preservation Inlet's past. DOC says Preservation Inlet was home to over 2,500 gold miners and saw millers in the late 1890s, and was the site of one of New Zealand's most remote lighthouse settlements and its first whaling station. ### Southern Fiordland: questions answered - How long did Cook stay in Dusky Sound? DOC's pages differ. Its park page, history and culture page and Astronomer's Point page say five weeks in 1773; its southern fiords page says six weeks. DOC does not explain the difference. - Can I visit Astronomer's Point? Yes, by boat. DOC says it is in Pickersgill Harbour, Tamatea/Dusky Sound, reached only by boat, and is one of the most visited historic heritage sites in Southland. - How long is the Dusky Track? DOC lists it as 84 kilometres one way, 8 to 10 days, an advanced tramping track between Lake Hauroko and Lake Manapouri, with a two day optional detour to Supper Cove. - Can I drive to Lake Hauroko? Yes. DOC says to head north from Tuatapere towards Clifden, then west along the Lillburn Valley Road, about 36 kilometres to the car park, 20 kilometres of it unsealed. - Can I take a campervan up the Borland Road? No. DOC says the Borland Road is not suitable for campervans, caravans or trailers, and has no fuel, cell phone coverage or emergency service. - Who was Richard Henry? DOC calls him the international pioneer of moving live birds to island refuges. He was caretaker of Resolution Island, New Zealand's first sanctuary, from 1894, and lived on Pigeon Island. Sources: DOC: Southern fiords area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/southern-fiords-area/); DOC: Astronomer's Point (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/heritage-sites/astronomers-point/); DOC: Richard Henry's house site (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/heritage-sites/richard-henrys-house-site/); DOC: Fiordland National Park (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/); DOC: Fiordland history and culture (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/about-fiordland-national-park/history-and-culture/); DOC: Dusky Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/dusky-track/); DOC: George Sound Route (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/george-sound-route/); DOC: Lake Hauroko Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-hauroko-track/); DOC: Lake Monowai and Borland Road area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-monowai-borland-road-area/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/) ## Guide: fiordland-huts-and-campsites Review status: accepted - DOC sorts its huts into six categories, from Great Walk huts with mattresses, water, toilets and heating to basic huts and bivvies with very limited facilities. - Some huts and campsites must be booked and some are first come, first served; DOC says your booking confirmation email is your proof of booking. - Backcountry huts are not hostels: DOC says there are no showers, hot water, cooking utensils or bed linen, and hut water may need boiling. - Freedom camping has rules: DOC says obey restriction signs, be responsible with your waste and light no fires, and no freedom camping within 200 metres of the road on the Milford Road. ### Where can I stay overnight in Fiordland National Park? In DOC huts, from Great Walk huts to basic bivvies, in DOC campsites from serviced to basic, or, within the rules, freedom camping. DOC's hut and campsite categories tell you what to expect before you arrive. Huts range from Great Walk huts, the most comfortable, to basic huts and bivvies that give very basic shelter. Campsites range from serviced sites with hot showers and road access for all vehicles to basic sites where you must be fully self-sufficient. DOC says it provides more than 320 campsites across the country, and there are several DOC campsites between Te Anau and The Divide on the Milford Road. This guide explains the categories and how booking works in general. It gives no fees, prices or availability: those change, so check them with DOC when you plan. Track by track rules, such as which huts must be booked, are in the guides for each track. ### What does each hut and campsite category give me? More facilities as you go up the categories: Great Walk huts and serviced campsites have the most, basic huts and basic campsites the least. | Category | Facilities, as DOC lists them | Worth knowing | | --- | --- | --- | | Great Walk hut | Mattresses, water, toilets, hand washing and heating with fuel; may have solar lighting, cooking facilities with fuel and a hut warden | Wardens are often there in peak summer; no utensils or bed linen | | Serviced hut | Mattresses, water, toilets, hand washing and heating with fuel; may have cooking facilities with fuel and a warden | Most are covered by a Backcountry Hut Pass | | Standard hut | Mattresses, water and toilets, with wood heaters at huts below the bush line | DOC's list has no cooking facilities; most are covered by a Backcountry Hut Pass | | Basic hut or bivvy | Very basic shelter with limited facilities | Expect little beyond shelter | | Serviced campsite | Flush toilets, tap water, a kitchen or cooking bench, hot showers, rubbish collection and road access for all vehicles | Bookings are needed at all serviced campsites | | Standard campsite | Toilets, a water supply (tap, stream or lake) and vehicle or boat access | Some need booking in peak season, usually 1 October to 30 April | | Basic campsite | Very limited facilities | Be fully self-sufficient | ### What is a backcountry hut really like? Shared sleeping platforms, no showers, hot water, utensils or linen, and water you may need to boil. From DOC's guide to its huts, with the hut users code. - Not a hostel. DOC says backcountry huts have no showers, hot water, cooking and eating utensils or bed linen, and you cannot buy food or equipment. - Shared platforms. Bunks are often sleeping platforms allowing a width of 75 centimetres per person. - Boil the water. Hut water often comes from rainwater or streams and may carry Giardia; DOC says boil it for 3 minutes if you are unsure of its quality. - Sign the book. Always fill in the hut intentions book. DOC says it may help search and rescue and shows how often a hut is used. - Wardens on the Great Walks. Great Walk huts often have wardens in the peak summer season, who check passes and tickets and give track, safety and weather information. - The hut users code. No smoking or vaping in huts, and carry it in, carry it out: take all your rubbish, cigarette butts included. ### How does booking a hut or campsite work? Find out whether your hut or campsite is bookable; book and pay for those that are, carry a pass or ticket for those that are not, and save your confirmation. - Check whether it can be booked. DOC says some huts can be booked and are paid for when you book; others cannot be booked and work on a first come, first served basis. Campsites work the same way: bookings are needed for all serviced campsites and for some scenic and standard campsites in peak season, usually 1 October to 30 April. - For a non-bookable hut, buy before you go. DOC says pay with a Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Ticket bought before your trip. From 1 November 2026, DOC says Backcountry Hut Tickets for non-bookable huts will be available through its online booking system; check DOC's page, as this is a recent change. - Know what a pass covers. DOC says a Backcountry Hut Pass gives unlimited use of most serviced and standard huts, and most campsites outside serviced huts, for the period it covers. It can pay for some bookings; Hut Tickets cannot pay for any booking. A Campsite Pass covers DOC conservation campsites, bookable and non-bookable, with some exclusions. - Book the Great Walks early. DOC says the Milford Track's three huts must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season, and the Kepler Track's three huts and two campsites likewise. All 6 Hollyford Track huts must be booked in advance. - Save your confirmation. DOC says your booking confirmation email is your proof of booking: download and save it before your trip, as it must be shown on request. ### What are DOC campsites like, and can I light a fire? From serviced to basic. On fires, DOC's park safety page bans open fires in the park, and Cascade Creek's page allows them only in its designated fire places when there is no fire ban. DOC says every Great Walk except the Milford Track and the Paparoa Track offers camping near huts or in designated areas, at nearly 60 Great Walk campsites with toilets, hand washing sinks and water. On the Milford Track camping is not permitted. On the Milford Road, DOC describes Cascade Creek Campsite as a standard campsite in northern Fiordland that is good for larger vehicles, with 140 non-powered or tent sites. It needs a booking and keeps no spaces for campers arriving without one. It is close to the Eglinton and Cascade rivers for fly fishing, and the Lake Gunn Nature Walk starts there. Fires need care, because two DOC pages read differently on their own. DOC's Fiordland safety page says no open fires are permitted in the park, to reduce the risk of wildfires; the same page says to put ashes from hut fireplaces in the metal drums and, at campsites, to use only the designated areas. DOC's Cascade Creek page says fires are permitted there only in designated fire places and only if there is no fire ban. We read that as one rule with a place for fires, not a contradiction, but check the rules and any fire ban before you light. ### Can I freedom camp in Fiordland? Only within the rules: not within 200 metres of the Milford Road, never with a dog in a national park, and with no fires. DOC's rules for camping outside a designated campground. - What counts. DOC says that under the Freedom Camping Act 2011, freedom camping means camping outside a designated campground within 200 metres of an area reachable by motor vehicle, of the sea at mean low water spring, or of a formed road or Great Walks track. - Not on the Milford Road. DOC says freedom camping within 200 metres of the road is not allowed on the Milford Road. - Always. Obey camping restriction signs, be responsible with your waste, including human waste, and light no fires. - No dogs. DOC says freedom camping with dogs is not permitted in national parks, and no pets are allowed on conservation land, even in your vehicle in a car park. - Self-contained vehicles. From 7 June 2026, DOC says all vehicles must have a 'green warrant' to be certified self-contained, and a vehicle with a portable toilet can no longer be certified: the toilet must be fixed to the vehicle floor. ### Fiordland huts and campsites: questions answered - What are the DOC hut categories? DOC divides huts into six categories: Great Walk huts, individually priced huts (including serviced alpine huts), serviced huts, standard huts, basic huts and bivvies, and club huts. - Do I need to book DOC huts? Some huts can be booked and are paid for when you book; others are first come, first served, paid with a Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Ticket bought before your trip. On the Milford Track, DOC says the three huts must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season. - Can I camp on the Milford Track? No. DOC says every Great Walk except the Milford Track and the Paparoa Track offers camping, and that camping is not permitted on the Milford Track. - Can I light a fire at a campsite? DOC's Fiordland safety page says no open fires are permitted in the park and, at campsites, to use only the designated areas. Cascade Creek's page allows fires only in its designated fire places and only if there is no fire ban. - Can I freedom camp on the Milford Road? Not within 200 metres of the road: DOC says that is not allowed on the Milford Road. DOC lists several campsites between Te Anau and The Divide instead. - Is the water in DOC huts safe to drink? DOC says hut water often comes from rainwater or streams and may carry Giardia; boil it for 3 minutes if you are unsure of its quality. Sources: DOC: Hut categories (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/hut-categories/); DOC: About DOC huts (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/about-doc-huts/); DOC: Booking and paying for huts (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-in-a-hut/booking-and-paying/); DOC: Campsite facilities and fees (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/facilities-and-fees/); DOC: Booking and paying for campsites (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/booking-and-paying/); DOC: Freedom camping (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/freedom-camping/); DOC: Cascade Creek Campsite (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/cascade-creek-campsite/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Journey tips for Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Hollyford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/hollyford-track/); DOC: Pets on conservation land (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/pets-on-conservation-land/) ## Guide: fiordland-history Review status: accepted - DOC dates Fiordland's European history from Cook's 1773 stay in Tamatea/Dusky Sound, which its pages give as five weeks or six weeks. - The Milford Track's dates differ by DOC page: the memorial page says McKinnon and Mitchell discovered the route on 17 October 1888; the park page says McKinnon and Sutherland opened it up in 1889; the Milford area page gives no year. - Road gangs finished the road from Te Anau to The Divide in the 1930s. Homer Tunnel work began in 1935 and ended in 1953 by Visit Fiordland's page or 1954 by DOC's. - In the 1960s, DOC says, over 265,000 New Zealanders petitioned against raising Lake Manapouri, in one of the country's first major conservation campaigns. ### What is the story of Fiordland since Cook? Sealers and whalers after Cook, then surveyors, prospectors and track builders, then road gangs, a tunnel, hydro lakes and a campaign that won Lake Manapouri statutory protection. DOC says Captain Cook and his crew were the first Europeans to visit Fiordland, in Tamatea/Dusky Sound in 1773. Cook's maps and descriptions soon attracted sealers and whalers, who formed the first European settlements of New Zealand, and from the middle of the 19th century surveyors, explorers and prospectors began to go into Fiordland's unexplored interior. Preservation Inlet boomed briefly in the 1890s after gold was found, but DOC says efforts to set up mines, timber mills and farms in Fiordland have generally been short-lived. This guide follows the routes and works that came next: the Milford Track, the Milford Road and the Homer Tunnel, and the hydro lakes and the Borland Road in the south. DOC says Fiordland National Park was officially constituted in 1952. Where DOC's pages disagree on a date, this guide gives each date with its page. It covers European exploration and the works of the last century; Fiordland's Māori history is not retold here yet, because we hold those passages until they can be checked against Ngāi Tahu and DOC primary sources. ### What happened when, by source? From Cook's 'Dusky Bay' in 1770 to the Borland Road in 1963, with the page for every date. | When | What happened | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | 1770 | Cook sights the fiord on his first voyage and names it 'Dusky Bay' | DOC southern fiords page | | 1773 | Cook in Tamatea/Dusky Sound: five weeks on three DOC pages, six weeks on one | DOC park, history, Astronomer's Point and southern fiords pages | | 1862 | Surveyor James McKerrow spends eight days exploring Lake Manapouri in a flat-bottomed boat | DOC Lake Manapouri page | | 1878 | Donald Sutherland builds three thatched huts he calls the City of Milford | DOC Milford area page | | 17 October 1888 | Quintin McKinnon and Ernest Mitchell discover the route now famous as the Milford Track | DOC McKinnon Pass memorial page; DOC's park page also gives 1888 | | 1889 | McKinnon and Sutherland open up the Milford Track and begin guiding tourists | DOC park page | | 1889 | William Homer discovers the saddle now named after him | DOC Milford area page | | 1890 to 1892 | A prison labour gang builds the last 3 km of the Milford Track, to Sandfly Point | DOC Milford Track page | | 1891 | Resolution Island is chosen as New Zealand's first sanctuary | DOC Richard Henry page | | 1892 | McKinnon is reported missing on Lake Te Anau | DOC McKinnon Pass memorial page | | 1890s | Gold is found and Preservation Inlet booms briefly | DOC history and culture page | | 1901 | The first red deer are released at the base of the Monument on Lake Manapouri | DOC Lake Manapouri page | | 1903 | West Coast miners cut the track later followed by the Dusky Track between the Bishop Burn and the Henry Burn | DOC Dusky Track page | | 1914 | A memorial cairn is built on Omanui/McKinnon Pass | DOC McKinnon Pass memorial page | | 1926 | Lake Monowai is raised 2.5 metres for hydro-electric power | DOC Lake Monowai page | | 1930s | Work scheme gangs complete the road from Te Anau to The Divide | DOC Milford area page | | 1935 | Work on the Homer Tunnel begins | DOC Milford area page; Visit Fiordland | | 1952 | Fiordland National Park is constituted | DOC history and culture page | | 1953 or 1954 | The Homer Tunnel is finished: 1953 says Visit Fiordland, 1954 says DOC | Visit Fiordland; DOC Milford area page | | 1960s | New Zealanders campaign to protect Lake Manapouri | DOC Lake Manapouri page | | 1963 | Construction of the Borland Road begins | DOC Lake Monowai page | ### Who found the Milford Track, and in which year? Quintin McKinnon, with Ernest Mitchell on the way in and Donald Sutherland at the Milford end. DOC's pages give 1888 for the discovery and 1889 for the opening, and one gives no year. DOC's pages tell the story in slightly different ways, so here is each. DOC's Omanui/McKinnon Pass memorial page says the route from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound, now famous as the Milford Track, was discovered by Quintin McKinnon and Ernest Mitchell on 17 October 1888. DOC's park page agrees on 1888 for the discovery, and also says McKinnon and Donald Sutherland opened up the track in 1889 and began guiding tourists. DOC's Milford area page says the track was cut by Sutherland and Mackinnon a dozen years after Sutherland built his huts, and gives no year. The memorial page says the Chief Surveyor of Otago commissioned McKinnon to blaze a track up the Clinton Valley and find a pass for tourist access to Milford Sound; Sutherland had already cut a track from Milford to Sutherland Falls. Richard Henry was the first to walk the track after its discovery, and over the next three years much of McKinnon's time went into improving it and guiding tourists. DOC's Milford Track page says a prison labour gang built the last 3 km, to Sandfly Point, between 1890 and 1892. McKinnon was reported missing in 1892. Lake Te Anau was searched and his wrecked boat found, but never his body, and he is presumed to have drowned. DOC says he spelt his name Quintin McKinnon, though it is written variously as Quintin, Quinton, MacKinnon, Mackinnon and McKinnon; it is on Omanui/McKinnon Pass, Lake McKinnon, the Quintin Huts and St. Quintin Falls. ### Who was Donald Sutherland? Milford Sound's first European resident, a Scottish sealer, soldier and gold prospector who built the 'City of Milford' in 1878. DOC says Donald Sutherland, a Scottish sealer, soldier and gold prospector, was the first European resident at Milford Sound, and in 1878 built three thatched huts he called the City of Milford. His wife Elizabeth opened a boarding house at Milford for city visitors who came to enjoy Fiordland, called asphalters. Sutherland cut the track from Milford to Sutherland Falls before McKinnon's route arrived from Lake Te Anau. You can still walk towards his grave today: DOC's directions for the Milford Sound Lookout Track lead from the car park behind the café at Milford Sound towards Donald Sutherland's grave, a walk DOC lists as 400 metres return and 20 minutes. ### How was the Milford Road built? William Homer found the saddle in 1889, work scheme gangs built the road to The Divide in the 1930s, and the Homer Tunnel took from 1935 to 1953 or 1954, by source. DOC says William Homer discovered the saddle now named after him in 1889, and the road from Te Anau to The Divide was completed by government work scheme gangs in the 1930s. The Homer Tunnel took far longer. Visit Fiordland says construction began in 1935 and was not finished until 1953. DOC's Milford area page also says work began in 1935, but that difficult conditions and the Second World War delayed completion until 1954. Neither page explains the other's year, so we give both. ### What happened at Lake Manapouri and Lake Monowai? Monowai became one of the first lakes controlled for hydro power in 1926; Manapouri was given statutory protection after a 1960s campaign against raising it. DOC says the level of Lake Monowai was raised 2.5 metres in 1926, making it one of the first lakes in New Zealand controlled for hydro-electric power. Construction of the Borland Road began in 1963 to build and service a transmission line between West Arm Power Station on Lake Manapouri and Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter near Invercargill. In the 1960s, DOC says, many New Zealanders protested and signed petitions to protect Lake Manapouri, in one of the country's first major conservation campaigns. Over 265,000 signed a petition against raising the lake for power generation; the lake was given statutory protection and its levels are now controlled to mimic natural fluctuations. Earlier, in 1862, surveyor James McKerrow spent eight days exploring the lake in a flat-bottomed boat and gave many of its place names. In 1901 the first red deer were released at the base of the Monument on Lake Manapouri, and DOC says they have spread across Fiordland from there. ### Where can I see Fiordland's history today? On the Lookout Track at Milford Sound, on Omanui/McKinnon Pass, at Astronomer's Point and Pigeon Island by boat, and on the Borland Road. - Milford Sound Lookout Track. DOC's directions lead from the car park behind the café towards Donald Sutherland's grave. - Omanui/McKinnon Pass. The memorial cairn, built in 1914 from stone collected on the pass, stands near the lowest part of the saddle, with a cross and plaque; DOC maintains it. Milford Track walkers cross the pass on day 3. - Astronomer's Point. DOC says it is in Pickersgill Harbour, Tamatea/Dusky Sound, reached only by boat, and is one of the most visited historic heritage sites in Southland. - Pigeon Island. Richard Henry's home, registered as a Category I Historic Place, reached only by boat with a tourist operator or your own vessel. - The Borland Road. Built for the Manapouri transmission line. DOC says it is unsealed, narrow and steep in places and not suitable for campervans, caravans or trailers. ### Fiordland history: questions answered - When was the Milford Track discovered? DOC's memorial page says Quintin McKinnon and Ernest Mitchell discovered the route on 17 October 1888, and its park page also gives 1888. The park page says McKinnon and Sutherland opened up the track in 1889. DOC's Milford area page gives no year. - When did the Homer Tunnel open? Finished in 1953 or 1954, depending on the source. Visit Fiordland says work began in 1935 and was finished in 1953; DOC's Milford area page says work began in 1935 and was completed in 1954, delayed by difficult conditions and the Second World War. - How long did Cook stay in Dusky Sound? Five weeks in 1773, say DOC's park, history and culture, and Astronomer's Point pages; six weeks, says DOC's southern fiords page. - What happened to Quintin McKinnon? DOC says he was reported missing in 1892. Lake Te Anau was searched and his wrecked boat found, but never his body, and