Day trip from Otago, Otago
Milford Sound Day Trip from Queenstown
Fiordland's iconic Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is one of the world's great natural wonders—a dramatic fjord carved by glaciers and flanked by 1,200-metre vertical cliffs plunging into dark waters. The drive through the Eglinton Valley, past Mirror Lakes, through the 1.2km Homer Tunnel, and down to the fiord is itself spectacular. A cruise on the fiord takes 1.5-2 hours and passes magnificent Stirling and Bowen Falls, fur seal colonies, and dramatic peaks.
Highlights
- Mirror Lakes in the Eglinton Valley (photograph in still morning air)
- Homer Tunnel - carved through solid rock in the 1950s
- Stirling Falls - 155m waterfall flowing directly into the fiord
- Fur seal colonies on rocky outcrops
- Mitre Peak - the iconic 1,692m pyramid
- Milford Sound cruise (1.5-2 hours)
Tips
- Coach tours are highly recommended—the drive is long and tiring both ways
- Rain actually enhances Milford Sound by creating hundreds of temporary waterfalls on the cliffsides
- Book well in advance in summer—cruises fill up
- Bring warm clothes for the cruise even in summer
- Sandfly repellent is essential at the Milford Sound foreshore
- Fly-cruise-fly option (fly in, cruise, fly back) is available from Queenstown Airport