Day Trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown: Waterfalls and Movie Sets

No trip to New Zealand’s South Island would be complete without a day trip to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. This World Heritage site lies just over the Southern Alps mountain range from Queenstown, no more than 50 km away, but because the terrain is so rugged, it can only be accessed by a 295km loop via Te Anau.

We had a tight schedule, so we opted for a Small Group Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown. The tour included an early morning pick-up from our hotel in Queenstown, an amazingly scenic drive to Milford Sound, a Milford Sound cruise and a return drive to our hotel.

This guide introduces the key attractions of a day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown, including the scenic stops along the way, the main Milford Sound waterfalls and as a bonus, a list of movies that were filmed in the stunning misty landscape of the fjord.

If you have more time and your own transportation, you might prefer to visit Milford Sound independently and spend more time at the scenic stops on the way, visit the underwater observatory or take a kayaking adventure on the sound. Whichever way you visit, make sure not to leave Milford Sound off your Queenstown itinerary!

Queenstown to Te Anau

Lake Te Anau on a day trip to Milford sound

I personally find merit in taking at least one guided tour during your time at a new destination. It allows you to learn more in a short period of time than you would from reading volumes of guidebooks and blog posts. Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown was a case in point.

Our guide/driver provided live commentary for the entire 4 hours of the drive to Milford Sound. As a result, I have learned more about New Zealand’s natural history, Maori and European settlers’ history, local legends and cultural idiosyncrasies on this drive than I had while researching the trip.

Black-billed gull on lake Te Anau

As we headed out of town along the northern half of Lake Wakatipu, we watched the sunrise over the peaks of the mountains. It was a dramatic start to the day, but as the darkness lifted, we saw that it would be an overcast and rainy day.  Not that it mattered much for a visit to Milford Sound, where it reportedly rains 90 per cent of the time.

After about 2 hours of driving, we arrived in Te Anau – a town most notable for Te Anau Lake –  a  large glacial lake framed by towering mountain peaks. While my fellow day-trippers stretched their legs at the tourist centre, I went to the lake for a look around and found a few Black-billed gulls and a rainbow.

The 119km drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is a remarkable journey in its own right. You pass through tunnels cut through the mountains, past dreamy lakes, lush rainforest and towering mountains of Fiordland National Park. As part of the day trip to Milford Sound, the coach stops at some of the most notable places of interest for a short visit.

Mirror Lakes

Day trip to Milford Sound  from Queenstown - Mirror lake

First up were the Mirror Lakes, known for their still surface that provides outstanding reflective views of the Earl Mountains. We happened to reach the lakes during a brief period of sunshine and were treated to fantastic views as a result.

Rainforest at Mirror lake on Milford sound day trip from Queenstown

The walkway from the road to the lakes meandered through some red beech forest, where seemingly every surface was covered with moss and lichen. And as promised by the driver, a New Zealand fantail swooped in from the treetops to check us out. The return track to the lakes from the car park is only 400 meters, but it provides a stunning opportunity to stretch your legs during the drive.

Monkey Creek and Lyttle’s Flat

Monkey creek on the Lyttle's Flat - a day trip to Milford Sound

Soon after we left the Mirror Lakes, the sky darkened, and it started to rain. We passed Knob’s Flat and Lake Gunn without stopping or even knowing that they were there beyond the veil of rain. The next point of interest was Monkey Creek and Lyttle’s Flat.

Despite the rain, we stopped, mainly so that people could fill their water bottles with crystal-clear mountain spring water from the creek. I was so impressed with the moody scenery of Lyttle’s flat that I decided to miss out on the spring water and take some photos instead.

Monkey creek on the Lyttle's Flat

Monkey Creek is rumoured to be a popular place to spot wildlife on Milford Road. The rarities like whio (blue duck) and kea, New Zealand’s alpine parrot, are said to frequent the area. Of course, in the pouring rain spotting these native birds proved to be impossible.

The Chasm

Misty rainforest at the Chasm on a day trip to Milford Sound

The last stop was at the Chasm. By the time we got there, the rain was coming down quite heavily.  The walk to the Chasm took us along a loop trail through the fairytale scenery of the red beech forest. And as cold and unpleasant as the rain was, it was amazing to see this forest in its element. 

Tall trees wrapped in thick layers of moss, vines, and ferns enveloped in mist, droplets of rain running down the leaves of hanging moss gardens.  The scene had a sense of an ancient,  primeval world to it.

Mossy forest at the chasm - Day trip to Milford Sound

Another positive side effect to experiencing these sites in adverse weather is that only a small percentage of visitors choose to leave the comfort of their coaches, giving those that do a rare opportunity to enjoy these places with a degree of intimacy.

And to my huge delight, as I was walking back to the coach, a kea landed on a mossy tree stump in front of me. This was the only time I saw this beautiful endangered New Zealand alpine parrot during my time on the island.

Of course, my telephoto lens was safely tucked in on the bus, so all I could grab was a wide shot of the bird amid its dramatic primeval habitat.

Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown - kea at the chasm
Endangered kea at the Chasm

Milford Sound Cruise

When we arrived at Milford Sound, the fiord was concealed by the thick mist, which lent an element of mystery to an otherwise well-known site. Fiordland National Park is one of the wettest places on earth, with Milford Sound averaging more than 6 meters of rain a year. As our boat took off towards the Tasman Sea, the fiord was barely visible in the mist, which gave it an aura of an Alaskan glacier cruise.

READ MORE: 23 Stunning Canyons in the US to Add to Your Bucket List

Milford Sound day tour New Zealand

The powerful scenery of the fiord was completely otherworldly.  Twelve-hundred-meter-high sheer cliffs rose out of the still dark water, covered in lush temperate rainforest and streaming with waterfalls. The rain was creating more temporary waterfalls right in front of our eyes. Some of them were so small that they never reached the bottom of the fiord, being blown into oblivion by the wind.

Is Milford Sound a fjord?

Yes! Milford Sound is not actually a sound but a fjord. It was misnamed as a sound by its European discoverer, Captain John Grono, in 1812. What’s the difference, you might ask. Well, it’s all to do with topography.

Both sounds and fjords are formed when a valley is filled with seawater. However, a sound is a flooded river valley, while a fjord is a flooded glacial valley. The sound typically has a more gentle topography, like a riverbank, but the valleys of the fjords are cut by glaciers. Fjords, therefore, tend to be narrow, and flanked by steep mountainsides, just like Milford Sound.

Milford Sound Waterfalls

The reason Milford Sound is at its best on a rainy day, apart from the otherworldly misty scenery, is that the rain steams down the walls of the sound in a multitude of temporary waterfalls. But there are a few permanent waterfalls that can be seen year-round.

Bowen Falls

Lady Bowen falls at Milford Sound
Lady Bowen Falls

As you head out on your Milford Sound Cruise, the first waterfall you see is the Bowen Falls. At 162 meters in height, it is Milford’s highest waterfall. You can see it from the shore, but the view from the water is more dramatic. Bowen Falls provides water and electricity for all of Milford Sound. Without it, there would be no cruises.

Sterling Falls

Milford Sound falls - Stirling falls
Stirling Falls

The second of the two permanent waterfalls at Milford is the Stirling Falls, located about halfway along the fjord on the same side as the Lady Bowen Falls. It is also the second tallest of Milford’s falls, tumbling down 151 meters along a steep cliff face. Because the cliff is so steep, the boats can navigate right underneath the falls. So make sure you bring a rain jacket if you would like to feel the spray of the thundering glacial falls on your face.

The waterfalls that empty directly into the ocean are quite rare. There are only 47 of them around the world. The only one I saw is Curracurrong Falls in Sydney’s Royal National Park.

Stirling falls may look a little familiar to X-Men movies fans. They were used as a filming location in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film.

Bridal Veil Falls

Milford Sound waterfalls - Bridal veil falls
Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls are semi-permanent falls that are at their best after the rain. They flow opposite Seal Rock – the favourite snoozing spot of New Zealand fur seals on Milford Sound.

Fairy Falls

Milford Sound Fairy falls
Fairy falls

Next to Bridal Falls, Fairy Falls is a smaller and more flowing waterfall that appears after a few days of rain. When we reached Fairy Falls, the wind picked up even more and blew the elegant falls across the cliff face. You could hardly tell whether the water was falling down or sideways.

Some cruises go underneath these falls and let the passengers fill their glasses with the glacial water. In our case, it would’ve taken the whole day to catch the water in your glass!

Four Sisters Falls

Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown

There are also Four Sisters Falls that appear after the rain. They are made up of four falls in a row that fall from about the same height. On our cruise, though, the weather turned really foggy for a while, and we could barely make out the falls through the mist. On the plus side, this rain created hundreds of little falls, so the walls of the fjord seemed to be seeping water.

Milford Sound Wildlife

Milford Sound and the surrounding Fiordland National Park are home to an impressive array of wildlife species. Most species were too hard to spot through the rain, but the New Zealand fur seals were quite happy to relax on their usual rock, seemingly unaffected by the weather. We also spotted a couple of terns that I thought were Crested Terns flying through the rain.

Here are some species you can spot on a Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown

  • Dolphins: Milford Sound is home to more than 60 Bottlenose dolphins that can sometimes be seen riding the bow wave of cruise ships. There are also Dusky dolphins, distinguished by white bellies and two-toned (black and white) dorsal fins. Although they are not encountered as often.
  • Seals: the one animal you will have no trouble spotting are the New Zealand fur seals. They are usually seen snoozing on the rocks at Seal Point
  • Penguins: Milford Sound is home to two species of penguins: Little Blue penguins and Fiordland Crested penguins. While Blue penguins are quite common, Fiordland Crested penguins are one of the rarest penguins in the world. So keep your eyes peeled for these attractive birds with bright orange beaks and bushy white eyebrows
  • Kea: New Zealand’s only alpine parrot and an endangered species, kea are quite common along Milford Road and around Milford car park.
  • Kiwi: New Zealand’s most well-known bird, Kiwi is harder to spot since they are active mainly at night. If you stay overnight at Milford Sound Lodge, you might be lucky to spot one after dark.