he is presumed to have drowned. - When did Fiordland become a national park? DOC says Fiordland National Park was officially constituted in 1952. - Why is Lake Manapouri protected? DOC says over 265,000 New Zealanders signed a petition against raising the lake for power generation in the 1960s; it was given statutory protection and its levels are now controlled to mimic natural fluctuations. Sources: DOC: History of the Omanui/McKinnon Pass memorial (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/heritage-sites/history-of-omanuimckinnon-pass-memorial/); DOC: Fiordland National Park (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Fiordland history and culture (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/about-fiordland-national-park/history-and-culture/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Milford Track description (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/description2/); DOC: Lake Manapouri nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/lake-manapouri-nature-and-history/); DOC: Lake Monowai and Borland Road area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-monowai-borland-road-area/); DOC: Dusky Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/dusky-track/); DOC: Southern fiords area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/southern-fiords-area/); DOC: Astronomer's Point (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/heritage-sites/astronomers-point/); DOC: Richard Henry's house site (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/heritage-sites/richard-henrys-house-site/); DOC: Milford Sound Lookout Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-sound-lookout-track/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/) ## Guide: fishing-hunting-and-freshwater-pests Review status: accepted - DOC says anyone fishing most of Fiordland's rivers and lakes must get a Clean Gear Certificate for all gear at an approved cleaning station within 48 hours before fishing, and carry a sports fishing licence and a didymo cleaning kit. - Didymo is already in Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and other waters, so DOC asks everyone to Check, Clean, Dry all gear between waterways, and felt-soled waders are not permitted. - Hunting on public conservation land needs a DOC hunting permit, and a firearms licence if you hunt with a firearm; game birds also need a Fish & Game licence. - Since 1 October 2026, DOC says the Wapiti Area in Fiordland National Park is an open hunting area, and a hunter who takes a wapiti there must send the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation photographs within 30 days. ### What do I need to fish or hunt in Fiordland? To fish: a sports fishing licence, a Clean Gear Certificate from the last 48 hours and a didymo cleaning kit. To hunt: a DOC hunting permit, and a firearms licence if you use a firearm. Fiordland's lakes and rivers carry a freshwater pest, didymo, and DOC's controls are there to stop it spreading. That is why fishing here needs more than a licence: DOC says anglers under these controls must carry a current sports fishing licence, a valid Clean Gear Certificate and an approved didymo cleaning kit. Hunting is a permission from the landowner. DOC says hunting on any land in New Zealand needs the landowner's permission, and on public conservation land that permission is a hunting permit from DOC. The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Rua-o-te-moko, in Te Anau lists hunting permits among its services. This guide sets out what DOC says you need. It gives no permit or licence fees, ballot dates or availability: check those with DOC and Fish & Game before you go. ### Which permission do I need for what? Each activity has its own permission; some need two. | Activity | What DOC says you need | Who it points you to | | --- | --- | --- | | Fishing most Fiordland rivers and lakes | A current sports fishing licence, a Clean Gear Certificate from the last 48 hours and an approved didymo cleaning kit | An approved cleaning station for the certificate | | Fishing the Clinton or Worsley rivers or the Ettrick Burn | All of the above, plus a ballot application | Fish & Game | | Kayaking or packrafting the Arthur River, Sandfly Point to Lake Ada | A permit and a Clean Gear Certificate for non-motorised craft | Not named on DOC's page | | Hunting on public conservation land | A hunting permit, and a firearms licence if you hunt with a firearm | DOC | | Hunting game birds | A game bird licence and a game bird hunting permit | Fish & Game New Zealand for the licence, DOC for the permit | | Any vessel entering the Fiordland Marine Area, even a kayak | A Clean Vessel Pass | The Marine Pathway Plan, an Environment Southland regulation | ### How do I clean my gear and get a Clean Gear Certificate? Check, clean and dry everything between waterways; for most fishing, clean at an approved station within 48 hours before you fish and keep the certificate with you. - Know where didymo is. DOC says didymo is found in Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and other lakes and rivers, is in the Hollyford River and has recently been detected in the Kaipo River. - Check, Clean, Dry between waterways. DOC asks you to Check, Clean, Dry all gear before moving from the lake edge into tributaries or between waterways, to stop the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests. - Or dry it right through. DOC says gear that has been thoroughly dry to the touch for at least 48 hours before your trip is didymo-free. - Get the certificate before fishing. For most of Fiordland's rivers and lakes, DOC says get a Clean Gear Certificate for all gear at an approved cleaning station within 48 hours before fishing, and carry it with your licence and cleaning kit. - Leave felt soles at home. DOC says felt-soled waders are not permitted in the lakes and rivers. - Walking the Milford Track? DOC says bring dry clothing and boots; damp boots and socks must be disinfected before the track, and there is a cleaning station at Glade clearing. ### Which lakes and rivers have extra rules? No watercraft at all on the Clinton River, none into the tributaries of Lake Te Anau or Lake Manapouri, and a ballot for three fishing rivers. Each is DOC's, from its freshwater pests, kayaking and Manapouri pages. - Clinton River. DOC says all watercraft are prohibited from the Clinton River, and fishing it, the Worsley River or the Ettrick Burn also needs a ballot application through Fish & Game. - Lake Te Anau's tributaries. DOC says you must not take a kayak into tributary rivers after it has been in Lake Te Anau, because didymo is present in the lake. - Lake Manapouri's tributaries. DOC says watercraft are prohibited from entering its tributary rivers because of didymo. - Hollyford and the Pyke. Packrafters on routes such as the Hollyford-Pyke should Check, Clean, Dry before and after, DOC says. - Lake Hauroko. DOC says the lake is free of didymo and has one of the most unique and diverse water plant communities in the country: clean your vessel and gear before and after use. - Lake Monowai and Cascade Creek. DOC says Lake Monowai supports a productive fishery of introduced rainbow and brown trout as well as native fish, and Cascade Creek Campsite on the Milford Road is close to the Eglinton and Cascade rivers for fly fishing. ### What can I hunt in Fiordland, and how do hunters get in? Red deer, wapiti and possums, and in some areas wild pigs and chamois; most hunters get in by helicopter or boat. DOC says Fiordland is a popular place for hunting red deer, wapiti and possums, and in certain areas wild pigs and chamois. The first red deer were released at the base of the Monument on Lake Manapouri in 1901 and have spread across Fiordland from there. In most cases, DOC says, hunting access into Fiordland National Park is by helicopter or boat, though there are many road access points along the eastern boundary. One area is closed to everyone: there is no access or camping in the Murchison Mountains, including the south side of Middle Fiord on Lake Te Anau, a special takahē area closed to the public, with only limited special access permits between December and February. Two points from DOC apply to every hunter. Lead is toxic to humans and to kea, which feed on wild animal carcasses, so DOC asks hunters to consider lead-free projectiles. And kea are an endangered species: DOC says it is illegal to harm them. ### What changed in the Wapiti Area? Since 1 October 2026 it is an open hunting area within DOC's Lower South Island permit area, with a photo report for every wapiti taken. From DOC's Wapiti Herd of Special Interest page. It is a recent change, so check DOC's page before you plan a trip. - Open hunting DOC says that on 1 October 2026 the Wapiti Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) area in Fiordland National Park changed from a restricted to an open hunting area, part of the Lower South Island permit area. - 25 hunting blocks DOC says there are 25 hunting blocks within the Wapiti Area. - Photographs within 30 days A hunter who takes a wapiti or wapiti-hybrid deer in the Wapiti Area must give the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation photographs of the animal within 30 days, DOC says. ### Fishing, hunting and freshwater pests: questions answered - What is a Clean Gear Certificate? DOC says anyone fishing most of Fiordland's rivers and lakes must get one for all their gear at an approved cleaning station within 48 hours before fishing, and carry it with a sports fishing licence and an approved didymo cleaning kit. - Can I use felt-soled waders in Fiordland? No. DOC says felt-soled waders are not permitted in the lakes and rivers. - Do I need a permit to hunt in Fiordland National Park? Yes. DOC says hunting on public conservation land needs a hunting permit from DOC, and a valid firearms licence if you hunt with a firearm. The visitor centre in Te Anau lists hunting permits among its services. - Can I kayak on the Clinton River? No. DOC says all watercraft are prohibited from the Clinton River. Kayakers and packrafters need a permit and a Clean Gear Certificate for non-motorised craft on the Arthur River between Sandfly Point and Lake Ada. - Is the Wapiti Area open to hunters? DOC says that on 1 October 2026 it changed from a restricted to an open hunting area, part of the Lower South Island permit area, with 25 hunting blocks. - How do I know my gear is free of didymo? DOC says gear that has been thoroughly dry to the touch for at least 48 hours before your trip is didymo-free. Otherwise Check, Clean, Dry it before moving between waterways. Sources: DOC: Prevent the spread of freshwater pests (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/prevent-the-spread-of-freshwater-pests/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); DOC: Lake Manapouri area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/); DOC: Lake Monowai and Borland Road area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-monowai-borland-road-area/); DOC: Cascade Creek Campsite (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/cascade-creek-campsite/); DOC: Hunting permits and licences (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/permits-and-licences/); DOC: Fiordland hunting (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/where-to-hunt/fiordland/fiordland-hunting/); DOC: Wapiti Herd of Special Interest (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/where-to-hunt/fiordland/wapiti-hosi/); DOC: Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre (https://www.doc.govt.nz/footer-links/contact-us/visitor-centres/fiordland-national-park-visitor-centre/); DOC: Lake Manapouri nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/lake-manapouri-nature-and-history/); DOC: Southern fiords area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/southern-fiords-area/) ## Guide: te-anau-and-manapouri Review status: accepted - DOC calls Te Anau the closest town with facilities to Fiordland National Park and the start of the Kepler, Routeburn and Milford Track Great Walks; Lake Manapouri, 21 kilometres away, is the way to Doubtful Sound. - DOC's Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Rua-o-te-moko, is at 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, with track information, tickets, maps, track conditions and weather forecasts. - DOC gives the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound as about 2 hours on two of its pages and about 2.5 hours one way without stops on its journey tips. Fill up in Te Anau: DOC says there is no fuel or shop on the way. - DOC calls Lake Te Anau the largest body of fresh water in Australasia and Lake Manapouri the second deepest lake in New Zealand. The DOC pages we hold give no depth in metres for either lake. ### Why start a Fiordland trip in Te Anau or Manapouri? Te Anau is the closest town with facilities to the park, says DOC; Manapouri, 21 kilometres on, is the way to Doubtful Sound. DOC calls Te Anau the closest town with facilities to Fiordland National Park, and says it has full visitor facilities with shops and places to stay. It is the start of the Kepler, Routeburn and Milford Track Great Walks. DOC lists Te Anau as the largest town for the park, followed by Manapouri and Milford Sound, and says there are airports in all three. Road access to the park is via Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and the Southern Scenic Route. DOC says Te Anau is reached by SH6 and SH94 from Queenstown, or by SH1 and SH94 from Invercargill, with regular bus services from both. Lake Manapouri is 21 kilometres and about 20 minutes drive from Te Anau, and from the Manapouri township you reach Doubtful Sound via West Arm and Wilmot Pass. DOC adds that you can walk into the park from either town. ### How far is everything from Te Anau, by source? Queenstown is 179 kilometres away and Manapouri 21; DOC and Visit Fiordland give Milford Sound as 119 or 120 kilometres, depending on the page, and one RealNZ page gives 118. | Route or feature | What the source says | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Queenstown to Te Anau | 179 kilometres, 2 hours 20 minutes drive, by SH6 and SH94 | DOC Lake Te Anau area page | | Invercargill to Te Anau | 150 kilometres, 2 hours drive, by SH1 and SH94 | DOC Lake Te Anau area page | | Te Anau to Lake Manapouri | 21 kilometres, about 20 minutes drive | DOC Lake Manapouri area page | | Te Anau to Te Anau Downs | 27 kilometres (30 minutes drive) on one DOC page, 30 kilometres on another; DOC's Milford Track page gives the bus or car leg as 30 minutes | DOC Lake Mistletoe Track, kayaking and Milford Track pages | | Te Anau to Milford Sound, distance | 119 kilometres on DOC's journey tips and in Visit Fiordland's Milford Road page text; 120 kilometres on DOC's Milford area page, Visit Fiordland's Milford Sound page and its Milford Road FAQ; 118 kilometres on RealNZ's how to get there page | DOC and Visit Fiordland, by page, RealNZ | | Te Anau to Milford Sound, time | About 2 hours on DOC's Lake Te Anau and Milford area pages; about 2.5 hours one way without stops on DOC's journey tips. Operators: about 3 hours (RealNZ), 2.5 hours (Pure Milford), about two hours (Southern Discoveries). From Queenstown, about 4 to 6 hours one way by source; the day trip guide sets every figure side by side. | DOC, by page; operators as named; the Queenstown range across Tourism New Zealand, DOC, RealNZ, Southern Discoveries and Pure Milford | | Lake Te Anau | The largest body of fresh water in Australasia | DOC Kepler Track page | | Lake Manapouri | The second deepest lake in New Zealand | DOC Lake Manapouri nature and history page | | Mt Titiroa | 1710 metres, south of Lake Manapouri; its whitish peak is weathered granite, not snow | DOC Lake Manapouri nature and history page | ### What does the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre do? It is DOC's information centre for the park, at 1 Lakefront Drive on Te Anau's main street. DOC lists Te Rua-o-te-moko, the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, at 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, on the main street opposite the intersection of Mokonui Street and Town Centre Street. DOC says it has Great Walks and backcountry track information, tickets and maps, track conditions and weather forecasts, information on short walks and family friendly activities, and hunting permits. DOC's safety advice is to check with the visitor centre before your trip. Its hours differ between summer and winter, and DOC asks you to phone or check its page for last minute changes, so this guide does not list them. ### What can I see at Punanga Manu o Te Anau? Takahē and other birds that are hard to see in the wild, on the lakeshore near the visitor centre. DOC says Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is on the shore of Lake Te Anau, an easy 20 minute walk or 2 minute drive from the visitor centre, and open to the public during daylight hours for self-guided visits. DOC also says it has recently changed how the sanctuary is managed, including moving some species and changing guided tours, so check DOC's page before you go. Each card is from DOC. - Takahē DOC says the sanctuary's takahē pairs support the Takahē Recovery Programme by raising chicks, which are released into predator controlled wild homes at around one year old. DOC says the takahē, presumed extinct for nearly 50 years, was rediscovered in 1948 in the Murchison Mountains above Lake Te Anau. - Antipodes Island parakeets DOC says these parakeets are not native to mainland New Zealand and are found here only in captivity, as a small insurance population. - Pateke DOC describes pateke (brown teal) as small members of the duck family that were previously classed Nationally Endangered. - Facilities DOC says the sanctuary has public toilets, picnic tables and a spring water tap. ### How were Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri formed? DOC says glaciers spreading east from central Fiordland about 20,000 years ago left ridges of rock and gravel, and the lakes formed behind them. DOC says that in the last Ice Age, about 20,000 years ago, glaciers from central Fiordland spread east across the sites of Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, leaving long ridges of rock and gravel behind which the lakes formed. Most of Lake Manapouri's islands, DOC says, were shaped by the glacier, which wore a long smooth ramp on the upstream side and plucked rock away on the downstream side to leave steep sided cliffs. DOC says the lake is surrounded by the Kepler Mountains, Turret Range and Hunter Mountains, and that paradise shelduck, grey duck, scaup and the rare whio (blue duck) are found along its rivers and lake edges. On the Te Ana-au Caves, the only DOC words we hold are about the rock: DOC says periods under the sea bed created the sandstone, mudstone and limestone seen there and on the Hump Ridge. One part of Lake Te Anau is off limits: DOC says there is no access or camping in the Murchison Mountains, including the south side of Middle Fiord, a special takahē area closed to the public. ### Which short walks and lake outings start near town? The lakeside walk to the bird sanctuary, the lakefront to the Kepler Track and its day walks, Lake Mistletoe at Te Anau Downs, and paddling on both lakes. Distances and times are DOC's. The visitor centre has information on more short walks. - To the bird sanctuary. DOC calls it an easy 20 minute walk along the lakeside from the visitor centre. - Along the lakefront to the Kepler Track. DOC says the track entrance is a 50 minute walk along the lakefront from the visitor centre, and the Kepler Track car park is 5 kilometres from Te Anau. - Kepler Track day walks. DOC lists day walks from the Kepler Track car park to Dock Bay and Brod Bay, to Rainbow Reach and to Luxmore Hut, and from Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut. The car park to Brod Bay is 5.6 kilometres and 1 hour 30 minutes, through beech forest along the lakeshore. Rainbow Reach car park is 12 kilometres from Te Anau. DOC's Lake Manapouri page says the Kepler Track has excellent day walk options for families. - Lake Mistletoe. DOC says the Lake Mistletoe Track starts opposite the hotel complex at Te Anau Downs, and the lake is home to New Zealand scaup, frogs and other wetland wildlife, with views of Lake Te Anau. - On Lake Te Anau. DOC says the lakeshore is a great option for day kayaking or family activities, reached from the beaches and lakefront, and can be linked with Kepler Track walks such as Brod Bay. - On Lake Manapouri. DOC calls the lake very scenic, with sheltered islands, beaches and walking options from the shore; water access is at Pearl Harbour, Manapouri, or the end of Supply Bay Road. DOC warns it can quickly become rough and choppy, particularly in the afternoons. - Check, clean, dry. DOC says didymo is in Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri: clean all gear before moving from the lake edge into tributaries or between waterways, and watercraft are prohibited from Lake Manapouri's tributary rivers. ### How do I get to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound from here? Milford Sound by the Milford Road from Te Anau, or on foot by the Milford Track; Doubtful Sound by boat and coach from Manapouri. This guide gives no prices, timetables or availability. - Milford Sound by road. The Milford Road runs from Te Anau to Milford Sound; see the table for distance and time by page. DOC suggests taking a coach so you can enjoy the scenery. - Milford Sound on foot. DOC says the Milford Track starts on Lake Te Anau: a bus or car to Te Anau Downs (30 minutes), then a boat to Glade Wharf (1 hour 15 minutes). - Doubtful Sound by boat and coach. DOC says the easiest way is by boat from Pearl Harbour wharf in Manapouri across the lake to West Arm, then by coach over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove, booked in advance with a transport operator. - Doubtful Sound with your own vehicle. DOC says vehicles can be barged across Lake Manapouri to West Arm and driven over Wilmot Pass, but you must buy a permit for the Wilmot Pass Road. ### What should I do in Te Anau before driving the Milford Road? Fill the tank, check the road, sort chains in winter, pack for the day and know where your phone will work. - Fill the tank. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound. - Check the road status. DOC says to check the latest road status before you leave; roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound give current road updates. - Sort out chains. DOC says snow chains may be required, can be rented in Te Anau, and you should know how to fit them before you start. - Pack for the day. DOC advises extra food, water, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent. Public toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound. - Know where the phone works. DOC's journey tips say mobile coverage is limited outside Te Anau and patchy on the road, with a card phone at Knobs Flat, an emergency satellite phone at the Homer Tunnel and a card phone at Milford Sound. DOC's Milford area page lists Te Anau Downs, Totara Campsite, The Divide and Milford Sound as having reception. In an emergency dial 111. - Empty the campervan. DOC says dump stations are in Te Anau and Manapouri, and there are none at campsites along the Milford Road. ### Te Anau and Manapouri: questions answered - How far is Te Anau from Milford Sound? DOC's journey tips give 119 kilometres and about 2.5 hours one way without stops. DOC's Milford area page gives 120 kilometres and about 2 hours, and its Lake Te Anau page also says 2 hours. RealNZ gives 118 kilometres on one page and about 3 hours on another; Pure Milford says 2.5 hours. We show each by page. - How far is Manapouri from Te Anau? DOC says Lake Manapouri is 21 kilometres and about 20 minutes drive from Te Anau. - Where is the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre? DOC lists it at 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau, on the main street opposite the intersection of Mokonui Street and Town Centre Street. Its hours change by season, so check DOC's page. - Can I see takahē in Te Anau? DOC says Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary offers a glimpse of the rare, flightless takahē, and is open during daylight hours for self-guided visits. - How deep is Lake Manapouri? DOC calls it the second deepest lake in New Zealand. The DOC page we hold gives no depth in metres, so we do not give one. - Is there fuel between Te Anau and Milford Sound? No. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, so fill up in Te Anau. Sources: DOC: Lake Te Anau area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-te-anau-area/); DOC: Lake Manapouri area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/); DOC: Lake Manapouri nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-manapouri-area/lake-manapouri-nature-and-history/); DOC: Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre (https://www.doc.govt.nz/footer-links/contact-us/visitor-centres/fiordland-national-park-visitor-centre/); DOC: Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-te-anau-area/punanga-manu-o-te-anau-te-anau-bird-sanctuary/); DOC: Takahē (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/takahe/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, getting there (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/getting-there/); DOC: Fiordland nature and conservation (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/about-fiordland-national-park/nature-and-conservation/); DOC: Journey tips for Piopiotahi Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Lake Mistletoe Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-mistletoe-track/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Doubtful Sound/Patea area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/doubtful-sound-patea-area/); DOC: Prevent the spread of freshwater pests (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/prevent-the-spread-of-freshwater-pests/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); RealNZ: how to get to Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-get-to-milford-sound/); Pure Milford: what to expect on your cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/journal/what-to-expect-on-your-milford-sound-cruise); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound cruises (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/); RealNZ: day trip guide (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/day-trip-to-milford-sound-from-queenstown/); RealNZ: day trip from Queenstown (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/day-cruises/milford-sound-day-trip-from-queenstown/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Southern Discoveries: self drive (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-self-drive) ## Guide: milford-sound-in-summer Review status: accepted - Summer at Milford Sound / Piopiotahi runs from December to February. DOC gives Fiordland summer days of, for example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, Tourism New Zealand gives highs of 19 degrees, and Visit Fiordland says daylight hours are much longer. - It is the busy season. DOC says traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm, and advises arriving after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds. - The 2026/27 Great Walks season runs from 27 October 2026 on the Kepler Track and from 1 November 2026 on the Milford and Routeburn tracks, to 30 April 2027. DOC says huts must be booked well in advance. - It still rains, and there are sandflies. Pack a rain jacket, warm layers, sunscreen and insect repellent, and check DOC's Fiordland alerts and the road status before you set out. ### What is Milford Sound like in summer? Long days, busy roads and the Great Walks in season. Rain and sandflies come with it. | Question | Short answer | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | How warm is it? | For example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius on Fiordland summer days; Milford Sound highs of 19 degrees | DOC; Tourism New Zealand | | Will it rain? | Probably. Sources differ on how much, but all describe a very wet place | DOC, Visit Fiordland, Tourism New Zealand | | Are the days long? | Yes: daylight hours are much longer in summer | Visit Fiordland | | Is it busy? | Yes. Busiest from October to April, and from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm each day | DOC | | Are the Great Walks open? | Yes, in season until 30 April 2027; book huts well in advance | DOC | | What wildlife might I see? | Kea around the Homer Tunnel; tawaki sometimes, in their moult from mid-January to early March | DOC | ### What is the summer weather like? Warmest of the year, with long days and frequent rain. Plan for at least one wet day, as DOC advises. DOC says January and February are New Zealand's warmest months, and that Fiordland, in the south, is generally colder than the north. DOC gives Fiordland summer days of, for example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius; Tourism New Zealand gives Milford Sound highs of 19 degrees from December to February. Visit Fiordland says daylight hours are much longer in summer, and Milford Sound often has a cool day breeze as the warm air rises. Rain comes in every season, but sources differ on how much. DOC's journey tips say up to 7 metres a year at Milford Sound; DOC's weather page gives about 7 metres a year over about 200 rain days across the Fiordland area; Visit Fiordland says around 6.5 to 7 metres, and has had up to 9 metres; Tourism New Zealand says roughly 180 days of rain a year, and advises not to cancel for a rain forecast, because in rain the mountains are draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls. DOC says cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of year, so plan for at least one wet day. ### Which tracks, huts and campsites are open, and what needs booking? The Great Walks are in season, and DOC says their huts, and many campsites, must be booked ahead. From DOC's track and booking pages, which say what needs booking, not what is free. - Milford Track In season from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 (last departure 28 April 2027). DOC says the 53.5 kilometres are walked in one direction over 3 nights and 4 days, the three huts must be booked well in advance, and camping is not permitted. The track ends at Sandfly Point, where DOC's kayaking page says you can kayak in for day walks. DOC points to great swimming holes near Clinton Hut, the first night. - Routeburn Track In season from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, when DOC says huts and campsites must be booked. It is 33 kilometres one way, 2 to 4 days. DOC says there are wasps and sandflies: carry insect repellent, and antihistamines if you are allergic to wasp stings. - Kepler Track In season from 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027. A 60 kilometre loop of 3 to 4 days, with huts and campsites DOC says must be booked well in advance. It is busy with runners on the first Saturday in December, the day of the Kepler Challenge. - Snow early in the season DOC's Milford, Routeburn and Kepler track pages say avalanche risk can extend into December, and that sections of the Routeburn and Kepler may be closed; its avalanche page gives windows ending in late October or early November, by track. Read your track page before you go. - Campsites and huts DOC says all serviced campsites, and some others, need booking in peak season, usually 1 October to 30 April. Cascade Creek, one of several DOC campsites between Te Anau and The Divide, keeps no spaces for campers without a booking. Freedom camping within 200 metres of the Milford Road is not allowed. - Guided or on your own DOC says the Great Walks are well formed and easy to follow; most people prefer to explore on their own, but guided trips offer a bit more comfort. ### How do I avoid the summer crowds? Arrive after 1.30 pm, as DOC advises, and allow time to park. DOC says that in summer the Milford Road, car parks and sights can be busy. Its journey tips say the Milford Journey is busiest between October and April, that traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm, and that you should arrive after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds. A DOC media release of 12 February 2026 reported a record summer, with limited parking that fills quickly. Visit Fiordland says the best times of day to explore Milford in summer are early morning, or late afternoon and evening. If you are taking a cruise, sources differ on how long to allow to park and reach the terminal: DOC's journey tips say one hour, a DOC media release says 45 minutes (and at least 2 hours from Te Anau), and Visit Fiordland says 30 minutes. RealNZ says 45 minutes to 1 hour, and Fiordland Discovery up to 45 minutes. On a busy day, the longer allowances leave more room. ### Which walks are best in summer? Short walks at the sound and along the road suit most people; Key Summit, Lake Marian and Gertrude Saddle need more fitness and skill. | Walk | DOC figures | Know before you go | | --- | --- | --- | | Milford Foreshore Walk | 400 metre loop, easy, wheelchair accessible | Some of the best views of Mitre Peak; DOC warns there may be a lot of sandflies | | Milford Sound Lookout Track | 400 metres return, 20 minutes, easy to intermediate | A number of steps; take sandfly repellent | | Mirror Lakes Walk | 400 metres return, 10 minutes, wheelchair accessible | About 56 kilometres north of Te Anau, with reflections of the Earl Mountains | | Lake Marian Falls Track | 720 metres return, 20 minutes, easy to intermediate | Stay away from the creek edge: swift water and slippery rocks | | Key Summit | 3.4 kilometres one way, 3 hours return from The Divide, intermediate | Views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains; DOC lists it among places to see kea | | Lake Marian Track | 3.1 kilometres one way, 1 hour 30 minutes one way, advanced | An alpine lake in a hanging valley; good fitness and backcountry skills needed | | Gertrude Saddle Route | 7 kilometres return, 4 to 6 hours, expert | Alpine and navigation skills essential. DOC's rule: if there is rain or snow, don't go | ### What wildlife and flowers can I see in summer? Alpine flowers and kea near the Homer Tunnel, southern rata in flower and, with luck, tawaki in their moult. No sighting is certain. Where DOC gives a season, we give it. - Alpine flowers. DOC says the Homer Tunnel area shows native flowers in summer once the snow has cleared, including alpine buttercups (called Mount Cook lilies) and daisies. - Southern rata. Visit Fiordland says to look out for the Fiordland Christmas tree, the southern rata, with its bright red flowers. - Kea. DOC says kea are often seen around the Homer Tunnel (watch your belongings), and lists the Routeburn, Key Summit and Milford tracks among places to see them. Never feed them: human food can harm wildlife and change its behaviour. - Tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin). DOC says the breeding season, July to November, is the time to see them, but they can sometimes be seen in the moult, mid-January to early March. They are very timid: do not approach birds, nests or beaches where penguin tracks are common. - Forest birds and bats. DOC calls the Eglinton valley a stronghold for native birds, including kākā and yellowhead/mohua, and says long-tailed bats are active around dusk and dawn along the Milford Road. ### What should I pack for sandflies, sun and rain? Insect repellent, sun protection and a rain jacket every time, plus water and food, because there are no shops on the road. From DOC's journey tips and its gear lists for short walks and day hikes. - Insect repellent. DOC's Fiordland kayaking page says sandflies are prominent in all areas, and DOC warns there may be a lot on the Milford Foreshore Walk. - Sun protection. DOC lists sunscreen for the Milford Road; its short walks gear list adds a sun hat or warm beanie (pack one and wear the other) and sunglasses. - Rain gear and warm layers. DOC advises warm clothing and wet weather gear, and its short walks gear list includes a wind and waterproof jacket with a hood. - Water and food. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound. Its gear lists suggest at least 1 litre of water for walks under 3 hours, and 1 to 2 litres plus a packed lunch for day hikes under 8 hours. - Care in the water. DOC's swimming advice, for all of New Zealand: if in doubt, stay out; look for hidden dangers such as strong currents, cold water and submerged rocks; always go with a buddy. ### How do I plan a summer day at Milford Sound? Check the live sources, stock up in Te Anau, walk on the way in, reach the sound after 1.30 pm and cruise then. - Check before you leave. View DOC's Fiordland alerts and check the latest Milford Road status; DOC says roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound give road updates, and Visit Fiordland points to the NZTA road status. - Stock up in Te Anau. DOC says there is no fuel or shop on the road. Toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound; mobile coverage is patchy, and in an emergency you dial 111. - Walk on the way in. Spend the busiest hours, 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, on walks along the road, such as Mirror Lakes, or Key Summit if you are fit. - Arrive after 1.30 pm. DOC's advice for avoiding the crowds. If you are cruising, allow time to park and reach the terminal (sources differ, as shown above). - Get on the water. RealNZ says a day cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours on the water, out toward the Tasman Sea and back. - Finish on foot. Visit Fiordland says late afternoon and evening are among the best times to explore Milford in summer: try the Foreshore Walk for Mitre Peak, repellent in hand. ### Milford Sound in summer: questions answered - Is summer a good time to visit Milford Sound? It is the warmest and busiest time. DOC gives Fiordland summer days of, for example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, Visit Fiordland says daylight hours are much longer, and the Great Walks are in season. Expect crowds from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm (DOC) and some rain. - What time should I arrive at Milford Sound in summer? DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm, because traffic and parking are often busiest between 9.30 am and 1.30 pm. Visit Fiordland says early morning, or late afternoon and evening, are the best times to explore in summer. - Do I need to book the Milford Track in summer? Yes. DOC says the three huts must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season, 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, and camping is not permitted. - Are there sandflies at Milford Sound in summer? Yes. DOC warns there may be a lot of sandflies on the Milford Foreshore Walk, advises sandfly repellent on the Lookout Track, and its Fiordland kayaking page says they are prominent in all areas. Carry repellent. - How warm is Milford Sound in summer? DOC gives Fiordland summer days of, for example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius; Tourism New Zealand gives Milford Sound highs of 19 degrees from December to February. Cold weather can occur at any time of year, DOC adds. Sources: DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: planning your journey (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Routeburn Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/); DOC: Booking and paying for campsites (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/stay-at-a-campsite/booking-and-paying/); DOC: Cascade Creek Campsite (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/cascade-creek-campsite/); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Great Walks (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping/great-walks/); DOC: Be avalanche alert in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/be-avalanche-alert-in-fiordland/); DOC: Kayaking and packrafting in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/kayaking-packrafting-in-fiordland/); DOC: media release, record summer (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); DOC: Milford Foreshore Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-foreshore-walk/); DOC: Milford Sound Lookout Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-sound-lookout-track/); DOC: Mirror Lakes Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/mirror-lakes-walk/); DOC: Lake Marian Falls Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-marian-falls-track/); DOC: Routeburn Track: Key Summit Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track-key-summit-track/); DOC: Lake Marian Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-marian-track/); DOC: Gertrude Saddle Route (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/gertrude-saddle-route/); DOC: Milford area, nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/nature-and-history/); DOC: Kea (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/kea/); DOC: Fiordland crested penguin/tawaki (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/fiordland-crested-penguin-tawaki/); DOC: Lake Gunn Nature Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-gunn-nature-walk/); DOC: Short walks gear list (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/walking-and-tramping-gear-lists/short-walks-gear-list/); DOC: Day hikes gear list (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/walking-and-tramping-gear-lists/day-hikes-gear-list/); DOC: Swimming safety in New Zealand (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/swimming-safety-in-new-zealand/); DOC: Safety guidelines for Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/safety-guidelines-for-fiordland/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); RealNZ: how to choose a cruise (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-milford-sound-cruise/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Fiordland Discovery: overnight cruise (https://www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/fiordland-cruises/milford-sound-overnight-cruise/) ## Guide: milford-sound-cruises-how-to-choose Review status: accepted - The operators of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi describe much the same trip: from the Visitor Terminal along the fiord towards the Tasman Sea and back. So choose on time on the water, the size of the boat, whether you want a nature guide, and whether you want a night aboard. - By their own pages, RealNZ day cruises run 1.5 to 2 hours, Mitre Peak Cruises 2 hours, and Southern Discoveries up to 2 hours, or up to 2 hours 15 minutes with a nature guide. RealNZ and Fiordland Discovery run overnight cruises. - Allow time to park. Sources range from 30 minutes (Visit Fiordland) to one hour (DOC's journey tips), and RealNZ and Southern Discoveries ask you to check in 20 minutes before departure. - DOC says traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, and advises arriving after 1.30 pm. Check the road status before you leave. Southern Discoveries says it cannot guarantee wildlife sightings. ### How do the Milford Sound cruises compare? On length, the day cruises whose operators state one are close: 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours. Boat size and what is on board differ more. | Operator | Time on the water | Boat and group, in its own words | | --- | --- | --- | | Cruise Milford | 1 hour 45 minutes | A boat surveyed for 150 passengers, with numbers limited to 75 | | Fiordland Discovery | Overnight: 18 hours, with an afternoon and a morning cruise. It also runs a lunch cruise | Overnight: a maximum of 22 passengers in nine cabins. Lunch cruise: "fewer guests onboard" | | Mitre Peak Cruises | 2 hours | No more than 60 or 75 spaces on each cruise | | Pure Milford | Not given on the page we saved | Two modern catamarans; it says its Gem of the Sound has a glass roof | | RealNZ | Day cruises 1.5 to 2 hours: Classic typically 1 hour 40 minutes, Signature around 2 hours. Overnight: departs in the afternoon, returns the next morning | Classic on its biggest boats; Premium and Business Class on the smaller MV Sinbad, with fewer passengers; overnight on the Milford Mariner | | Southern Discoveries | Nature Cruise up to 2 hours; Discover More Cruise up to 2 hours 15 minutes. Another of its pages says 1.75 to 2.5 hours, depending on the itinerary | Indoor seating on all vessels; a Captain's VIP Lounge upgrade with a maximum of 20 guests in the space | ### What do all the cruises have in common? The terminal, the fiord and the check in. Visit Fiordland says cruises range in duration and onboard services, and that all offer the chance to see the scenery. Read across the operators' pages, these are the parts that hardly separate them. - Where they leave from. Southern Discoveries says all cruises depart from the Visitor Terminal. Cruise Milford checks in there, and Fiordland Discovery's lunch cruise leaves from the terminal wharf. RealNZ calls the terminal the central hub, with cruise check in, facilities and visitor information in one building. - The route. Southern Discoveries says every cruise goes the full length of the fiord, subject to weather. Pure Milford says the full length to the Tasman Sea and back, RealNZ says out toward the Tasman Sea and back, and Mitre Peak Cruises says it goes out into the Tasman Sea. - The commentary. Mitre Peak Cruises has its skipper's commentary, Pure Milford its crew pointing out the highlights, and RealNZ its nature guide or skipper. - Checking in. RealNZ and Southern Discoveries both ask for 20 minutes before departure. Ask your operator. ### Do you want a small boat or a big one? Decide whether quieter decks or the space of a big boat matter more. These are limits the operators state, not how full a given sailing will be. - Stated limits Cruise Milford says its boat is surveyed for 150 passengers and that it limits numbers to 75. Mitre Peak Cruises says no more than 60 or 75 spaces on each cruise. - Fewer passengers, no number given RealNZ says its Premium and Business Class cruises run on the smaller MV Sinbad, with fewer passengers and quieter decks. Fiordland Discovery says its lunch cruise has fewer guests on board. - Larger boats RealNZ says families and larger groups tend to fit the larger vessels of its Classic fleet, and that couples or small groups who want a quieter trip usually lean to its Signature or Premium cruises. - A smaller space on a larger boat Southern Discoveries sells a Captain's VIP Lounge upgrade on its Nature Cruise, with a maximum of 20 guests in the space. ### Do you need a nature guide, and what might you see? A guide adds explanation, not a promise of animals. No source we read guarantees a sighting. Southern Discoveries says its Discover More Cruise, its longest, has a dedicated nature guide on board throughout. Cruise Milford says its limit on numbers gives its nature guides the chance to share their knowledge, and RealNZ refers to an onboard nature guide or skipper. As for what you may see, RealNZ says bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin) and little blue penguins are present year round, with tawaki less predictable. Mitre Peak Cruises says the penguins can be found seasonally. RealNZ calls sightings a matter of luck, and Southern Discoveries says it cannot guarantee them. If wildlife is the only reason you are going, plan for a day without it. ### Is an overnight cruise worth it? If you have a night to spare and want the fiord after the day boats leave. With one day, RealNZ itself says a day cruise is the call. Two operators describe overnight cruises on their pages. RealNZ says its cruise on the Milford Mariner runs one night in summer and two nights in winter, departs in the afternoon and returns the following morning, with no day visitors permitted on board. It lists kayaking and tender exploration when conditions allow. Fiordland Discovery gives its overnight cruise as 18 hours with two cruises of the fiord, for a maximum of 22 passengers, and lists kayaking and tender boat explorations, weather permitting. RealNZ says its overnight cruise costs more than a day cruise but replaces a night's accommodation and covers meals. Either way, you book before you know the weather. ### What happens if it rains? By the operators' accounts cruises mostly still go. Pack for it, and remember who is telling you the rain is good. Southern Discoveries says it runs in almost all conditions, and that trips are often more dramatic in the rain, when hundreds of temporary waterfalls appear. Pure Milford calls a cruise the ultimate wet weather activity. RealNZ's pages differ: its day trip guide says cruises run in all weather, and its Fly Cruise Fly page says most weather. These are operators who sell cruises, so read them as that. Southern Discoveries also says all its vessels have indoor seating. DOC says cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of year, and advises planning for at least one wet day. Southern Discoveries suggests a waterproof jacket, warm clothing and comfortable shoes; RealNZ adds insect repellent, because sandflies are present near shore. ### How long should I allow to park and reach the terminal? Allow 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the source. On a busy day, the longer allowances leave more room. | Source | Allow | What it covers | | --- | --- | --- | | DOC journey tips | One hour | Parking and walking to the visitor terminal if you are taking a cruise | | DOC media release | 45 minutes | Parking and walking to the boat terminal | | Visit Fiordland | 30 minutes | Parking and getting transport or walking to the cruise terminal | | RealNZ | 45 minutes to 1 hour | Parking and transferring to the terminal, then check in 20 minutes before departure | | Fiordland Discovery | Up to 45 minutes | Parking and the 15 minute walk to the terminal | | Southern Discoveries | 10 to 15 minutes | The walk from the public car park to the terminal, on its own | | Free car park at Deepwater Basin | Sources differ: about 20 minutes (RealNZ), 20 to 30 minutes (Fiordland Discovery), about 45 minutes (Southern Discoveries) | The walk to the terminal. Southern Discoveries says allow up to an hour for its shuttle, which has no fixed schedule; Fiordland Discovery says parking there is limited | ### How do I time a cruise to avoid the busy period? Choose the boat first, then a sailing that lets you arrive outside the busiest hours, and work back from it. - Know the busy period. DOC says the Milford Road, car parks and sights can be busy in summer, that traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, and advises arriving after 1.30 pm. - Know that advice differs. Southern Discoveries' self drive page suggests starting early in the morning to avoid crowds, and Visit Fiordland calls early morning, or late afternoon and evening, the best times to explore in summer. DOC is the only one of the three that gives hours. - Work back from your sailing. Take the check in time, add a parking allowance from the table above, then add the drive. - Check the road. DOC says to check the latest road status before you leave, and Visit Fiordland says you must check the status on the NZTA website first. - Stock up. