Two-Day Milford Sound Itinerary
Two-Day Milford Sound/Piopiotahi Itinerary
and why you need to spend extra time in this ethereal wonder
Milford Sound is one of NZ’s best hits. It’s a place you’ll regret if you don’t visit, yet it’s only about the destination, it’s the journey of getting there. Piopiotahi, the Maori name of Milford Sound, is located at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island in the vast Fiordland National Park. This region is covered in dense, lush forest, full of hidden alpine lakes, rigid mountains and waterfalls, so many waterfalls.
Is it the eighth wonder of the world? I’d vote for it. In our years of living in Aotearoa, we’ve returned to this spot many times. Many tourists drive in or fly in for just the day, but I’m here to convince you to stay longer in this Kiwi paradise.
I don’t want to spoil every surprise on this trip to Milford, but I will tell you the best way to spend your time while you’re there.
*I recommend pre-booking your cruise and accomm, unless you plan on camping in one of the tree DOC sites on the road in
The Road to Milford
Most travellers head to Piopiotahi from Queenstown, however, if you’re on the east coast (Dunedin) or down south (Invercargill), it’s a few hours’ drive to the gateway town of Milford, Te Anau.
Drive to Te Anau: 2 hours from Queenstown, 2 hours from Invercargill, 3.5 hours from Dunedin
I highly recommend staying here a night before or after your trip down to Milford Sound.
Te Anau to do’s:
for coffee + brunch, visit Sandfly Cafe
for our fav eatery, head to Ditto (Asian fusion)
check out the jetty (pictured)
stroll around the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary (free)
the lakeside playground is our fav place to get the wiggles out
Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park for a cheap stay
We typically drive here and stay for the night, then head to Milford in the morning to catch the first cruise.
the road from Te Anau to Milford
This is when the driving gets good. And thankfully there are several safe pullovers along the way to jump out of the car and marvel at the views.
Add extra time to your drive for stops, or take time on the way out. This road is a one-way road and winds through the mountains of Fiordland.
Along the way, you’ll notice DOC campgrounds, which is another option for staying in this region. Bring a tent or a campervan and sleep cheap in this beautiful valley.
*head’s up, this region is notorious for sandflies and their repetitively itchy bites are no fun. bring spray, wear long pants and sleeves and avoid wearing black.
The last hurdle before arriving at Milford Sound is the Homer Tunnel, a one-way tunnel carved through the mountains to reach nirvana. Often, you’ll need to wait a few minutes before it’s your turn to drive through. Put the car in park and jump out (safely), the views are insane and often Kea (our native alpine parrots) say hello.
Worthy stops along the way:
- Mirror Lakes
- Lake Gunn Nature Walk
- The Chasm
- first pullover after the tunnel
Welcome to Milford sound
day one
First, we cruise. A cruise is the only way to experience this awe-inspiring place. I recommend booking the first tour (~10 am) for the best light and less crowds. Park your vehicle for free at Deep Basin carpark, then walk along the foreshore to the marina to catch your boat. This walk takes around 20-30 minutes and passes the iconic Milford Sound view. If you need a coffee or a quick bite to eat, pop into the Discover Milford Sound Cafe. Parking is available here costing a hefty $10/hr (motorhome spaces are available).
cruise the sound
Southern Discoveries is our go-to cruise, but you have many options including add-ons such as lunches. Food, beverages, and souvenirs are available for purchase on every boat.
Once aboard, find a booth for your things and immediately head out and tour the boat. Don’t spend much time sitting, take it all in from every deck on board. Bring a poncho if you don’t want to get wet. Each ride includes an up close and personal experience with Stirling Falls.
If it’s raining, you’ve hit the jackpot. The waterfalls will overwhelm, but if it’s sunny, it’s just as beautiful. Honestly, any condition is good in Piopiotahi. Keep your eyes out for penguins, seals and dolphins all who frequent these brackish waters.
The tours typically last two hours and they are worth every penny.
Don’t forget your rain layers (prepare for it to be chilly), camera/phone with plenty of storage, snacks (free coffee/tea on board) and as I said before, don’t stay seated for this tour.
After the cruise, make your way back to the foreshore.
Fuel up at the cafe if needed, I love their fresh salads and iced coffees.
If you’re up for it, I recommend checking out two epic viewpoints. First, the Milford Sound Lookout, located past the cafe and gas station.
Here, you’ll find a path leading into the woods, follow that until the staircase up to the deck. It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach and you can enjoy a higher vantage point of Mitre Peak.
Next, I recommend heading back to the Milford Foreshore Boardwalk to find the famous swing.
Follow the boardwalk towards the end lookout and keep an eye out for a path on your right side. The right one will lead you across a sandy shore where you’ll find the swing.
It’s a great spot to relish in the view and swing like a kid.
