The Milford Sound is probably the biggest tourist attraction New Zealand. At the fjord in the region, which is far from any town Fiordland there are a few buildings, a port, a hotel and New Zealand's most expensive gas station. The fjord can only be properly understood from the water anyway.
background
Milford Sound is New Zealand's most popular tourist attraction. This is evidenced by the columns of coaches that leave every day Queenstown looking the long way to the fjord. Those who arrive at the fjord before 10 a.m. can still enjoy nature with relatively empty boats, after which many of the boats are fully booked. But you shouldn't blindly drive the route to Milford Sound as quickly as possible, because it alone has a lot to offer (see below). It is worth booking one of the smaller ships for the afternoon tour from the hotel in advance. So you have enough time to enjoy the road and avoid the hustle and bustle.
If you go to New Zealand because you are “allergic” to the tourist crowds and still don't want to miss the Milford Sound, you are well advised to make the journey the day before, stay overnight there (wherever and whatever), and the next Take one of the two 9 o'clock boats tomorrow; this approach is rewarded not only with a 20% "early bird discount" on the ticket price, but also with the fact that you are "only" with 50 people on a 100-person boat. The morning mood has a special magic anyway. If you come back around 11 or 12 o'clock, the passengers of 20, 30 or 50 coaches come towards you and you are happy to have already seen this wonderful place, and more or less "for yourself".
And although the fjord is so remote, it is the most easily accessible of the 15 fjords Fiordlands. In 1823 the European explorer John Grono named Milford Sound after Milford Haven in South Wales. It was probably known to the Maori, as was the access roads on the land side. The Maori name the fjord Piopiotahi ("Lonely thrush"). In 1877 the Scot Donald Sutherland settled at the fjord, who later built the first hotel on the spot.
In 1952 the street was from direction Te Anau Completed to Milford Sound. Previously, the journey was only by boat or over the 54 kilometers Milford Track possible. All recent plans to make the fjord more accessible - especially for holidaymakers from the direction of Queenstown - (including a monorail connection) were fortunately rejected for the natural unspoilt nature of the region.
getting there
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Dynamic cardsBy plane
The flight starts Queenstown takes about 40 minutes and is quite expensive. A flight can cost 400 NZD one way. In addition to saving time on the way to the fjord, the plane also gives you a unique view of the wonderful backdrop of the surrounding mountains.
By bus
Most buses run from Queenstown or from Te Anau. Buses in Queenstown leave around 7am and usually don't return until 8pm. The one-way trip takes around 5 hours and requires a bit of sitting meat. From Te Anau, the journey only takes 2 hours, so you should definitely consider moving into the city. Bus tours usually cost 140-330 NZD (including boat trip) and are operated by Kiwi Experience (Tel 64 03 442 9708), for example. The fully air-conditioned buses from Fiordland Travel (Tel. 64 03 442 7500), which also offer audio commentary in several languages, are comfortable.
Travelers who are traveling with Kiwi Experience, Magic Bus or Stray Travel should make sure that the trip to Milford Sound is not included in every pass and may be charged extra. The boat trip is usually charged extra (also for passes with Milford Sound).
In the street
You are usually not faster than the buses by car: from Te Anau about 2 hours, from Queenstown 5 hours in each direction. The bus drivers know the route well and so quite a few limousines are overtaken by coaches on the way. A big advantage is that you can stop by car at the many beautiful places that invite you to linger along the way. You can and should take plenty of time for the 120 km (one way).
When approaching you should make sure that the engine brake (shift into a low gear) is used on the long descent down into the valley to the fjord, so that the brake does not overheat. In vehicles with an automatic transmission, one of the lower gear steps (2 or 3) can usually be selected manually. In addition, there is no gas station between Te Anau and the fjord, and the one at Milford Sound is the most expensive (clearly!) In New Zealand. After all, petrol has to be transported the long distance at great expense. So there should be a sufficient reserve in the tank for the 250 km round trip.
Danger: Drivers must have snow chains with them all year round. For 20 NZD you can borrow it at any petrol station in Te Anau and have the assembly explained to you. The reason for this precaution is the road to Milford Sound, which is threatened by avalanches even in summer. For this reason, parking or stopping, except in designated areas, is strictly forbidden and is monitored by rangers. It can also happen that the pass is closed to all vehicle traffic in order to blow up a slab in a controlled manner. It can take several hours until the ice and snow are cleared from the road again.
Tourist Attractions
- Te Anau-Milford Sound stretch. Even the drive to Milford Sound is peppered with sights and fantastic views. The 120 km long route is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain roads in the world and it would be a shame to simply rush through the route. While the first few kilometers are still comparatively unspectacular, you can dive into it after turning Eglinton Valley in a wonderful alpine mountain world. Beech forests and grassy areas alternate. After about 55 km you will reach the Mirror Lakesin which the high mountains are picturesquely reflected when there is no wind. You can park directly on the street and a path paved with wooden planks leads the few meters to the lakes. After Mirror Lake, the road climbs to the pass, which is only 532 m high The Divide at. It is the lowest east-west pass in the New Zealand Alps. A worthwhile hike leads from the pass parking lot to Key Summit, which offers a beautiful view over several valleys (about 2-3 hours there and back, 400 meters in altitude). On the other side of the pass, the road leads into the valley Hollyford River and follows the river upstream. The Alpine Club hut is about a kilometer before the Homer Tunnel and is the starting point for another hike. A four-hour tour leads to the Gertrude Saddle and back again and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. The Homer tunnel, which now follows, is provided with a traffic light and only lets cars through in one direction at a time. You may have to wait a quarter of an hour to continue your journey. After the tunnel it goes downhill to the Cleddau River. Last stop is Milford Sound mostly The Chasm. From the parking lot you can reach the raging rapids of the Cleddau in a few minutes.
