Milford Sound: An Ideal Excursion From Queenstown

The Milford Sound fjord is one of the most touristic places in New Zealand. Every year more than half a million visitors come to it. Its beauty is such that the writer Rudyard Kipling did not hesitate to call it “the eighth wonder of the world.” Next, we tell you everything you need to know about this treasure of nature.

Milford Sound Features

Milford Sound stretches 15 kilometers inland from the Tasman Sea.  It is also surrounded by rock formations that exceed 1200 meters in height. Among them, the Mount León stands out, which recalls the silhouette of this reclining animal, and the Elephant peak.

The fjord is also known for being the wettest place in New Zealand, as well as one of the wettest in the world. And it is that the annual average of precipitations is of more than 6800 millimeters, distributed throughout 182 days.

This high amount of rainfall makes it not uncommon to see temporary waterfalls rushing down the steep faces of the rocks. Some of these waterfalls have hundreds of meters of drop.

In addition, this climatic condition favors the growth of vegetation. The humid forest, which grows even on the top of the rocks, predominates especially. When the trees that form it lose their grip due to the rainwater, they fall to the bottom of the canyon, but they are soon replaced by others.

Fiordland National Park

Milford Sound is within the Fiordland National Park. This, in turn, is part of Te Wahipounamu, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In it are two other notable fjords: Doubtful Sound, a resplendent green; and Dusky Sound, which is 40 kilometers long and 8 kilometers wide.

Another charm in Fiordland National Park is the Sutherland Waterfall. It is the second highest in New Zealand, with a waterfall of 580 meters.

Inside the park there are other wonders. Do not miss the islands of Secretary and Resolution ; Lake Te Anau, Australasia’s largest in freshwater volume; and Lake Manapouri, which at 444 meters deep is the second deepest in the country.

Visit Milford Sound

Milford Sound is very easy to get to. It can be done by rental car, for which you have to go to Te Anau, two hours from Queenstown. It can also be reached by public transport. To these possibilities are added the planes and helicopters that provide their transfer services.

Likewise, dozens of companies offer cruises through the fjord so as not to lose detail of it. We choose which one we choose, the activity must be contracted in advance to ensure a place on the boat. Prices are also diverse, but can be around NZ $90 for a two-hour ride.

During the journey, you will visit the places that make Milford Sound an extraordinary place.  This includes the dizzying Miter, at 1,692 meters; and the aforementioned Mount León and Elephant Peak. Likewise, you can see the Lady Bowen or Stirling Falls.

As if that were not enough, it is possible to spot various animals. There are colonies of seals and penguins frolicking on the rocks in the cool shower. Meanwhile, the dolphins jump and play in the waves in Anita Bay. And the black corals are also visible from the surface itself.

Sleep in Milford Sound

If you want to stay near the fjord, and especially considering the absence of nearby towns, you can do so at Milford Sound Lodge, just 1.5 kilometers from this natural wonder.

This place is made up of luxury cabins located on a cliff. One of their great attractions is that they have large windows from which to see the Cleddau River or the Sheerdown Mountains.