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and that public toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound. Mobile coverage is patchy; in an emergency dial 111. - Know the hazard. DOC says a large earthquake could trigger a landslide generated tsunami at Milford Sound: drop, cover and hold, then move to higher ground away from the water. ### Milford Sound cruises: questions answered - Which Milford Sound cruise is best? Choose on boat size, whether you want a nature guide, and whether you want a night aboard; the operators who state a length are close, so we do not rank them. Visit Fiordland says cruises range in duration and onboard services. - How long is a Milford Sound cruise? RealNZ says day cruises run 1.5 to 2 hours, Cruise Milford gives 1 hour 45 minutes, Mitre Peak Cruises says 2 hours, and Southern Discoveries says up to 2 hours, or up to 2 hours 15 minutes on its Discover More Cruise. Fiordland Discovery gives its overnight cruise as 18 hours. - Where do Milford Sound cruises leave from? Southern Discoveries says all cruises depart from the Visitor Terminal at Milford Sound. It also says its cruise does not depart from Queenstown; it offers a day trip with coach transfers instead. - How early should I get to Milford Sound for a cruise? Allow 30 minutes to an hour for parking, depending on the source, and check in when your operator asks; RealNZ, Southern Discoveries and Visit Fiordland say 20 minutes before departure. On parking, DOC's journey tips say one hour, a DOC media release 45 minutes, and Visit Fiordland 30 minutes; RealNZ says 45 minutes to 1 hour. RealNZ, Southern Discoveries and Visit Fiordland ask you to check in 20 minutes before departure. - Do Milford Sound cruises run in the rain? Southern Discoveries says it runs in almost all conditions. RealNZ's day trip guide says all weather and its Fly Cruise Fly page says most weather. DOC advises planning for at least one wet day. - Will I see dolphins or penguins on a cruise? You may. RealNZ says bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, tawaki and little blue penguins are present year round, with tawaki less predictable. Southern Discoveries says it cannot guarantee sightings. Sources: RealNZ: how to choose a cruise (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-milford-sound-cruise/); Southern Discoveries: Nature Cruise (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/nature-cruise/); DOC: planning your journey (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: media release, record summer (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound cruises (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/); Southern Discoveries: Discover More Cruise (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/discover-more-cruise/); RealNZ: day trip guide (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/day-trip-to-milford-sound-from-queenstown/); RealNZ: Fly Cruise Fly (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/scenic-flights/milford-sound-fly-cruise-fly/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Fiordland Discovery: overnight cruise (https://www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/fiordland-cruises/milford-sound-overnight-cruise/); Southern Discoveries: from Te Anau (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-from-te-anau/); Fiordland Discovery: lunch cruise (https://www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/fiordland-cruises/milford-sound-lunch-cruise/); RealNZ: how to get to Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-get-to-milford-sound/); Mitre Peak Cruises: cruise only (https://www.mitrepeak.com/milford-sound-packages/cruise-only-from-milford-sound/); Cruise Milford: boutique small boat cruise (https://www.cruisemilfordnz.com/cruises/milford-sound-boutique-small-boat-cruise/); Pure Milford: what to expect on your cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/journal/what-to-expect-on-your-milford-sound-cruise); Southern Discoveries: self drive (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-self-drive) ## Guide: milford-sound-day-trip-from-te-anau-or-queenstown Review status: accepted - A day trip to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is the Milford Road in and back, a cruise of about 2 hours and a long day. From Te Anau, operators give 2 to 3 hours of coach each way. From Queenstown, RealNZ gives a full day of 12 to 13 hours. - Drive times differ by source. DOC gives about 2.5 hours from Te Anau and 4.5 hours from Queenstown, one way, without stops, and says to allow more time than journey planners advise. - Flying is the short version: RealNZ gives about 40 or 45 minutes from Queenstown on different pages, and 4 to 5 hours for a fly, cruise and fly trip. Flights depend on the weather. - DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds, and there are no fuel stations or shops past Te Anau. Check the road status before you leave. ### Should I drive, take a coach or fly? DOC suggests a coach if you would rather enjoy the scenery. Drive if you want your own stops. Fly if you want the shortest day and the weather allows. | How | From Te Anau | From Queenstown | | --- | --- | --- | | Drive yourself | About 2.5 hours without stops (DOC) | About 4.5 hours without stops (DOC), which DOC calls a nine hour return drive | | Coach and cruise | 2 to 3 hours each way (RealNZ); 2 to 2.5 hours each way (Southern Discoveries) | 5 hours each way (RealNZ's trip page); a full day of 12 to 13 hours (RealNZ's day trip guide) | | Fly and cruise | A four hour helicopter and cruise trip (Southern Discoveries) | 4 to 5 hours return (RealNZ, Pure Milford); a 4 hour return journey (Southern Discoveries) | ### How long is the drive? About 2 to 3 hours from Te Anau and about 4 to 6 hours from Queenstown in good conditions, before you add time for stops; RealNZ says to allow six to seven hours from Queenstown in winter. | Source | From Te Anau | From Queenstown | | --- | --- | --- | | DOC journey tips | About 2.5 hours, without stops | About 4.5 hours, without stops | | DOC area pages | About 2 hours, without stops (Milford area page); about 2 hours (Te Anau area page) | Not given | | Visit Fiordland | A minimum of 2 hours with no stopping; 3 hours with short walks; 3 to 4 hours, or at least four hours, to stop for the views | Adds about four hours to the trip | | Tourism New Zealand | Not given | A four hour road trip | | RealNZ destination page | About 3 hours | About 5 to 6 hours | | RealNZ how to get there page | Not given | Roughly five hours with one stop; six to seven hours in winter | | RealNZ day trip guide | Not given | 4 to 4.5 hours, including stops | | Southern Discoveries | 2 hours (self drive page); about two hours (cruises page) | Approximately 5 hours | | Pure Milford | 2.5 hours | 4.5 hours | ### What is a coach and cruise day like? Someone else drives, and the operator links the road to your boat. It is still a long day, much of it on the road. Each operator speaks for its own trip. DOC's journey tips suggest a coach so you can enjoy the scenery, and say to take one if you are not confident driving in winter. - RealNZ. From Queenstown its trip page gives coach travel of 5 hours each way and a cruise of typically 1.5 to 2 hours; its day trip guide gives 12 to 13 hours in all, with coaches generally leaving between 6:30 and 7:00 am and back by early evening. From Te Anau it gives 2 to 3 hours each way. It says there are no toilets on its coaches, with several stops for toilet breaks. - Southern Discoveries. From Queenstown it gives about 5 hours each way, with stops for short walks and photos. From Te Anau it gives a 2 to 2.5 hour drive each way and a 1.75 to 2.5 hour cruise, depending on the itinerary. - Smaller groups and others. Mitre Peak Cruises runs its Queenstown trip in a van, Pure Milford's coach and cruise departs from Queenstown or Te Anau, and Fiordland Discovery says lunch cruise guests can take a day tour from either town. ### Can I fly in for the day? Yes, weather permitting. Have a plan for a day when the aircraft cannot go. - From Queenstown RealNZ gives the flight as around 40 minutes on one page and approximately 45 minutes each way on another, and its Fly Cruise Fly as 4 to 5 hours in all. Pure Milford also gives 4 to 5 hours return. Southern Discoveries describes a flight with Air Milford as a 4 hour return journey including its cruise. - From Te Anau Visit Fiordland says you can take a scenic flight from Queenstown or Te Anau. Southern Discoveries describes its helicopter flight and cruise from Te Anau as a four hour experience, including a two hour cruise. - Coach one way RealNZ says you can upgrade the return from Milford Sound to a scenic flight back to Queenstown, weather permitting. - If the weather says no RealNZ says flights are weather dependent. It asks guests to call 1 hour 15 minutes before departure for a weather check, and says it will contact them to reschedule if it cannot fly. ### Where can I stop on the way? Pick one or two. A short walk adds little time; a longer one changes the day, so check it against your sailing. | Stop | DOC figures | Know before you go | | --- | --- | --- | | Mirror Lakes Walk | 400 metres return, 10 minutes | About 56 kilometres north of Te Anau; wheelchair accessible | | Lake Marian Falls Track | 720 metres return, 20 minutes | Stay away from the creek edge: swift water and slippery rocks | | Key Summit | 3 hours return from The Divide | An intermediate tramping track, about 85 kilometres from Te Anau: a walk that takes up much of a day trip | | The Chasm Walk | 400 metres return, 20 minutes | About 109 kilometres from Te Anau. Check its current state with DOC: its page describes storm damage and repairs | | Milford Sound Lookout Track | 400 metres return, 20 minutes | At the far end, before or after your cruise | | Milford Foreshore Walk | 400 metre loop | An easy loop from the main visitor car park at Milford Sound | ### When should I leave? Work back from your sailing, and allow more than the map says. The sources do not agree on one best hour. - Choose when to arrive. DOC says traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and advises arriving after 1.30 pm. Southern Discoveries' self drive page suggests starting early in the morning instead. - Add the drive, then more. DOC says the journey takes longer than many visitors expect, to allow more time than Google or other journey planners advise, and to allow extra for sightseeing, traffic, road conditions and weather delays. - Add the tunnel. DOC says traffic signals at the Homer Tunnel can cause delays of up to 20 minutes. - Think about the drive home. Visit Fiordland says daylight hours are much longer in summer, but a return from Queenstown still means, in DOC's words, a nine hour return drive. - In winter, change the plan. DOC says traffic is lower and it is advisable to leave from 9 am onwards. RealNZ's advice is to leave Queenstown no later than 7am, and says an 8 to 9am departure is enough from Te Anau. - Check the road that morning. DOC says to check the latest road status before you leave, with roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound. Visit Fiordland says you must check the status on the NZTA website. ### What should I bring for the day? Fuel, food and rain gear from Te Anau, because the road has none of them. - Fuel. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound; RealNZ calls Te Anau the last service point. - Food, water and layers. DOC advises packing extra food, water, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent, and a DOC media release adds wet weather gear. RealNZ says a waterproof jacket is not optional, and lists snacks and water for the coach. - A map, not just a phone. DOC says mobile coverage is limited outside Te Anau, with phone services at Knobs Flat (card phone), the Homer Tunnel (emergency satellite phone) and Milford Sound (card phone). Southern Discoveries suggests offline maps or a physical map. In an emergency, dial 111. - Plan the toilet stops. DOC says public toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound. - Leave at home. DOC says pets are not allowed in Fiordland National Park, and not to feed kea or other wildlife. ### When is a day trip the wrong plan? When the drive from Queenstown would be the whole day, or the forecast and the road are against you. Visit Fiordland calls Milford Sound a very long day trip from Queenstown. DOC gives Queenstown to Te Anau as 179 kilometres and 2 hours 20 minutes, so a night in Te Anau takes that part out of the day. Southern Discoveries says many travellers stay overnight in Te Anau because it makes the trip less tiring. DOC says to expect closures and delays on the Milford Road from weather, rock falls, and snow and avalanche in winter, and Visit Fiordland says heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of year. A day with no slack can be lost to any of these, so leave room for it. ### A Milford Sound day trip: questions answered - Can you do Milford Sound as a day trip from Queenstown? Yes, but it is long. RealNZ gives a full day of 12 to 13 hours by coach, DOC calls the drive a nine hour return, and Visit Fiordland calls it a very long day trip. - How long is the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound? About 2 to 3 hours, depending on the source, before stops. DOC's journey tips say about 2.5 hours without stops, DOC's Milford area page about 2 hours, RealNZ about 3 hours and Southern Discoveries 2 hours. Visit Fiordland recommends at least four hours if you want to stop for the views. - How long does it take to fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound? RealNZ says around 40 minutes on one page and approximately 45 minutes each way on another. Flights are weather dependent. - What time should I leave for Milford Sound? DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm to avoid the crowds, so work back from there and allow extra time. Southern Discoveries' self drive page suggests starting early instead. RealNZ says its Queenstown coaches generally leave between 6:30 and 7:00 am. - Is there fuel or food on the way to Milford Sound? No. DOC says there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound, so fill up and stock up in Te Anau. Sources: Visit Fiordland: Milford Road (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-road/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); DOC: planning your journey (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Milford area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Lake Te Anau area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/lake-te-anau-area/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); RealNZ: Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/destinations/milford-sound/); Southern Discoveries: self drive (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-self-drive); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); RealNZ: Fly Cruise Fly (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/scenic-flights/milford-sound-fly-cruise-fly/); DOC: media release, record summer (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); DOC: Mirror Lakes Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/mirror-lakes-walk/); DOC: Key Summit Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track-key-summit-track/); DOC: Lake Marian Falls Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/lake-marian-falls-track/); DOC: The Chasm Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/the-chasm-walk/); DOC: Milford Foreshore Walk (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-foreshore-walk/); DOC: Milford Sound Lookout Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-sound-lookout-track/); Pure Milford: what to expect on your cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/journal/what-to-expect-on-your-milford-sound-cruise); RealNZ: day trip guide (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/day-trip-to-milford-sound-from-queenstown/); RealNZ: day trip from Queenstown (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/day-cruises/milford-sound-day-trip-from-queenstown/); RealNZ: day trip from Te Anau (https://www.realnz.com/en/experiences/day-cruises/milford-sound-day-trip-from-te-anau/); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound cruises (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/); Southern Discoveries: Nature Cruise (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/nature-cruise/); Southern Discoveries: heli flight and cruise (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/te-anau/heli-flight-cruise/); Pure Milford: fly and cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/fly-cruise); RealNZ: how to get to Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-get-to-milford-sound/); Mitre Peak Cruises: coach and cruise from Queenstown (https://www.mitrepeak.com/milford-sound-packages/coach-cruise-coach-from-queenstown/); Pure Milford: coach and cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/coach-cruise-coach); Fiordland Discovery: lunch cruise (https://www.fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/fiordland-cruises/milford-sound-lunch-cruise/) ## Guide: best-time-to-visit-milford-sound Review status: accepted - No source names one best month. Choose by what matters to you: warmth and long days, fewer people, or an easier drive. - December to February are the warmest months and have much longer days, Visit Fiordland says, but DOC says the journey is busiest from October to April. - Winter brings less traffic, DOC says, but it also says winter road conditions (May to September) can be extremely challenging and avalanches usually occur from May to November. - Rain can come in any season. Southern Discoveries says it runs cruises in almost all conditions, and heavy rain fills the fiord with temporary waterfalls. ### When is the best time to visit Milford Sound? It depends on what you want: December to February for warmth and long days, the cooler months for fewer people, and any season if you are ready for rain. | Months | What the sources say | What it means for a visit | | --- | --- | --- | | December to February | The warmest months, with much longer daylight (Visit Fiordland); highs of 19 degrees Celsius (Tourism New Zealand); inside the busiest stretch, October to April (DOC). | The warmest months and much longer daylight, with the most people. Arrive after 1.30 pm or start early. | | March and April | Still inside DOC's busiest stretch, October to April; the 2026/27 Great Walks season runs to 30 April 2027 (DOC). | Great Walks still open, with the busy season ending. | | May to September | Winter road conditions can be extremely challenging (DOC); highs of 10 degrees Celsius in winter, June to August (Tourism New Zealand); winter traffic is lower (DOC). | Fewer people, short days and the hardest drive. If you are not confident, DOC says take a coach. | | October and November | Spring can bring higher rainfall and even snow to sea level (Visit Fiordland); avalanches usually occur from May to November (DOC); the busy stretch starts again in October (DOC). | More rain and possible snow, a road that still needs care, and the Great Walks opening. | ### When is Milford Sound busiest? From October to April, and each day from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, DOC says. DOC says the journey is busiest from October to April, that traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, and advises arriving after 1.30 pm. It also calls Milford Sound one of New Zealand's most popular destinations, where in summer the road, car parks and sights can be busy, and a DOC media release of 12 February 2026 reported a record summer, with limited parking that fills quickly. Southern Discoveries gives the other way round it: start early in the morning to avoid crowds and make the most of the daylight, and get to the public car park early in the summer months. In winter DOC says traffic is lower, so it is advisable to leave from 9 am onwards. ### Does it matter if it rains? Less than you might think. Rain comes in every season, Southern Discoveries says it cruises in almost all conditions, and both it and Pure Milford describe temporary waterfalls after heavy rain. The sources agree it is very wet but give different figures. DOC's journey tips say up to 7 metres of rain each year; DOC's Fiordland weather page gives an average of about 7 metres a year for the Fiordland area, over about 200 rain days; Visit Fiordland says around 6.5 to 7 metres a year, and up to 9 metres; Tourism New Zealand says roughly 180 days of rain a year, and advises not to cancel for a rain forecast, because the mountains are then draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls. Southern Discoveries says boat trips are often more dramatic in the rain, when hundreds of temporary waterfalls appear, and Pure Milford calls a cruise the ultimate wet weather activity. DOC advises planning for at least one wet day on a Fiordland trip. ### How warm is it in each season? Mild in summer and cold in winter, by the sources' own examples, and changeable all year. | Season | Temperatures by source | Daylight and conditions | | --- | --- | --- | | Summer, December to February | Highs of 19 degrees Celsius (Tourism New Zealand); days of, for example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius (DOC). | Daylight hours are much longer (Visit Fiordland). | | Winter | Highs of 10 degrees Celsius, June to August (Tourism New Zealand); days between 1 and 9 degrees, a July example (DOC). | Can be very wet and cold, with limited daylight; alpine areas are usually under snow (DOC). | | Spring, September to November | No temperature given in the sources we hold. | Higher rainfall and even snow to sea level (Visit Fiordland); snowmelt makes rivers rise faster (DOC). | ### When is the Milford Road hardest? May to September for winter road conditions and May to November for avalanches, on DOC's dates. The drive in has its own seasons, and they shape the visit. - Winter driving DOC says winter conditions on the Milford Road, May to September, can be extremely challenging, and if you are not confident, take a coach. - Avalanche season DOC says avalanches usually occur from May to November, with risk mainly over winter and spring, especially between late August and early November. The road between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. DOC's track pages give their own windows; see Fiordland through the year. - Snow chains DOC says snow chains may be required, can be rented in Te Anau, and you should know how to fit them before you start. - Any time of year Visit Fiordland says heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of year, and DOC says to expect closures and delays from weather, rock falls, and snow and avalanche in winter. ### When can I walk the Great Walks? In the Great Walks season. For 2026/27, DOC gives 27 October 2026 on the Kepler Track and 1 November 2026 on the Milford and Routeburn tracks, to 30 April 2027. Each point is from DOC's track pages. - Milford Track. 