Milford Sound Filming Locations

It is not surprising that the spectacular and otherworldly scenery of Milford Sound is popular with Hollywood filmmakers.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

In fact, it is the moody weather of Milford Sound that inspired the creators of the Alien: Covenant movie that was filmed at Milford Sound. The alien planet where the story is set is a stunningly beautiful but harsh world with dramatic clouds, vibrant green vegetation and mountains that appear and disappear in the clouds. If you have seen the mover, the scenery is immediately recognizable.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

The Stirling Falls were featured in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). It is the falls that Logan, Hugh Jackman’s character, jumps off during his dramatic escape from the sinister ‘Alkali Lake’ facility.

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Fjordland National Park also provided the scenic backdrop for the scenes of Site B or Isla Sorna in The Lost World: Jurassic Park film.  

Lord of the Rings

The surrounding Fjordland National Park was used as a filming location for scenes on Rivendell in the Lord of the Rings movies. South Island is practically Middle-earth itself – the vast majority of the LOTR and Hobbit trilogies were filmed on the island.

Milford Sound in Rainy Weather

The wet weather was a perfect addition to the Milford Sound experience, as it created a sense of discovery, of heading into the unknown. The visibility was so low that we couldn’t see what lay ahead, and as one cascading waterfall after another floated into view, it was still very difficult to see where they began – the tops of the cliffs were often lost in the mist.

Once we reached the Tasman Sea, we could feel the turbulence of the open water. The boat turned around and headed back the same way, though none of us could recognize any of the landscape features as they emerged out of the mist and then disappeared back into the ghostly white unknown.

Milford Sound Underwater Observatory

There is another cool place to visit on Milford Sound – an Underwater Observatory. The Discovery Centre and the observatory are located in Harrison Cove and can only be visited as part of the Southern Discoveries cruise or some kayaking tours. Unfortunately, Southern Discoveries cruise doesn’t open pick-ups in Queenstown, so you’d have to make your own way to Milford Sound.

The Best Season for a Day Trip to Milford Sound

As I mentioned, Fiordland National Park, where Milford Sound is located, is one of the wettest places on earth. It can rain absolutely any time, so you can’t plan to avoid the rain. In winter (June-Aug), there is the additional challenge of snow which could make the drive to Milford an extreme sports activity. Or the road can simply be closed.

Summer (Dec-Feb) is the peak season in New Zealand, and the island may get quite crowded. The temperature stays around 18-20 degrees Celsius with occasional highs of up to 27 degrees. Make sure to book your accommodation in advance if you plan to visit during the summer peak season.

Autumn and Spring may be the best seasons for visiting Milford Sound. It is quieter than in summer and not as cold as in winter. We made our Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown in March, and it was neither too crowded nor too cold. Just very wet.

Having said all this, Milford Sound is such a spectacular location that no matter in what season you visit it, it will be an extraordinary experience.

How to get to Milford Sound

Milford Sound can be visited on a long day trip from Queenstown like we did or on a much more relaxed day trip from Te Anau.

If you visit from Queenstown, a day tour might be a better option, otherwise, you will be driving back tired at night. If visiting from Te Anau, self-drive will be a better option – you will want to stop and explore every few kilometres. The 120km drive from Te Anau will take approximately 1.5-2 hours, but add at least an hour for the frequent photo stops.

Is Milford Sound Worth It?

YES! Milford Sound is worth every penny you spend to get there. If there is one place that is an absolute must on any South Island trip, it’s Milford Sound. This may sound a little ambitious, but trust me, Milford Sound will leave some of the most enduring memories of your time in New Zealand. It is easily one of the most beautiful places in the world.

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10 thoughts on “Day Trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown: Waterfalls and Movie Sets”

  1. Wow, how gorgeous these waterfalls are! I am always fascinated about visiting Milford Sound – have read so many articles and seen through photos have enough motivated me to see this wonderful part of the world. Perhaps sometime next year!

    Reply
  2. I soooo want to make it down here one day. I didn’t know how many animals were there too. And goes without saying it looks beautiful :)

    Reply
  3. Love this so much! New Zeland is so beautiful and I would love to visit. Bridal Veil Falls and Sterling Falls look absolutely spectacular – would love to visit one day! Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing this article!

    Reply
  4. New Zealand is so beautiful! I want to visit so many places in New Zealand post this pandamic. Hope I make it some day there.

    Reply
  5. I visited NZ in 2014 and I regret soooo much not visiting Milford Sound! I was on a group tour and many of the others went but I chose not to because of the long drive! I regret it! This post makes me regret it even more!!

    Reply
  6. Milford Sounds just looks unreal! Your photos are stunning, and I caught myself staring at them for so long lol! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

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