Milford Sound Day Trip from Queenstown: Tips for a Self-Driving Adventure

Believed to be protected by the Māori goddess of death, Hine-nui-te-pō, Milford Sound had earned the reputation for being the most beautiful place on earth. 

With powerful waterfalls descending from the clouds, and a biodiverse landscape characteristic of a rainforest (FUN FACT: Milford Sound is both a fjord and a rainforest!), its reputation is honorably deserved. The epic scenery of Milford Sound can be seen from a cruise, or on foot.

Unless you are planning on staying in the small town of Te Anau, located just under two hours from Milford Sound, the best way to get to Milford Sound is to drive from Queenstown. Although the drive is nearly five hours (one way!) with stops from Queenstown to Milford Sound, every minute is WORTH IT. 

You’ll pass through landscapes reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, with the most epic scenery! 

This detailed guide covers important information about the incredible Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown, whether you plan to self-drive and book a separate cruise, or book a guided tour which includes a cruise. 

After you read this article, you’ll understand how to schedule the perfect day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown, with iconic photo stops, tips for renting a car and self-driving, and which cruise to pick (if you don’t book guided transport which includes a cruise).

Milford Sound should be at the top of your New Zealand bucket list!

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Getting to Milford Sound from Queenstown

The incredible Fiordland National Park is a scenic five-hour drive from Queenstown. You can either rent a car in Queenstown (I booked with Budget Car Rentals!) and drive yourself, or book a guided bus tour to Milford Sound from Queenstown (the most popular option for travelers who don’t rent a car). 

Self-Driving to Milford Sound

If you’re planning on visiting other scenic towns in the South Island, or have an incredible South Island road trip scheduled, the choice is easy.

Drive yourself from Queenstown to Milford Sound! Self-driving offers more flexibility for travelers who want to stop and enjoy beautiful photo locations along the way, without a set itinerary.

If you plan to drive yourself from Queenstown to Milford Sound, book your scenic cruise in the afternoon to allow plenty of time to drive to Fiordland National Park. Because the scenic cruise is the most popular thing to do in Milford Sound, you’ll want to book IN ADVANCE and arrive on time. 

The drive to Milford Sound from Queenstown takes approximately five hours including breakfast and photo stops. While it seems like a daunting day trip, it is ABSOLUTELY worth driving in a single day, especially if you prefer to use Queenstown as a home base for exploration.

As part of my ten-day South Island New Zealand road trip, I made the trip to Milford Sound in a single day, leaving Queenstown around 7am, enjoying a scenic cruise around 1pm, and departing Fiordland National Park around 4pm. 

With so many incredible photo stops, the drive will fly by – you’ll arrive at Milford Sound in no time!

Guided Day Trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound

Booking a guided tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound is the best option for travelers who don’t want to rent a car.

Navigating the logistics of planning the driving route, finding the best photo stops, and paying for gas (it’s expensive in New Zealand!) can be a daunting task when you’re on vacation.

By booking a guided day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown, you’ll experience the same scenic locations and beautiful landscapes as you would if you drove yourself to Milford Sound, with no planning necessary. 

Having a knowledgeable, local tour guide will ensure you visit all the scenic stops and learn about each location along the way. 

A guided tour not only includes transport to and from Milford Sound, it also includes the popular two-hour cruise along Milford Sound. The scenic cruise is the most popular activity, and therefore sells out VERY quickly, so a guided tour package eliminates the hassle of trying to determine which boat to pick. 

The only downside to booking a guided tour is the rigid itinerary – there are no deviations from the scheduled stops. This option is great for travelers who value organization and don’t want to rent a car.

Driving Tips for Milford Sound (Self-Drivers)

Driving in New Zealand is not much different than anywhere else. 

However, if you’re used to your steering wheel being on the left side of the vehicle, it might take some adjustment when you drive in New Zealand, where the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. 

Be cautious if you’re not used to driving on the left side of the road (like I was!).

To drive in New Zealand, whether you plan to rent a car or a camper van, you’ll need a valid license in English or an International Driving Permit (IDP) in English. 

You can legally drive with a valid license for up to 18 months, and up to 12 months with an IDP and the license the IDP is based on.

See this sign?