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, last departure 28 April 2027. Outside the season it is only for fit, experienced, well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills. - Kepler Track. 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027. Outside the season, facilities are greatly reduced and it needs the same skills. - Routeburn Track. 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027. DOC calls May to late October its winter season, with more risk from snow, ice, avalanches and sub-zero temperatures. - Hollyford Track. No alpine sections; DOC says it can be walked in any season depending on weather, though flooding can affect it. - Gertrude Saddle. Needs tramping and alpine experience and is not recommended in winter because of avalanche danger. ### Is there a best time for wildlife and flowers? For tawaki, July to November, DOC says. Summer brings alpine flowers and rātā. What the sources tie to a season. - Tawaki. DOC says the Fiordland crested penguin can be seen in Milford Sound; the breeding season, July to November, is the time to see them, and sometimes in the moult from mid-January to early March. - Alpine flowers. DOC says the Homer Tunnel area shows native flowers in summer once the snow has cleared, including alpine buttercups (Mount Cook lilies) and daisies. - Southern rātā. Visit Fiordland says to look out in summer for the Fiordland Christmas tree, the southern rata, with bright red flowers. - Seals and dolphins. Mitre Peak Cruises says seals, dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins can be found seasonally in the region. ### How do I pick the day once I have chosen the season? Check the weather and the road, then time your arrival around the crowds and the daylight. - Plan for a wet day. DOC advises planning for all conditions, including at least one wet day, and checking the latest weather before you go. - Check the road. DOC says to expect closures and delays in winter; check current road conditions before you set out. - Time your arrival. In the busy season DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm; in winter it says leaving from 9 am onwards is advisable. - Leave room. DOC says to allow extra time for sightseeing, traffic, road conditions and weather delays. In winter RealNZ advises leaving Queenstown no later than 7 am to arrive before dark. ### Best time to visit Milford Sound: questions answered - What is the best month to visit Milford Sound? No source names one best month. Visit Fiordland says December to February are the warmest months, with much longer daylight, but DOC says the journey is busiest from October to April and that winter traffic is lower. - Is Milford Sound worth visiting in the rain? Yes, by the sources. Tourism New Zealand advises not to cancel for a rain forecast, because the mountains are draped in mist and bursting with waterfalls, and Southern Discoveries says boat trips are often more dramatic in the rain. - Can I visit Milford Sound in winter? Yes, with care. RealNZ runs its overnight cruise in winter as well as summer, but DOC says winter road conditions, May to September, can be extremely challenging and to expect closures and delays from snow and avalanche. - When is Milford Sound quietest? In winter, when DOC says traffic is lower. In the busy season, October to April, DOC says traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, and advises arriving after 1.30 pm. - How cold is Milford Sound in winter? Tourism New Zealand gives winter highs of 10 degrees Celsius, June to August; DOC gives winter days between 1 and 9 degrees, a July example, and says cold weather can occur at any time of year. Sources: DOC: Journey tips for Piopiotahi Milford Sound (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/journey-tips-for-piopiotahi-milford-sound); DOC: Weather and climate in Fiordland (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/weather-and-climate-in-fiordland/); DOC: Milford Road and Milford Sound area (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/); DOC: Milford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/); DOC: Kepler Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/kepler-track/); DOC: Routeburn Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/); DOC: Hollyford Track (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/hollyford-track/); DOC: Gertrude Saddle Route (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/gertrude-saddle-route/); DOC: Fiordland crested penguin, tawaki (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/penguins/fiordland-crested-penguin-tawaki/); DOC: Milford Road nature and history (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/places-to-go/milford-road-milford-sound-area/nature-and-history/); DOC: Fiordland National Park, know before you go (https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/know-before-you-go/); DOC: Piopiotahi Milford Sound experiencing record summer (https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2026-media-releases/piopiotahi-milford-sound-experiencing-record-summer/); Visit Fiordland: Milford Sound (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/milford-sound/); Visit Fiordland: Driving in Fiordland (https://www.fiordland.org.nz/plan/driving-in-fiordland/); Tourism New Zealand: Milford Sound (https://www.newzealand.com/nz/milford-sound/); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound from Te Anau (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-from-te-anau/); Southern Discoveries: Milford Sound self drive (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound-self-drive); Southern Discoveries: Nature Cruise (https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/nature-cruise/); Pure Milford: What to expect on your cruise (https://puremilford.co.nz/journal/what-to-expect-on-your-milford-sound-cruise); RealNZ: How to choose a Milford Sound cruise (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-milford-sound-cruise/); RealNZ: How to get to Milford Sound (https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/how-to-get-to-milford-sound/); Mitre Peak Cruises: Cruise only (https://www.mitrepeak.com/milford-sound-packages/cruise-only-from-milford-sound/) ## Facts - Visit Fiordland says State Highway 94 is the only road access to Milford Sound Piopiotahi. [M004; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland says the Homer Tunnel on the Milford Road is 1.3 kilometres long. [M005; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland recommends at least four hours from Te Anau to Milford Sound if you want to stop for the views. [M009; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland recommends 3 hours from Te Anau to Milford Sound to enjoy the scenery and short walks on the way. [M010; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland calls Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound very long day trips from Queenstown, adding about four hours. [M015; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC advises there are no fuel stations or shops between Te Anau and Milford Sound Piopiotahi. [M016; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC advises arriving after 1.30 pm, as traffic and parking are often busiest from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm; the journey is busiest from October to April. [M017; valid to 2027-01-11] - A DOC media release of 12 February 2026 reported a record summer at Milford Sound, with limited parking that fills quickly. [M018; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says public toilets are at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Piopiotahi Milford Sound. [M019; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says do not take your dog to Milford Sound: pets are not allowed in Fiordland National Park. [M020; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says mobile coverage is patchy on the Milford Road and in an emergency you dial 111. [M021; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Milford Track ends at Sandfly Point, with a 20 minute boat trip to Milford Sound, then buses back to Te Anau and on to Queenstown. [M023; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists the Te Rua-o-te-moko Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre at 1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau. [M024; valid to 2027-01-11] - NZTA material says the road has averaged about eight closure days a year, mainly in winter for avalanche risk. [M025; valid to 2026-12-24] - NZTA material says avalanche control began after a road maintenance supervisor died in an avalanche in 1983, and the road is closed before control begins. [M026; valid to 2027-10-28] - NZTA material describes a 17 kilometre winter no stopping zone around the Homer Tunnel, gated during avalanche risk. [M027; valid to 2026-12-24] - NZTA material says to carry correctly sized chains and know how to fit them; chains are usually required around 20 days a year, June to November. [M028; valid to 2026-12-24] - Visit Fiordland says heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, wind or debris can be on the road at any time of year. [M029; valid to 2027-01-11] - RealNZ says Mitre Peak rises nearly 1,700 metres from the surface alone. [M032; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says fourteen fiords, some stretching up to 40 kilometres inland, extend from Milford Sound Piopiotahi in the north to Preservation Inlet in the south. [M035; valid to 2027-10-28] - Tourism New Zealand gives highs of 19 degrees Celsius in summer (December to February) and 10 degrees in winter (June to August). [M039; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland says spring (September to November) can bring higher rainfall and even snow to sea level. [M040; valid to 2027-01-11] - RealNZ says a day cruise runs 1.5 to 2 hours on the water, covering the full fiord out toward the Tasman Sea and back. [M041; valid to 2027-10-28] - Southern Discoveries says its Milford Sound Nature Cruise takes up to 2 hours and asks guests to arrive 20 minutes before departure. [M042; valid to 2027-10-28] - RealNZ says bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin) and little blue penguins are present year round; tawaki are less predictable. [M043; valid to 2027-10-28] - RealNZ says to fuel up in Te Anau, the last service point. [M049; valid to 2027-10-28] - A DOC media release says facilities at Milford Sound are kept to a minimum and people should take out all they bring in, including rubbish. [M051; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says traffic signals at the Homer Tunnel can cause delays of up to 20 minutes. [M053; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall, up to 9000 millimetres a year. [M060; valid to 2027-10-28] - A DOC media release says pets are a serious threat to wildlife and are not permitted in a national park, even in your vehicle. [M061; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Māori name for Milford Sound is Piopiotahi, after the native thrush, the piopio, now probably extinct. [M062; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says a Welsh sealing captain, John Grono, named Milford Sound after his birthplace, Milford Haven. DOC gives no date. [M063; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says snow chains may be required, can be rented in Te Anau, and you should know how to fit them before you start; check current road conditions. [M064; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says the section of road between the Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted no-stopping zone because of avalanche risk. [M065; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says winter conditions on the Milford Road (May to September) can be extremely challenging; if not confident, take a coach. [M066; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says winter traffic is lower, so it is advisable to leave from 9 am onwards. [M067; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says avalanches usually occur in Fiordland National Park from May to November. [M068; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC suggests a coach to enjoy the scenery; from Queenstown it saves you the nine hour return drive. [M069; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says roadside signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford Sound give current road updates; check the latest road status before you leave. [M070; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC advises packing extra food, water, warm clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent for the Milford Road. [M071; valid to 2027-10-28] - A DOC media release advises packing warm clothing, wet weather gear, insect repellent and sunscreen. [M072; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Fiordland weather is highly changeable: cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of year. [M073; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says a large earthquake could trigger a landslide generated tsunami at Milford Sound: drop, cover and hold, then move to higher ground away from the water. [M074; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Mitre Peak has sheer rock walls rising 1,692 metres directly from the water. [M075; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve is one of 10 marine reserves in Fiordland. [M076; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited in the Milford Road and Milford Sound area. [M077; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says freedom camping within 200 metres of the road is not allowed on the Milford Road. [M078; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says kea and other wildlife must not be fed, because human food can harm them and change their behaviour. [M079; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists the Milford Track as 53.5 kilometres one way, walked over 4 days. [M080; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Milford Track can only be walked in one direction, over 3 nights and 4 days. [M081; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the track's three huts must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season, and camping is not permitted. [M082; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC gives the 2026/27 Great Walks season as 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 (last departure 28 April 2027). [M083; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says the track starts on Lake Te Anau: bus or car to Te Anau Downs (30 minutes), then a boat to Glade Wharf (1 hour 15 minutes). [M084; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC does not recommend the Milford Track for children under 10: exposed mountain environment and often adverse weather. [M085; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says outside the Great Walks season the track is only for fit, experienced, well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills. [M086; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says there is no cellphone coverage on the Milford Track. [M087; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland's Milford Road page gives a minimum of 2 hours from Te Anau to Milford with no stopping. [M089; valid to 2027-10-28] - Visit Fiordland's driving page says the drive can be done in two hours but to leave at least 3 to 4 hours to stop for the views. [M090; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says there are several DOC campsites between Te Anau and The Divide. [M092; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Milford Sound Piopiotahi is in the northwest of Fiordland National Park. [M093; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists the Milford Track in Fiordland National Park. [M094; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer gives the official name Milford Sound/Piopiotahi (status Official Altered, feature type Bay, Southland land district) at latitude -44.640893, longitude 167.89717 (NZGD2000). [M095; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer also records Milford Sound as an unofficial Locality (status Unofficial Recorded) at latitude -44.672847, longitude 167.925045 (NZGD2000), a separate point from the fiord's official record. [M096; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer lists the plain name Milford Sound for the fiord feature as Unofficial Replaced: the official name is the dual name Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. [M097; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer gives the official name Doubtful Sound/Patea (status Official Altered, feature type Bay) at latitude -45.345128, longitude 167.029958 (NZGD2000). [M098; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer gives Fiordland National Park as an Official Validated name, feature type National Park, with its reference point at latitude -45.386045, longitude 167.347399 (NZGD2000). [M099; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer records Te Anau as a Town (status Unofficial Recorded) at latitude -45.414649, longitude 167.715672 (NZGD2000). [M100; valid to 2027-10-28] - The NZ Gazetteer records Queenstown as a Town (status Unofficial Recorded, Otago land district) at latitude -45.032259, longitude 168.661449 (NZGD2000). [M439; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the largest town for Fiordland National Park is Te Anau, followed by Manapouri and Milford Sound; road access is via Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and the Southern Scenic Route. [M103; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says there are airports in Te Anau, Manapouri and Milford Sound, with some commercial flights and private aviation services. [M104; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says you can walk into the park from Te Anau or Manapouri, or from the Queenstown area via the Routeburn Track. [M105; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Fiordland National Park was established in 1952 and has ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys, rugged granite tops and mountain to sea views. [M106; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says glaciers have at times covered the area over the last 2 million years, carving U-shaped valleys that are now lakes or fiords; Lake Hauroko is the deepest lake in New Zealand at 462 metres. [M107; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says hundreds of lakes dot the park, among them Lake Hauroko, the deepest in New Zealand at 462 metres. [M108; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says no open fires are permitted in Fiordland National Park, to reduce the risk of wildfires. [M112; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says your cell phone is unlikely to have coverage in Fiordland, even from high points, and recommends a mountain radio or personal locator beacon in the backcountry. [M113; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC recommends telling someone your plans and leaving a date to raise the alarm if you have not returned. [M114; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC's park page says flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited in Fiordland National Park; DOC's permit page says drones are aircraft and all aircraft on conservation land need a permit. [M115; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says drones are aircraft, all aircraft operating on conservation land need a permit, and recreational, commercial and research use each have their own permit. [M116; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says no pets are allowed on conservation land, including national parks, even on a lead or in a carrier; having a pet in your vehicle on conservation land, even briefly in a car park, is an offence unless DOC grants an exception. [M117; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says certified disability assist dogs are allowed on any conservation land while assisting, without a permit unless the area requires one. [M118; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says bringing a pet onto conservation land without access can lead to an infringement fine or prosecution, and the pet may be seized. [M119; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC asks visitors to check, clean and dry all gear when moving between waterways in Fiordland to stop the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests. [M120; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Te Wāhipounamu, the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, covers 2.6 million hectares, almost 10 percent of New Zealand's land area, and takes in four national parks: Westland Tai Poutini, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring and Fiordland. [M121; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the World Heritage Area holds rocks, plants and animals going back 80 million years to Gondwana, and ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys among the finest glaciated landforms in the Southern Hemisphere. [M122; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says three endemic kiwi taxa live in the World Heritage Area: rowi, Haast tokoeka and Fiordland tokoeka. [M123; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Te