Things to do in Milford Sound

Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is a fjord, not a sound: 15 km of water carved between cliffs, with Mitre Peak rising 1,692 m straight from the surface.

It's one of the wettest places on Earth, around 6,800 mm of rain a year, and that's not a reason to skip it — rain sends Stirling and Bowen Falls into full flow, plus dozens of temporary cascades that dry up within a day of clear weather.

Getting there from Queenstown is 288 km, about 4 hours each way through the Homer Tunnel, so a coach day trip runs 12 to 13 hours door to door; from Te Anau it's only 2 hours, which is why most locals base themselves there first. Cruises run NZD 80 to 250 depending on length and whether a meal's included; scenic flights and kayak trips are separate bookings.