You’ll see this sign all over New Zealand! This road sign appears frequently over one-lane passageways and indicates which driver gets the right-of-way. 

The rule is that black passes first, the red must yield until the lane is clear. If you’re planning on renting a car or a camper van, make sure to understand the signs posted all over the country (this one is perhaps the most important)! 

I rented a car through Budget car rental for my ten-day South Island road trip. The total cost was about $400 and gas cost $100 USD to fill the tank, each time. 

GAS IS EXPENSIVE. 

Consider this when choosing your vehicle! If you want to compare vehicle prices on one single online platform, my top recommendation is Discover Cars – one of the most advanced rental car platforms for finding affordable deals within your budget.

Car rental and gas was one of my most expensive purchases, although having a car is worth it if you plan on driving yourself from Queenstown to Milford Sound (otherwise you can book a bus tour!).

The Best Experience in Milford Sound

Scenic Cruise Recommendations

If you plan to visit Milford Sound as a day trip from Queenstown, you’ll have limited time to explore. 

But time limitations won’t hinder you from enjoying Milford Sound’s most popular activity: a scenic cruise. A guided, two-hour scenic cruise through Milford Sound, beginning at the Milford Sound Visitor Center, will take you on a journey through the monumental mountains carved by glaciers, to the Tasman Sea and back. 

There are a variety of tours to choose from, including standard cruises (the most popular), small boat departures, and modern catamaran cruises.

All cruises visit the same scenic locations, stopping at cascading waterfalls and searching for local wildlife, so the cruise you pick depends on the boat you prefer.

I booked my cruise with Southern Discoveries, a local cruise operator that offers family-friendly scenic cruises and optional kayaking tours (HIGHLY recommend). Southern Discoveries also provided us with lunch for the cruise, which was included in our ticket.

Recommended Tours from Queenstown to Milford Sound

If the idea of driving yourself five hours to Milford Sound and back sounds daunting, or you’d rather NOT rent a car, there are a variety of guided tours from Queenstown to Milford Sound that include scenic stops along the drive and a cruise through Milford Sound. 

Pure Milford is highly regarded as the BEST guided bus tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound, known for its comfortable buses and boats, and knowledgeable and engaging crew. 

Other companies like RealNZ and Southern Discoveries offer similar experiences. The tour you book entirely depends on your preferred departure time from Queenstown and boat size!

Best Time to Visit Milford Sound

Milford Sound is one of those incredible destinations you can visit year-round. 

Despite its name, Milford Sound is actually a fjord, formed by glaciers (not rivers). And because of the massive amounts of rainfall Milford Sound gets each year – over 6,800 millimeters, one of the wettest places on earth! – the beautiful fjords manage to maintain their emerald colors during each season. 

Regardless of when you visit, you can expect a bit of rain. I recommend bringing a rain coat or a waterproof jacket to stay dry during your time in Milford Sound.

Summer in Milford Sound – December through February – is the most popular season for visiting Milford Sound. Most travelers will visit New Zealand during its summer season, stopping in Milford Sound to enjoy the postcard-worthy landscapes and monumental waterfalls.

While December and January tend to be the wettest months, February is actually one of the driest. I visited Milford Sound in late February and enjoyed a scenic cruise without the rain…however, the scenic cliffside of Hundred Falls, typically covered in cascading waterfalls, was completely dry. 

More often than not, the rain ADDS to the magic of Milford Sound. This is the one rare place where I ask you to manifest some rainy weather (but bring a rain poncho!). 

Fall in Milford Sound – March through May – is a season filled with cool fall weather and fewer crowds. Surprisingly, the fall season gets less rain than the summer season!

Winter in Milford Sound – June through August – is the quietest, most serene season in Fiordland National Park. For travelers visiting New Zealand during the winter season to ski or experience other winter sports, a visit to the snow-capped fjords of Milford Sound should be at the top of your bucket list. 

Spring in Milford Sound – September through November – is when Milford Sound welcomes tourists again before the busy summer season. The weather begins to warm up and wildflowers bloom, creating epic postcard landscapes!

What to Pack for a Milford Sound Day Trip

Rain or shine, Milford Sound is the most beautiful place in the world! 

As a rainforest AND a fjord, weather patterns can be unpredictable, so I recommend you bring the following items for your adventure:

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Answers to Common Questions