Anau is reached by SH6 and SH94 from Queenstown (179 kilometres, 2 hours 20 minutes) or SH1 and SH94 from Invercargill (150 kilometres, 2 hours), with regular bus services from both. [M126; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary offers a glimpse of the rare, flightless takahē and other birds. [M127; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Te Rua-o-te-moko, on Lakefront Drive in Te Anau, has Great Walks and backcountry track information, tickets and maps, track conditions and weather forecasts, and hunting permits. [M128; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Lake Manapouri is 21 kilometres and about 20 minutes drive from Te Anau, and Doubtful Sound is reached from the Manapouri township via West Arm and Wilmot Pass. [M129; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC warns Lake Manapouri can quickly become rough and choppy, particularly in the afternoons, and watercraft are prohibited from entering its tributary rivers because of didymo. [M130; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC's Kepler Track page calls Lake Te Anau the largest body of fresh water in Australasia. [M131; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Doubtful Sound is a remote fiord known as 'the Sound of Silence', with no direct road access, and is quieter and more remote than Milford Sound. [M132; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Doubtful Sound is one of the largest of the fiords, has three main arms and holds three of Fiordland's 10 marine reserves. [M133; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the easiest way to Doubtful Sound is by boat from Pearl Harbour wharf in Manapouri across the lake to West Arm, then by coach over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove, booked in advance with a transport operator. [M134; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says vehicles can be barged across Lake Manapouri to West Arm and driven over Wilmot Pass, but you must buy a permit to take a vehicle on the Wilmot Pass Road. [M135; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says four tracks start from Deep Cove Hostel. [M136; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists the Kepler Track as a 60 kilometre loop taking 3 to 4 days; most walkers take 4 days and 3 nights. [M137; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC gives the Kepler Track's 2026/27 Great Walks season as 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027, when huts and campsites must be booked. [M138; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says outside the Great Walks season the Kepler Track should only be attempted by fit, experienced, well equipped people with alpine, river crossing and navigation skills; facilities are greatly reduced and only Luxmore Hut needs a booking. [M139; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Kepler Track has three huts and two campsites, which must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season; camping or staying in the Forest Burn and Hanging Valley shelters is not permitted. [M140; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Kepler Track car park is 5 kilometres from Te Anau, Rainbow Reach car park is 12 kilometres from Te Anau, and the visitor centre is a 50 minute walk along the lakefront from the track entrance. [M141; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the highest point on the Kepler Track is Luxmore summit at 1472 metres, a 30 minute return side trip; carry water from Luxmore Hut because there are no reliable water sources on the alpine section until Iris Burn Hut. [M142; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC does not recommend the Kepler Track for children under 10, because of the exposed mountainous environment and often adverse weather. [M143; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Kepler Challenge mountain run is held on the first Saturday in December each year, when the track is busy with runners. [M144; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Routeburn Track lies in both Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, in the Otago and Fiordland regions. [M146; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists the Routeburn Track as 33 kilometres one way, taking 2 to 4 days; it can be walked in either direction and most walkers take 3 days and 2 nights. [M147; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC gives the Routeburn Track's 2026/27 Great Walks season as 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, when huts and campsites must be booked. [M148; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says the Routeburn Track starts at Routeburn Shelter, 25 kilometres from Glenorchy, or The Divide Shelter, 85 kilometres from Te Anau; the road distance between the two ends is 325 kilometres, so transport is needed at each end. [M149; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC gives the highest point of the Routeburn Track as Harris Saddle/Tarahaka Whakatipu at 1,255 metres. [M150; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says The Divide on the Milford Road, at 532 metres, is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. [M151; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Earland Falls on the Routeburn Track is 174 metres high, and Lake Howden Hut was destroyed by storm damage in February 2020. [M152; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says there are wasps and sandflies on the Routeburn Track and recommends insect repellent, and antihistamines if you are allergic to wasp stings. [M153; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC does not recommend the Routeburn Track for children under 10, and says there is no cellphone coverage and there are steep drop-offs along sections of the track. [M154; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says it is common to receive over 15 metres of snow in the northern area of the park during winter and spring, and the majority of the avalanche threat is on several tracks and all the Great Walks. [M158; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the best way to understand avalanche danger in Fiordland National Park is to check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory, provided by the Mountain Safety Council. [M159; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Hollyford Track has no alpine sections, is rarely cut off by snow and can be walked in any season depending on weather, though flooding can affect it. [M162; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Hollyford Track has 6 backcountry huts, all of which must be booked in advance; huts have heating, mattresses and a pit toilet but no cooking facilities. [M163; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Mount Tūtoko, at 2723 metres, is Fiordland's highest mountain, seen from Little Homer Saddle on the Hollyford Track. [M164; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says from July to November seals and tawaki can be seen on the coast near Long Reef at Martins Bay. [M165; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Hollyford Valley has only one road, the Hollyford Road, which leaves the Milford Road at Marian Corner, about 87 kilometres from Te Anau; allow 2 hours to drive from Te Anau to the end of the Hollyford Road. [M166; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Lake McKerrow/Whakatipu Waitai was originally a fiord, cut off from the sea by sediment at Martins Bay, and schools of dolphins regularly visit it via the Hollyford River mouth. [M167; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists Mirror Lakes Walk as 400 metres return, 10 minutes, a wheelchair accessible short walk about 56 kilometres north of Te Anau, with reflections of the Earl Mountains. [M169; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Eglinton valley is a stronghold for native birds, including South Island robin/kakaruai, kākā, yellowhead/mohua, and short-tailed and long-tailed bats. [M171; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists Key Summit as 3.4 kilometres one way and 3 hours return from The Divide, an intermediate tramping track on the Routeburn Track, about 85 kilometres from Te Anau, with views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. [M172; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists Lake Marian Falls Track as 720 metres return, 20 minutes, easy to intermediate, from the Lake Marian car park 1 kilometre down the unsealed Hollyford Road; stay away from the creek edge because of swift water and slippery rocks. [M173; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists Lake Marian Track as 3.1 kilometres one way, 1 hour 30 minutes one way, an advanced tramping track to an alpine lake in a hanging valley, needing good fitness and backcountry skills. [M174; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says do not walk around the Lake Marian edge during the snow and avalanche season (winter and spring), and warns of stinging nettle (ongaonga) on the track. [M175; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists The Chasm Walk as 400 metres return, 20 minutes, wheelchair accessible, about 109 kilometres along the Milford Road from Te Anau, about halfway between Milford Sound and the Homer Tunnel. [M176; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the February 2020 storm washed away the Chasm viewing bridges; DOC's page describes reinstatement work, but its timetable is dated 2023 to 2024, so check the current state with DOC. [M177; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC gives the takahē population as around 500 as of October 2023, found in the native grasslands of the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland, Gouland Downs in Kahurangi National Park and the Greenstone Valley. [M178; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the takahē, presumed extinct for nearly 50 years, was rediscovered in 1948 by Geoffrey Orbell and his party in the Murchison Mountains above Lake Te Anau. [M179; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says a stoat plague in 2007 halved the takahē population in the Murchison Mountains. [M180; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC estimates 1,000 to 5,000 kea and classes them Threatened, Nationally Endangered; they live only in New Zealand. [M181; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC lists places to see kea including the Kepler Track alpine section and Iris Burn area, the Routeburn and Key Summit tracks, the Milford Track and the Homer Tunnel area. [M182; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says feeding by people harms kea and teaches them to approach people, and kea are often hit by cars on roads where people have taught them food may be available. [M183; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin) is one of the rarest mainland penguins in New Zealand, with 2,500 to 3,000 breeding pairs, in decline since the 1950s. [M184; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says tawaki can be seen in Milford Sound; the breeding season, July to November, is the time to see them, and sometimes in the moult from mid-January to early March. [M185; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says tawaki are very timid: do not approach birds, nests or beaches where penguin tracks are common, and keep dogs leashed around penguin areas. [M186; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says kākāpō now live only on protected offshore islands and in a fenced mainland sanctuary, and there is currently no place where the public can see them in person. [M187; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC's kākāpō page says there are 325 kākāpō alive today. [M188; valid to 2027-01-11] - DOC says Richard Henry, a pioneer of threatened species work, moved kākāpō and kiwi to islands in Tamatea/Dusky Sound in the late 1890s and early 1900s. [M189; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says kekeno (New Zealand fur seals) are the most common seals in New Zealand and their population is growing; all seals, whales and dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978. [M190; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Fiordland has one of New Zealand's three main coastal bottlenose dolphin populations: around 66 dolphins are resident in Doubtful Sound/Patea and 120 in Tamatea/Dusky Sound, as at 2025. [M191; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says research in 2008 estimated the Doubtful Sound dolphin population at 56, down a third since 1994; protection measures were introduced that year and the population has slowly increased since. [M192; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Doubtful Sound has Dolphin Protection Zones extending 200 metres from shore: do not enter them if dolphins are present, keep to five knots or idle inside them, and leave dolphin encounters to chance. [M193; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC's boating guidance for dolphins: approach from the side and slightly behind, go at no wake speed within 300 metres, and do not approach if three or more boats are already within 300 metres. [M194; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Fiordland's ten marine reserves border the national park and run from Milford Sound in the north to Preservation Inlet in the southwest. [M195; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC's marine reserve rules: no fishing of any kind, do not take, kill, remove or disturb marine life or materials, do not feed fish, and take care when anchoring. [M196; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says heavy rainfall creates a permanent freshwater layer on the fiords from 5 centimetres to over 10 metres deep, stained by tannins, which restricts most marine life to the top 40 metres. [M197; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the fiords hold one of the world's largest populations of black coral trees, about 7 million colonies, some up to 200 years old. [M198; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says bottlenose dolphins (aihe), New Zealand fur seals (kekeno), tawaki and little blue penguins (kororā) are resident in the fiords; do not approach them, and let close contact be at their initiation. [M199; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC gives Fiordland summer days of, for example, between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius, and winter (May to November) between 1 and 9 degrees (a July example), though cold weather can occur at any time of year. [M200; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Fiordland's rainfall comes from the Roaring Forties westerlies, which pick up moisture over the Tasman Sea and drop it as heavy rain in the west and snow higher up. [M202; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC advises planning for all conditions on a Fiordland trip, including at least one wet day, and checking the latest weather and conditions before you go. [M203; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says avalanche risk in Fiordland is high because of steep mountains and high snowfall, and exists mainly over winter and spring, especially between late August and early November. [M204; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says flooding of tracks is common during and after heavy rain; streams drop quickly once rain stops, so wait on higher ground and never cross flooded rivers or streams. [M205; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says in alpine and exposed areas such as saddles and ridges you can meet strong, gusty winds, for example over 80 kilometres an hour, so dress warmly against wind chill. [M206; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC's Routeburn page gives the Key Summit side trip as 1 to 1 hour 30 minutes return from the Key Summit turn-off, up to an alpine wetland. [M207; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Lake Marian Track starts at the Lake Marian car park, 1 km down the unsealed Hollyford Road from Marian Corner, about 87 km from Te Anau. [M208; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the last 3 km of the Milford Track, to Sandfly Point, was built by a prison labour gang between 1890 and 1892. [M211; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the Homer Tunnel area shows native flowers in summer once the snow has cleared, including alpine buttercups (Mount Cook lilies) and daisies. [M212; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says each spring juvenile native galaxiid fish (whitebait) begin their annual migration up the Hollyford River. [M213; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says bitterns hide in the reeds at Martins Bay and the kōtuku (white heron) occasionally winters over there. [M214; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says kererū are seen in the Hollyford Valley when kōwhai and other blooms and fruit are available, and rātā and flax attract tūī and bellbird. No months given. [M215; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says in spring (September to November) snowmelt makes Milford Track rivers and side streams rise even faster, and heavy rain triggers avalanches. [M216; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says many Milford Track side stream bridges are removed over winter to avoid avalanche damage. [M217; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says May to early June (King's Birthday weekend) is outside the Milford Track Great Walks season: unmanaged, more difficult, higher flood risk. [M218; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain are more common in May and June than in the Great Walks season. [M219; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says mid-September to late October (Labour weekend) on the Milford Track brings higher avalanche risk and unbridged streams that flood often. [M220; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says in the winter months Fiordland is very wet and cold, daylight is limited and alpine areas are usually under snow. [M221; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC calls May to late October the Routeburn winter season: special skills needed, facilities greatly reduced, more risk from snow, ice, avalanches and sub-zero temperatures. [M222; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says snow and ice can make the Conical Hill side trip hazardous early and late in the Great Walks season. [M223; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says expect Milford Road closures and delays from weather, rock falls, and snow and avalanche in winter. [M224; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says leopard seals live mainly in Antarctic pack ice, but in autumn and winter some disperse north, sometimes visiting New Zealand. [M225; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says when snow cover is heavy, wild takahē move from grassland to forest and feed mainly on summer green fern rhizomes. [M226; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says bottlenose dolphin calving peaks for most populations between spring and summer or autumn. It gives no Fiordland calving season. [M227; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Doubtful Sound/Patea's bottlenose dolphins are a small resident population at one of the southernmost places in the world for the species. [M228; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says the causes of the Doubtful Sound dolphin decline are not well understood but may include vessel activity and habitat modification. [M229; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Doubtful Sound dolphin encounters are left to chance: encounters dolphins start are allowed, but vessels should not change course to find them. [M230; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says if dolphins approach while you are stationary in a Dolphin Protection Zone, let them pass; if moving, keep your heading where safe. [M231; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says to view the Fiordland alerts for current conditions and track updates, and check with the DOC Visitor Centre before your trip. [M232; valid to 2027-10-28] - DOC says Dolphin Protection Zones in parts of the Doubtful Sound complex are areas extending 200 metres from the shore where motorised vessels are not permitted. [M233; valid to 2027-10-29] - DOC says Fiordland National Park was officially constituted in 1952. [M234; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cook's maps and descriptions soon attracted sealers and whalers, who formed the first European settlements of New Zealand, and from the middle of the 19th century surveyors, explorers and prospectors began to go into Fiordland's unexplored interior. [M235; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Preservation Inlet boomed briefly in the 1890s after gold was found, but efforts to set up mines, timber mills and farms in Fiordland have generally been short-lived. [M236; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Donald Sutherland, a Scottish sealer, soldier and gold prospector, was the first European resident at Milford Sound, and in 1878 built three thatched huts he called the City of Milford. [M238; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Sutherland's wife Elizabeth opened a boarding house at Milford for city visitors who came to enjoy Fiordland, called asphalters. [M239; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says William Homer discovered the saddle now named after him in 1889, and the road from Te Anau to The Divide was completed by government work scheme gangs in the 1930s. [M240; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's directions for the Milford Sound Lookout Track lead from the car park behind the café at Milford Sound towards Donald Sutherland's grave. [M241; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Chief Surveyor of Otago commissioned McKinnon to blaze a track up the Clinton Valley from the head of Lake Te Anau and find a pass for tourist access to Milford Sound; Donald Sutherland had already cut a track from Milford to Sutherland Falls. [M243; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Richard Henry was the first to walk the Milford Track after its discovery, and over the next three years much of McKinnon's time went into improving the track and guiding tourist groups to Milford. [M244; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says McKinnon was reported missing in 1892; Lake Te Anau was searched and his wrecked boat found, but his body never was, and he is presumed to have drowned. [M245; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says a memorial cairn was built in 1914 near the lowest part of the saddle of Omanui/McKinnon Pass, from stone collected on the pass, with a cross and plaque; DOC maintains the cairn. [M246; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says McKinnon spelt his name Quintin McKinnon but is written variously as Quintin, Quinton, MacKinnon, Mackinnon and McKinnon; his name is on Omanui/McKinnon Pass, Lake McKinnon, the Quintin Huts and St. Quintin Falls. [M247; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that in the 1960s many New Zealanders protested and signed petitions to protect Lake Manapouri, in one of the country's first major conservation campaigns. [M248; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says over 265,000 New Zealanders signed a petition against raising Lake Manapouri for power generation; the lake was given statutory protection and its levels are now controlled to mimic natural fluctuations. [M249; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says many place names around Lake Manapouri were given by the surveyor James McKerrow, who in 1862 spent eight days exploring the lake in a flat-bottomed boat. [M250; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the first red deer were released at the base of the Monument on Lake Manapouri in 1901, and from there they have