Try to catch the sunset here or return early for sunrise. Depending on the conditions, it can be incredible to capture if you’re a photog.
accommodation for the night
Your options are pretty limited, but for good reason. If you have a campervan, you can park in the Rainforest Campervan Park at Milford Sound Lodge and access their kitchen, lounge and modern showers/bathrooms. It comes with a price of $100/night, but you’ll be one of the few sleeping at this end of the earth haven.
For a one-of-kind stay, special night, celebration, or not, book a chalet at the lodge. The riverside chalet is the dreamiest spot with floor-to-ceiling windows staring out at waterfalls pouring from mountain tops. Listen to the river rushing below and plan to make many bird friends as many like to frequent the area.
The onsite restaurant, Pio Pio is world-renowned bringing fine dining to the bottom of the world.
If you’re not booking in for a meal, no worries, you can still grab barista coffees, cocktails, beers and more from their recently renovated space.
It’s a peaceful space and the staff are incredibly kind if you have any questions.
If either of those options doesn’t work out, you can drive back through the tunnel to reach one of the three Department of Conservation campsites:
Deer Flat
Totara
*it’'ll take 45 to an hour to reach these sites from Milford
day two in Milford sound
By now, you’ve already pre-booked the boat ride with Fiordland Outdoors to access the super popular Milford Sound Great Walk. Pre-book online or book at reception of Milford Sound Lodge.
It’s the most desired Great Walk, selling out spaces for the season in minutes, but you don’t need to worry about that.
You can access Sandfly Point (aka the end of the track) via boat ride and enjoy meandering through the native bush. Follow the trail saying hello to fellow hikers finishing up a grueling four-day hike and pack a lunch to enjoy at Giant Gate Falls.
Return the same way with a pre-planned boat meetup to take you back across Deepwater Basin. The track takes around three hours roundtrip.
Enjoy one last goodbye to Piopiotahi and make your way back towards Te Anau.
But if you have some extra time…be sure to pull over at the recommended spots if you didn’t on the way in or if you want a bigger adventure see below for two of my favourite Fiordland adventures.
Side trips on your Milford sound journey
While in Milford, I urge you to save time for these two epic short hikes.
Lake Marian
is easily one of the most beautiful places in Aotearoa. The grandness, the isolation, the feeling that you just stumbled upon a secret mountain paradise is how it makes me feel once I step into this valley.
The track begins from the Hollyford Valley (40mins from Milford Sound) and takes roughly three to four hours. The trail starts by crossing a swing bridge and along gushing waterfalls as you hug giant rock formations. This area is known to be slippy and please take caution on the trails, especially with young ones. If you don’t have time to hike to Lake Marian, I recommend walking to these falls!
From this point, the trail becomes more challenging. I urge you to wear good hiking boots. It’s often muddy and you’ll need to pull yourself up by tree roots at points. Pay attention to the orange triangles that are leading you to the lake. It’s easy to get off track and often tourists do. It’s a lot of ups and downs through dense forest without many views, but I promise the way your jaw will drop when you reach the lake will make up for every step to get there.
This is my true paradise. A place where my inner child can play, jumping from massive rock to massive rock, take in the vastness of the place and realize how small I am in the grand scheme of it all. Bring a picnic, stay as long as possible and if you’re brave dive into the icy, glacier lake.
Head’s up during winter the sun only hits this haven for a few hours in the middle of the day.
Key summit, routeburn
Another phenomenal short hike in the Fiordland region is Key Summit, which happens to be a part of the famous Routeburn Great Walk.
The trailhead starts at the Routeburn Track (Milford side). This is an opportunity to hike part of this Great Walk.
It’s a slow slog of windy switch backs up through the fairy-like forest and eventually reaches a fork.
To the left is the main Routeburn Track heading towards one of the huts, and to the right is the Key Summit Track.
You’ll climb above the trees and eventually reach the boardwalks crossing over tarns, bogs and tall grass. Stick to the trail to preserve the fragile ecosystem.
The endpoint takes you to a view over Lake Marian (see above) and a wide-sweeping view of the Humboldt and Darran Mountains.
Spend some time strolling along the boardwalks before heading back the same way.
Give yourself around three hours (6.8km) to complete the Key Summit Track.
It’s a great one for families, you may need to add on extra time for little legs.
last takeaways
In winter the Homer Tunnel often closes at night. Take note of closes before heading down.
Keep your eyes on the road. Skinny curvy mountain roads + tourists + moody weather = increased risk for accidents.
Pull over on the designated bays for lookout points.
Don’t feed the Kea! or any birdlife in the area, respect the land and its beings.
Fill up your petrol tank in Te Anau. There is a small gas station in Milford Sound, but it’ll be pricey.
And there you have it, a plan to spend two days in Milford Sound, seeing the best of the best and making every moment count. I promise it’s worth the extra drive and time to experience it this way vs. the bus option.
If you don’t have wheels, grab some friends and split a rental car from Queenstown, you won’t regret it!
DM me if you have any questions or leave them below :)
happy traveling,
Tori