- Milford Sound. Mildford Sound is a fjord, a valley created by glaciers and not by rivers, which later sank into the sea. The fjord is impressively enclosed by rock walls over 1000 meters high, from which several waterfalls plunge into the sea. If it rained in the time before visiting the fjord, there are also some temporary ones. There is also one near Fairy Falls Seal colony settled and with a bit of luck you can watch one or the other seal nap on a rock. The most striking mountain is the 1694 meter high Miter Peak, is often referred to by boat drivers as the highest cliff in the world because it drops almost vertically to the surface of the water. The mountain got its name because it resembles a bishop's cap.
- Lady Bowen Falls. A walk from the boat terminal leads to the Lady Bowen Falls. The route takes about 5 minutes. The waterfalls are about 160 m high. If you follow the water to the fjord, you get another beautiful view of Milford Sound and Miter Peak from a slightly different perspective directly from the water.
- Milford Underwater Observatory. Tel.: 64 (0)3 249 7400. A visit to the Milford Underwater Observatory is possible either in connection with a boat tour (see activities) or with the observatory's own shuttle (40 NZD). Windows give you a view of the world below the surface of the water. You can see corals and aquatic plants.
- Donald Sutherland's grave. The grave of the first settler, the Scottish Donald Sutherland, is behind the hotel, between the employees' quarters.
- Hollyford Valley. At the pass The Divide turns off a dead end in Hollyford Valley. Originally it was planned to lead the road to Haast, only about 15 kilometers were completed. The small settlement is halfway there Gunn's rest. There is a shop, a few huts to stay overnight and a small museum in the village. At the end of the street is the starting point for Hollyford Track (see activities) and a short hike (there and back 30 minutes) to the 3-stage Humboldt Fallswhich are a total of 200 meters high. At the beginning of the cul-de-sac (about one kilometer from The Divide) there is the option of a somewhat longer hike (2-3 hours, 400 meters in altitude), which climbs steeply to the beautiful mountain lake Lake Marian leads.
activities
Boat tours
The real beauty of the Milford Sound can only be experienced from the water. The boats usually sail the entire fjord (22 km). You pass waterfalls and a seal colony. Some boats also stop at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory. Boats come in different sizes, for twenty and for several hundred people. The smaller boats in particular come closer to the waterfalls and the entire experience of nature is more intense. However, if you have problems with sea voyages, you should possibly fall back on the larger and calmer ships. There are generally two types of boat tours: round trips (2-4 hours) and overnight tours. All tours start at the boat terminal. There are three providers to choose from:
- Real Journeys. Tel.: 64 (0)3 249 7926. In addition to day tours (some including an observatory), Real Journeys also offers overnight tours. Either the bunk beds of a replica of a sailing boat or the luxurious cabins of the Milford Marinier are ideal.Price: 55-60 NZD for the day tour, 155 NZD night tour sailing ship (Milford Walker), 250 NZD Milford Marinier.
- Miter Peak Cruises. Miter Peak Cruises only has one small boat.Price: approx. 55 NZD for a two hour day tour.
- Red Boat Cruises. Tel.: 64 (0)3 442 7500. Five boats of different sizes. Tours with and without a stop at the observatory.Price: 45-62 NZD.
Kayak tour
Those who prefer to discover the fjord on their own and on their own should take a kayak tour. Possible providers are:
- Fiordland Wilderness Experience. Tel.: 64 (0)3 249 7700, Email: [email protected]. Price: from 95 NZD for a day tour. Other tours (also lasting several days) on offer.
- Rosco's Milford Sound Sea Kayaks. Tel.: (0)800 476 726, 64 (0)3 249 8500, Email: [email protected]. Price: from 105 NZD, various tours on offer.
sightseeing flight
A worthwhile alternative to a boat trip (or as an additional rounding off) can be a scenic flight over Milford Sound and the surrounding mountains. Small planes regularly take off from the small tarmac on the edge of the fjord and offer the occupants spectacular views. In addition to sightseeing flights from the airfield by the fjord, there are also a lot of sightseeing flights from Te Anau, Queenstown and Wanaka offered. Also Helicopter flights across the Milford Sound are offered.
hike
- Multi-day tours
- Milford Track. The Milford Track is one of the Great walks and known to hikers around the world. The trail leading from Te Anau leading to the fjord is 54 kilometers long and you should allow about 4 days for the route. Its great popularity makes it necessary to get a hiking permit (which you need to stay overnight in a hut) in good time in summer.
- Hollyford Track. The trail that starts at the end of Hollyford Valley is also approximately 54 kilometers long and should also allow 4 days. The route is relatively flat from the end of Hollyford Road to Martins Bay.
shop
Souvenirs are also sold at Miter Peak Café. A small shop can be found in Gunns Rest in the Hollyford Valley. It is advisable to stock up on sufficient supplies in Te Anau or Queenstown before setting off for Milford Sound, as the prices are much lower there.
kitchen
- Miter Peak Café. The café, which is part of the only hotel, offers a typical basic supply of food and drink. The price-performance ratio is high but not outrageous.
accommodation
- Milford Sound Lodge. Tel.: 64 (0)3 249 8071, Email: [email protected]. The only hotel on the square. About a 20 minute walk from the boat launch. In addition to rooms and dormitories, there is also the possibility of camping on the property. There is a free bus shuttle to the port.
Somewhat remote from the fjord in the Hollyford Valley (cul-de-sac from The Divide) is Gunns Rest in the so-called cabins Hollyford Camp can be rented.
trips
All that remains from Milford Sound is the way back.
