Kia Ora! Hello from New Zealand. Rather I should say hello from Aotearoa since that’s what the Māori call it—the land of the long white cloud. According to lore, wispy white tendrils of cloud cover parted and revealed the land to the Māori when they made the crossing from Polynesia in seafaring canoes some 700 years ago.
New Zealand is a land of stunning contrasts—of temperate broadleaf rainforests, golden sand beaches, and glacier-carved fiords flush with alpine lupins. But one of its most popular destinations, called the eighth natural wonder of the world by Rudyard Kipling, is a snug waterway that feeds into the Tasman Sea, hedged in by towering jade peaks. I am writing about Milford Sound.
Milford Sound is actually a fiord carved out by prehistoric glaciers, and one of dozens in Fiordland. Doubtful Sound is another popular destination, but Milford welcomes the most people simply because it is the most accessible. While there are plenty of natural wonders from the Te Puia geyser field to Franz Josef glacier that are worth seeing, no trip to the South Island would be complete without a cruise down this majestic waterway.
Know Before You Go
There are a few ways to get to Milford Sound. You can rent a car and make the journey at your own pace, or catch a guided tour departing Queenstown or Te Anau. Now the fjord is only 70 km from Queenstown, but you’ll have to take the long, meandering route around the Remarkables mountain range into the heart of Fiordland.
If you choose to drive, you can park for free at Deepwater Basin and catch a courtesy shuttle that departs the Park & Ride every 15 minutes for the cruise terminal. Or park at the cruise terminal for $10 per hour. Keep in mind that both lots fill up quickly!
If you opt for a tour instead of a self-guided drive, I reccomend only booking it when you arrive in New Zealand. Every Tom, Dick and Harry in Queenstown operates a tour driving out west to the fiord. Once you’re in town, you can sk around for recommendations depending on how you like to travel, and ask for the weather report.
Believe me, this is something you want to do!
Pay attention to the forecast. 200 days of the year it rains in Milford Sound. Granted, it feels like it rains just as often in Vancouver, but the fjord receives nearly five times as much precipitation. You will get wet. If not by the rain, then by the mist. But if you plan to stay in Queenstown for at least three days, you can check the forecast and schedule your tour accordingly. I was lucky enough to see the fiord the day after an immense rainstorm. The sky was mostly clear and the waterfalls were spectacular.