spread across Fiordland. [M251; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the level of Lake Monowai was raised 2.5 metres in 1926, making it one of the first lakes in New Zealand controlled for hydro-electric power. [M252; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says construction of the Borland Road began in 1963 to build and service a transmission line between West Arm Power Station on Lake Manapouri and Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter near Invercargill. [M253; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Dusky Track between the Bishop Burn and the Henry Burn is flat and follows the track cut by West Coast miners in 1903. [M254; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says periods under the sea bed created the sandstone, mudstone and limestone seen today at Te Ana-au Caves and on the Hump Ridge. [M257; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Fiordland has some of the oldest rocks in New Zealand, mostly gneiss, schist and granite, and lying close to the Alpine Fault it has been folded, faulted, uplifted and submerged many times. [M258; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Pigeon Island in Tamatea/Dusky Sound was home to Richard Henry, the international pioneer of moving live birds to island refuges; the site is registered as a Category I Historic Place. [M259; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Resolution Island was chosen in 1891 as New Zealand's first sanctuary, and Richard Henry was appointed its caretaker and curator in 1894. [M260; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that in his first six years Richard Henry moved over seven hundred kakapo and kiwi from the mainland to Resolution Island and nearby islands. [M261; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Richard Henry saw a weasel on Resolution Island on 4 August 1900; he stayed and trapped, but left Tamatea/Dusky Sound in 1908 to become a ranger on Kapiti Island. [M262; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Resolution Island project failed, but Richard Henry's observations helped modern bird conservation, especially kakapo recovery, and in 2008 DOC began a new eradication project so endangered birds could return to the island. [M263; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Pigeon Island is in Tamatea/Dusky Sound and can only be reached by boat, with a tourist operator or your own vessel. [M264; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Astronomer's Point is the site of a temporary observatory set up by William Wales of the Board of Longitude on Captain Cook's second voyage in 1773, to fix the position of New Zealand. [M265; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cook was testing Larcum Kendall's copy of John Harrison's chronometer H4, and Wales's observations made New Zealand the most accurately located place on the globe at that time. [M266; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Captain Cook sailed the Resolution into Tamatea/Dusky Sound in the autumn of 1773 and anchored in Pickersgill Harbour. [M267; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cook set up a brewery at Tamatea/Dusky Sound using rimu and manuka leaves, hoping the beer would help prevent scurvy among the crew. [M268; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cook produced the first highly accurate chart of Tamatea/Dusky Sound. [M269; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cook set sail from Tamatea/Dusky Sound on 29 April 1773, leaving by the Acheron Passage and Breaksea Sound. [M270; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Astronomer's Point is in Pickersgill Harbour, Tamatea/Dusky Sound, reached only by boat, and is one of the most visited historic heritage sites in Southland. [M271; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Captain James Cook first sighted Tamatea/Dusky Sound on his first voyage to New Zealand in 1770 and named it 'Dusky Bay'. [M272; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says some of western science's first records of New Zealand plants and animals, including weka, kereru, kākā and South Island robin, came from Cook's stay in Tamatea/Dusky Sound. [M273; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists Tamatea/Dusky Sound 'firsts' for New Zealand: an observatory and brewed beer (1773), a European settlement and European ship built (1792), a European shipwreck (1795), a European woman to visit (1793) and live (1795), and a nature reserve (Resolution Island, 1891). [M274; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says most New Zealand fiords are named 'sounds', such as Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Tamatea/Dusky Sound, though 'sound' is a general, non-technical term for a narrow branch of the sea. [M275; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says a fiord is where the sea partly fills steep-sided valleys once dug out by glaciers, a reminder of forces that shaped the land around 20,000 years ago. [M276; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the fiords in Fiordland have a water depth of up to 440 metres. [M277; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the southern fiords area has hundreds of islands, from small rock stacks up to Resolution Island at 20,860 hectares. [M278; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Fiordland Marine Pathway Plan protects the area from marine pests carried in on boats, with rules for all vessels entering within one nautical mile of the landward boundary of the Fiordland Marine Area. [M279; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Marine Pathway Plan is an Environment Southland regulation; DOC has no authority below mean high tide except in marine reserves or for marine mammals, and does not enforce fishing regulations. [M280; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says any vessel, even a kayak, entering the Fiordland Marine Area must hold a Clean Vessel Pass. [M281; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Preservation Inlet was home to over 2,500 gold miners and saw millers in the late 1890s, and was the site of one of New Zealand's most remote lighthouse settlements and its first whaling station. [M282; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists the Dusky Track as 84 kilometres one way, 8 to 10 days, an advanced tramping track. [M285; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC describes the Dusky Track between Lake Hauroko and Lake Manapouri as difficult, with huge lakes, rivers, forested valleys and lots of mud, for experienced and well equipped trampers. [M286; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Dusky Track can be walked in either direction and offers a two day optional detour to Supper Cove in Tamatea/Dusky Sound. [M287; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Dusky Track has 21 three-wire bridges to cross. [M288; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that in winter the Dusky Track is often impassable and dangerous because of snow, ice and avalanches. [M289; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says to take extra food and time on the Dusky Track, as being stranded for 2 days is not uncommon. [M290; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC strongly recommends carrying a personal locator beacon or satellite messenger and topographical maps on the Dusky Track. [M291; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Dusky Track is reached from the north by a daily boat on Lake Manapouri to West Arm, from the south by a scheduled boat on Lake Hauroko, and by floatplane or helicopter to Supper Cove or Lake Hauroko. [M292; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC calls the open tops of the Pleasant Range, between Lake Roe and Loch Maree huts, the scenic highlight of the Dusky Track, with views of Tamatea/Dusky Sound. [M293; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the steep climb to Centre Pass (1051 metres) on the Dusky Track gives views of Gair Loch, Tripod Hill and the Seaforth Valley. [M294; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists the George Sound Route as 17.8 kilometres one way and 3 to 4 days one way, an expert route. [M295; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the George Sound Route needs transport across Lake Te Anau and is only recommended for experienced, well equipped groups. [M296; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says you must carry a portable stove on the George Sound Route, as none of its huts have cooking facilities. [M297; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Hauroko is reached from Tuatapere by heading north towards Clifden (12 kilometres) then west along the Lillburn Valley Road, about 36 kilometres to the car park, 20 kilometres of it unsealed. [M298; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists the Lake Hauroko Track as a 1.1 kilometre loop of 40 minutes return, an easy to intermediate walk. [M299; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Hauroko is free of didymo and has one of the most unique and diverse water plant (macrophyte) communities in the country; clean your vessel and gear before and after use. [M300; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Monowai and the Borland Road are about 67 kilometres (1 hour) from Te Anau and 120 kilometres (1 hour 45 minutes) from Invercargill, reached by the Southern Scenic Route. [M301; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says it is about 15 kilometres from the gate after Borland Lodge up the Borland Road to Borland Saddle, 990 metres above sea level. [M302; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Borland Road is unsealed, narrow and steep in places, and subject to slips, washouts, snow, ice, high winds and fallen trees. [M303; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Borland Road is not suitable for campervans, caravans or trailers. [M304; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says there is no fuel, cell phone coverage or emergency service along the Borland Road, so only properly equipped people should attempt it. [M305; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says remains of the largest documented landslide of its type in the world can be seen from Borland Saddle: around 12,000 to 13,000 years ago 27 cubic kilometres of mountain fell from the Hunter Mountains into Lake Monowai. [M306; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Monowai now supports a productive fishery of introduced rainbow and brown trout as well as native fish. [M307; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is on the shore of Lake Te Anau, an easy 20 minute walk or 2 minute drive from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. [M309; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is open to the public during daylight hours, for self-guided visits. [M310; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary's takahē pairs support the Takahē Recovery Programme by raising chicks, which are released into predator controlled wild homes at around one year old. [M311; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Antipodes Island parakeets at the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary are not native to mainland New Zealand and are found here only in captivity, as a small insurance population. [M312; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says pateke (brown teal) are small members of the duck family that were previously classed 'Nationally Endangered'. [M313; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says it has recently changed how the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is managed, including moving some species and changing guided tours, and future options are being explored, led by Great South with Ōraka Aparima. [M314; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary has public toilets, picnic tables and a spring water tap. [M315; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Manapouri is the second deepest lake in New Zealand. [M316; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that in the last Ice Age, about 20,000 years ago, glaciers from central Fiordland spread east across the sites of Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, leaving long ridges of rock and gravel behind which the lakes formed. [M318; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the whitish peak of Mt Titiroa (1710 metres), south of Lake Manapouri, often looks like snow but is weathered granite. [M319; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says paradise shelduck, grey duck, scaup and the rare whio (blue duck) are found along the rivers and lake edges around Manapouri. [M320; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says there is no access or camping in the Murchison Mountains, including the south side of Middle Fiord on Lake Te Anau: it is a special takahē area closed to the public, with limited special access permits between December and February. [M322; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says didymo is found in Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and other lakes and rivers, so Check, Clean, Dry all gear before moving from the lake edge into tributaries or between waterways. [M323; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says anyone fishing most of Fiordland's rivers and lakes must get a Clean Gear Certificate for all gear at an approved cleaning station within 48 hours before fishing. [M324; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says anglers under these controls must carry a current sports fishing licence, a valid Clean Gear Certificate and an approved didymo cleaning kit. [M325; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says fishing the Clinton and Worsley rivers and the Ettrick Burn also requires applying for a ballot through Fish & Game. [M326; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says felt-soled waders are not permitted in the lakes and rivers. [M327; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says all watercraft are prohibited from the Clinton River, and kayakers and packrafters need a permit and a Clean Gear Certificate for non-motorised craft on the Arthur River between Sandfly Point and Lake Ada. [M328; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Milford Track walkers need to bring dry clothing and boots; damp boots and socks must be disinfected before the track, and there is a cleaning station at Glade clearing. [M329; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says gear that has been thoroughly dry to the touch for at least 48 hours before your trip is didymo-free. [M330; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says didymo is in the Hollyford River and has recently been detected in the Kaipo River, so packrafters on routes such as the Hollyford-Pyke should Check, Clean, Dry before and after. [M331; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says you must not take a kayak into tributary rivers after it has been in Lake Te Anau, because didymo is present in the lake. [M332; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says hunting on any land in New Zealand needs the landowner's permission; on public conservation land that permission is a hunting permit from DOC. [M333; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says you need a valid firearms licence to get a hunting permit if you are hunting with a firearm. [M334; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says hunting game birds on public conservation land needs a game bird licence from Fish & Game New Zealand and a game bird hunting permit from DOC. [M335; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Fiordland is a popular place for hunting red deer, wapiti and possums, and in certain areas wild pigs and chamois. [M336; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that in most cases hunting access into Fiordland National Park is by helicopter or boat, though there are many road access points along the eastern boundary. [M337; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says lead is toxic to humans and kea, which feed on wild animal carcasses, and asks hunters to consider lead-free projectiles. [M338; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says kea are an endangered species and it is illegal to harm them. [M339; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that on 1 October 2026 the Wapiti Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) area in Fiordland National Park changed from a restricted to an open hunting area, part of the Lower South Island permit area. [M340; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says a hunter who takes a wapiti or wapiti-hybrid deer in the Wapiti Area must give the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation photographs of the animal within 30 days. [M341; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says there are 25 hunting blocks within the Wapiti Area. [M342; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC divides huts into six categories: Great Walks huts, individually priced huts (including serviced alpine huts), serviced huts, standard huts, basic huts and bivvies, and club huts. [M343; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Great Walk huts are the most comfortable: mattresses, water, toilets, hand washing and heating with fuel, and they may have solar lighting, cooking facilities with fuel and a hut warden. [M344; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says serviced huts have mattresses, water, toilets, hand washing and heating with fuel, and may have cooking facilities with fuel and a warden. [M345; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says standard huts have mattresses, water and toilets, with wood heaters at huts below the bush line. [M346; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says basic huts give very basic shelter with limited facilities. [M347; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says backcountry huts are more basic than backpacker hostels: no showers, hot water, cooking and eating utensils or bed linen, and you cannot buy food or equipment. [M348; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says hut bunks are often sleeping platforms allowing a width of 75 centimetres per person. [M349; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says hut water often comes from rainwater or streams and may carry Giardia; boil it for 3 minutes if you are unsure of its quality. [M350; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says always fill in the hut intentions book, as it may help search and rescue and shows DOC how often a hut is used. [M351; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says huts on Great Walks often have wardens in the peak summer season, who check passes and tickets and give track, safety and weather information. [M352; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's hut users code says no smoking or vaping in huts, and take your cigarette butts out with the rest of your rubbish. [M353; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's hut users code says carry it in, carry it out: take all your rubbish with you. [M354; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says some huts cannot be booked and work on a first come, first served basis, paid with a Backcountry Hut Pass or Hut Ticket bought before your trip. [M355; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says some huts can be booked and are paid for when you book; a Backcountry Hut Pass can pay for some bookings, but Backcountry Hut Tickets cannot pay for any booking. [M356; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says a Backcountry Hut Pass gives unlimited use of most serviced and standard huts, and most campsites outside serviced huts, for the period the pass covers. [M357; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that from 1 November 2026, Backcountry Hut Tickets for non-bookable backcountry huts will be available through DOC's online booking system. [M358; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says your booking confirmation email is your proof of booking: have it downloaded and saved before your trip, as it must be shown on request. [M359; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says serviced campsites have flush toilets, tap water (treated or untreated), a kitchen or cooking bench, hot showers, rubbish collection and road access for all vehicles. [M360; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says standard campsites have toilets, a water supply (tap, stream or lake, treated or untreated) and vehicle or boat access, with fewer facilities than serviced campsites. [M361; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says basic campsites have very limited facilities, so you need to be fully self-sufficient. [M362; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says every Great Walk except the Milford Track and Paparoa Track offers camping near huts or in designated areas, at nearly 60 Great Walk campsites with toilets, hand washing sinks and water. [M363; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says bookings are needed for all serviced campsites and for some scenic and standard campsites in peak season, usually 1 October to 30 April. [M364; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says some campsites do not need booking and work on a first come, first served basis. [M365; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says a Campsite Pass gives access to DOC conservation campsites around New Zealand, bookable and non-bookable, with some exclusions. [M366; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says under the Freedom Camping Act 2011 freedom camping means camping outside a designated campground within 200 metres of an area reachable by motor vehicle, of the sea at mean low water spring, or of a formed road or Great Walks track. [M367; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says freedom camping with dogs is not permitted in national parks. [M368; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that from 7 June 2026 all vehicles must have a 'green warrant' to be certified self-contained. [M369; valid to 2027-06-30] - DOC says vehicles with a portable toilet can no longer be certified self-contained; the toilet must be fixed to the vehicle floor. [M370; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says when freedom camping you must always obey camping restriction signs, be responsible with your waste, including human waste, and light no fires. [M371; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says it provides more than 320 campsites across the country. [M372; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cascade Creek Campsite on the Milford Road is a standard campsite in northern Fiordland that is good for larger vehicles. [M373; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists Cascade Creek Campsite with 140 non-powered or tent sites. [M374; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Cascade Creek Campsite needs a booking and keeps no spaces for campers arriving without one. [M375; valid to 2027-06-30] - DOC says Cascade Creek Campsite is close to the Eglinton and Cascade rivers for fly fishing, and the Lake Gunn Nature Walk starts there. [M376; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists the Lake Mistletoe Track as 1.3 kilometres return by the same track, 45 minutes, easy to intermediate. [M378; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Mistletoe is home to New Zealand scaup, frogs and other wetland wildlife, and the track has views of Lake Te Anau. [M379; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the East Eglinton route begins from the Milford Road about 55 kilometres north of Te Anau, at an East Branch sign near the East Eglinton road bridge. [M380; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the East Eglinton route reaches the river forks, where the East Branch meets Annear Creek, after about 2 hours. [M381; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the East Eglinton is an expert route needing above average fitness, high level backcountry skills including navigation and survival, and river crossing skills. [M382; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists the Gertrude Saddle Route as 7 kilometres return by the same track, 4 to 6 hours, an expert route. [M383; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Gertrude Saddle Route starts at the Gertrude Valley car park, about 98 kilometres along the Milford Road from Te Anau. [M384; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Gertrude Saddle needs tramping and alpine experience and is not recommended in winter because of avalanche danger. [M385; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Gertrude Saddle Route climbs steep rock slabs that are treacherous when wet or frosty, with steel cables to assist. [M386; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says there are no permanent markers above the bushline on the Gertrude Saddle Route, so alpine and navigation skills are essential. [M387; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's rule for the Gertrude Saddle Route: if there is rain or snow, don't go. [M388; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Gertrude Saddle gives views of the valley and part of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. [M389; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Milford Foreshore Walk is an easy loop suited to all ages and accessible to wheelchairs, starting from the main visitor car park at Milford Sound, with some of the best views of Mitre Peak. [M390; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's Milford Foreshore Walk page lists it as a 400 metre loop. [M391; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists the Milford Sound Lookout Track as 400 metres return by the same track, 20 minutes, easy to intermediate. [M392; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says there are a number of steps up to the Milford Sound Lookout, which gives views over Milford Sound. [M393; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Bowen Falls Walk is permanently closed because there is no boat service for access. [M394; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says that as the Milford Road enters the Eglinton Valley, red beech becomes the dominant tree, among important remnants of native grasslands and wetlands. [M395; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says beyond Lake Gunn the silver beech trees are stunted by the harsh climate. [M396; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says just before the Homer Tunnel the Milford Road enters a cirque basin, a steep walled amphitheatre carved by ice. [M397; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says a predator plague in the Eglinton Valley in 1999 to 2001 cut bird numbers dramatically; since then intensive pest control and a 2010 transfer of birds from Chalky Island have helped mohua increase. [M398; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says mobile phone reception is limited on the Milford Road, but Te Anau Downs, Totara Campsite, The Divide and Milford Sound now have reception. [M399; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC warns there may be a lot of sandflies on the Milford Foreshore Walk. [M400; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC advises taking sandfly repellent on the Milford Sound Lookout Track. [M401; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says native long-tailed bats are active around dusk and dawn near streams and forest edges along the Milford Road, and short-tailed bats were found in the area in 1997. [M402; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says kea are often seen around the Homer Tunnel (watch your belongings), and on the East Homer Nature Walk you may hear or glimpse a rare rock wren among the large boulders. [M403; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says below the freshwater layer in Milford Sound, stained a tea colour by forest material, a concentrated 40 metre band of unusual marine life grows on the sheer rock walls. [M404; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC gives day 1 of the Milford Track, Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut, as 1 to 1 hour 30 minutes and 5 kilometres. [M405; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC gives day 2 of the Milford Track, Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut, as 6 hours and 17.5 kilometres. [M406; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC gives day 3 of the Milford Track, Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut over Omanui/McKinnon Pass, as 6 to 7 hours and 13 kilometres. [M407; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC gives day 4 of the Milford Track, Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point, as 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours and 18 kilometres. [M408; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC gives the highest point of the Milford Track as Omanui/McKinnon Pass Shelter, at 1154 metres. [M409; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Sutherland Falls side trip on day 3 takes 1 hour 30 minutes return, and the falls drop 580 metres in 3 leaps from Lake Quill. [M410; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Milford Track huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities, solar lighting and cold running water, with a DOC ranger in residence; they do not provide cooking utensils or showers. [M411; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling huts on the Milford Track each with 40 bunk beds, flush toilets and untreated tap water to boil before use. [M412; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's Cascade Creek Campsite page says fires are permitted there only in designated fire places and only if there is no fire ban; check rules and fire bans before you light. [M416; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's Fiordland safety page, under use of fire, says to put ashes from hut fireplaces in the metal drums so huts do not burn down, and at campsites to use only the designated areas. [M417; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's kayaking and packrafting page heads its Doubtful Sound paddling section 'Doubtful Sound/Pātea (38 km)', without saying what the 38 km measures. [M423; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the town of Te Anau has full visitor facilities with shops and places to stay. [M424; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the backdrop of Mt Luxmore and the Murchison Mountains can be enjoyed from Te Anau town, from the lakeside tracks, or from the water by boat or kayak. [M425; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre is on Te Anau's main street, opposite the intersection of Mokonui Street and Town Centre Street. [M426; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre also gives information on short walks and family friendly activities. [M427; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre has separate summer and winter hours, and asks visitors to phone or check its page for last minute updates to opening hours. [M428; valid to 2027-04-30] - DOC says Lake Te Anau's lakeshore is a great option for day kayaking or family activities, can be linked with Kepler Track walks such as Brod Bay, and is reached from the beaches and lakefront; didymo is present in the lake. [M429; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Lake Manapouri is very scenic, with sheltered islands, beautiful beaches and good walking options from the shore, and that water access is at Pearl Harbour, Manapouri, or at the end of Supply Bay Road. [M430; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Milford Sound/Piopiotahi is a very steep-sided fiord, busy with boat traffic, and its southern side is more sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds, in particular the afternoon day breeze common in summer. [M431; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says you can kayak to Sandfly Point for day walks on the Milford Track but cannot kayak up the rivers that flow into Milford Sound; access is by the boat ramp off Deepwater Basin Road, and didymo is present in freshwater at Deepwater Basin. [M432; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says mobile phone coverage is limited outside Te Anau, and phone services are at Knobs Flat (card phone), the Homer Tunnel (emergency satellite phone) and Piopiotahi Milford Sound (card phone). [M433; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says campervan dump stations are in Te Anau and Manapōuri, and there are none at campsites along the Milford Road. [M434; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC lists Kepler Track day walks from the Kepler Track car park to Dock Bay and Brod Bay, to Rainbow Reach and to Luxmore Hut, and from Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut. [M435; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC gives the Kepler Track car park to Brod Bay section as 5.6 kilometres and 1 hour 30 minutes, beginning through beech forest along the shore of Lake Te Anau. [M436; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says the Kepler Track is close to Lake Manapouri with excellent day walk options for families, and the lake is surrounded by the Kepler Mountains, Turret Range and Hunter Mountains. [M437; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says most of Lake Manapouri's islands were shaped by the glacier, which wore a long smooth ramp on the upstream side and plucked rock away on the downstream side to leave steep sided cliffs. [M438; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's water safety advice for swimming anywhere in New Zealand (not Fiordland specific): if in doubt, stay out. If you are unsure about your skill level, the weather or the water conditions, wait for another day, choose a place that suits the least confident person in your group, and remember the weather and water conditions can change quickly. [M440; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's New Zealand wide swimming advice (not Fiordland specific): assess the conditions before swimming and look for hidden dangers such as strong currents, sudden drop-offs, submerged rocks or logs, cold water, soft sand or mud, and river mouths. [M441; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's New Zealand wide swimming advice (not Fiordland specific): always go swimming with a buddy and tell someone your plans. [M442; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's short walks gear list, for walks under 3 hours, includes a basic first aid kit with hand sanitiser, sunscreen and insect repellent. [M443; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's short walks gear list says to take a sun hat or warm beanie (pack one and wear the other) and to wear or pack sunglasses. [M444; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's short walks gear list says to wear or pack a wind and waterproof jacket with a hood, depending on the weather. [M445; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's short walks gear list includes a drink bottle of at least 1 litre and more snacks than you think you will need. [M446; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says to dress and pack for the weather, terrain and the time you will be out; its day hikes gear list is for walks under 8 hours. [M447; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's day hikes gear list includes a head torch and spare batteries in case you take longer than intended. [M448; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says New Zealand's Great Walks are well formed and easy to follow; most people prefer to explore on their own, but guided trips offer a bit more comfort. [M449; valid to 2027-10-30] - Visit Fiordland says December to February are the warmest months of the year in Fiordland, and that in summer daylight hours are much longer. [M450; valid to 2027-09-15] - Visit Fiordland says Milford Sound often has a cool day breeze in summer as the warm air rises, and that the best times of day to explore are early morning, or late afternoon and evening. [M451; valid to 2027-09-15] - Visit Fiordland says to look out in summer for the Fiordland Christmas tree, the southern rata, which has bright red flowers. [M452; valid to 2027-09-15] - DOC says January and February are the warmest months in New Zealand (summer) and July the coldest; Fiordland, in the south, is generally colder than the north, and its weather can change rapidly within a day. [M453; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's Fiordland kayaking and packrafting page says sandflies are prominent in all areas and advises taking insect repellent. [M454; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says that at Clinton Hut, where all Milford Track walkers spend the first night, there are great swimming holes near the hut and a short walk around the wetland boardwalk. [M455; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's Routeburn page says not to book a transport pick up that means leaving the hut or campsite before it is light enough to walk safely, because walking in the dark is unsafe. [M456; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC says Milford Sound is one of New Zealand's most popular destinations, and in summer the Milford Road, car parks and sights can be busy. [M457; valid to 2027-10-30] - DOC's day hikes gear list (walks under 8 hours) includes a 1 to 2 litre drink bottle and a packed lunch and snacks, more than you think you will need. [M458; valid to 2027-10-30] - Visit Fiordland says you must check the Milford Road status on the NZTA website before you set out. [M459; valid to 2027-01-11] - Southern Discoveries says every one of its cruises goes the full length of the fiord, subject to weather, and each visits Stirling Falls and Harrison Cove. [M460; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says all cruises depart from the Visitor Terminal at Milford Sound. [M461; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says its Discover More Cruise is its longest, up to 2 hours 15 minutes on the water, with a dedicated nature guide on board throughout. [M462; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says every cruise gives the opportunity to view wildlife, but it cannot guarantee sightings. [M463; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says it runs cruises in almost all conditions, that boat trips are often more dramatic in the rain when hundreds of temporary waterfalls appear, and that all its vessels have indoor seating. [M464; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries suggests bringing a waterproof jacket and warm clothing and wearing comfortable shoes on a cruise. [M465; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries sells a Captain's VIP Lounge upgrade, with a maximum of 20 guests in the space. [M466; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says its Signature cruise runs for around 2 hours on The Haven or The Mariner, and its Classic cruise, on its biggest boats The Monarch and The Sovereign, typically runs for 1 hour 40 minutes. [M467; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says its Premium and Business Class cruises run on the smaller MV Sinbad, with fewer passengers and quieter decks. [M468; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says its overnight cruise runs one night in summer and two nights in winter on the Milford Mariner, with no day visitors permitted on board. [M469; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says its overnight cruises depart in the afternoon and return the following morning. [M470; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says kayaking and tender exploration with a specialist guide are available on its overnight cruise when conditions allow. [M471; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says its overnight cruise costs more than a day cruise but replaces a night's accommodation and covers meals, and that with one day in Fiordland a day cruise is the call. [M472; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ suggests bringing a waterproof jacket, even in summer, and insect repellent, because sandflies are present near shore. [M473; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says wildlife sightings are always a matter of luck, and that its onboard nature guide or skipper will help you know where to look. [M474; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ's day trip guide says its cruises run in all weather. [M475; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ's Fly Cruise Fly page says its cruises run in most weather. [M476; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says to allow 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the public car park to the Milford Sound Cruise Terminal. [M479; valid to 2027-10-31] - Mitre Peak Cruises says its cruises take 2 hours and each has no more than 60 or 75 spaces available. [M483; valid to 2027-10-31] - Mitre Peak Cruises says its cruise sails the length of the fiord, past St Annes Point Lighthouse, with commentary from the skipper. [M484; valid to 2027-10-31] - Mitre Peak Cruises says to look out for seals, dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins, which can be found seasonally in the region. [M485; valid to 2027-10-31] - Cruise Milford says its boat is surveyed for 150 passengers and that it limits numbers to 75, and that this gives its nature guides the chance to share their knowledge. [M486; valid to 2027-10-31] - Cruise Milford says check in for its cruise is at the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal. [M487; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford says each cruise travels the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea and back, with the crew pointing out the highlights. [M488; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford says its Gem of the Sound has a glass roof. [M489; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford calls a cruise the ultimate wet weather activity, because thousands of temporary waterfalls cascade into the fiord after a downpour. [M490; valid to 2027-10-31] - Fiordland Discovery says its overnight cruises take a maximum of 22 passengers a night in nine cabins. [M492; valid to 2027-10-31] - Fiordland Discovery gives its overnight cruise as 18 hours, with two cruises of the fiord, one in the afternoon and one in the morning. [M493; valid to 2027-10-31] - Fiordland Discovery lists kayaking and tender boat explorations on its overnight cruise, weather permitting. [M494; valid to 2027-10-31] - Fiordland Discovery says its lunch cruise departs from the Milford Sound Terminal Wharf, with fewer guests on board. [M495; valid to 2027-10-31] - Visit Fiordland says scenic cruises range in duration and onboard services, and that there are also overnight cruises in Milford Sound. [M496; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ describes the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal as the central hub at the fiord, with cruise check in, facilities and visitor information together. [M497; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries' self drive page suggests starting early in the morning to avoid crowds and make the most of the daylight. [M498; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says families and larger groups tend to fit its Classic fleet's larger vessels, and couples or small groups who want a quieter trip usually lean to its Signature or Premium cruises. [M530; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says its Milford Sound cruise does not depart from Queenstown; it offers a day trip with coach transfers instead. [M532; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says there are no toilets on its coaches to Milford Sound, and that the coaches make several stops for toilet breaks. [M502; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ's Te Anau day trip page gives a full day, with coach travel of 2 to 3 hours each way and a cruise of typically 1.5 to 2 hours. [M503; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says possible stops on its coach trip include Mirror Lakes, The Divide and Monkey Creek. [M504; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says you can upgrade the return from Milford Sound to a scenic flight back to Queenstown, weather permitting. [M505; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says its Queenstown coach and cruise drive takes about 5 hours each way, with stops for short walks and photos. [M506; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries says to expect a 2 to 2.5 hour drive each way from Te Anau, followed by a 1.75 to 2.5 hour cruise depending on the itinerary. [M507; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries describes a scenic flight with Air Milford from Queenstown as a 4 hour return journey including its Nature Cruise. [M508; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries describes its helicopter flight and cruise from Te Anau as a four hour experience, including a two hour cruise. [M509; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford gives a fly cruise fly as 4 to 5 hours return. [M510; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ gives its Fly Cruise Fly from Queenstown as 4 to 5 hours in all. [M511; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says its flights operate weather permitting, that guests should call 1 hour 15 minutes before departure for a weather check, and that it will contact them to reschedule if it cannot fly. [M512; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ says scenic flights are weather dependent and that advance bookings are recommended. [M513; valid to 2027-10-31] - Visit Fiordland says you can also take a scenic flight to Milford Sound from Queenstown or Te Anau. [M514; valid to 2027-10-31] - DOC says the journey takes longer than many visitors expect, and to allow more time than Google or other journey planners advise. [M515; valid to 2027-10-31] - DOC says to allow extra time for sightseeing, traffic, road conditions and weather delays. [M516; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ's winter advice is to leave Queenstown no later than 7am, to allow for stops and arrive before dark, and that an 8 to 9am departure is enough from Te Anau. [M518; valid to 2027-10-31] - Mitre Peak Cruises runs its Queenstown coach and cruise in a van, with sights along the drive such as Mirror Lakes and Knobs Flat, followed by its 2 hour cruise. [M524; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford's coach and cruise includes photo stops such as Eglinton Valley and Knobs Flat. [M525; valid to 2027-10-31] - Fiordland Discovery says lunch cruise guests can join directly at Milford Sound or take a day tour from Queenstown or Te Anau. [M526; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ's day trip list says a waterproof jacket is not optional. [M527; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries suggests downloading offline maps or carrying a physical map, because reception can be spotty. [M528; valid to 2027-10-31] - Mitre Peak Cruises says its cruise also goes out into the Tasman Sea. [M533; valid to 2027-10-31] - Southern Discoveries advises getting to the public car park early, because it fills quickly in the summer months. [M534; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford says it runs two modern catamarans. [M535; valid to 2027-10-31] - Pure Milford's coach and cruise departs from Queenstown or Te Anau. [M536; valid to 2027-10-31] - RealNZ's day trip list includes snacks and water for the coach. [M537; valid to 2027-10-31] - Cruise Milford gives the duration of its small boat cruise as 1 hour 45 minutes. [M538; valid to 2027-10-31]