Milford Sound is perhaps one of the most spectacular and most visited places in New Zealand. The journey to Milford Sound—known as State Highway 94 or the Milford Road—stretches 119 km (74 miles) from Te Anau and is every bit as breathtaking as the destination itself. It was on our absolute must-visit list this time on the South Island, since we had missed it due to bad weather during our previous visits to New Zealand in 1997 and 2005.

Along the way, there are highlights such as the Homer Tunnel, Mirror Lakes, and stunning valleys and rainforests. While the drive takes around two hours without stops, it’s best to allow at least four hours to fully appreciate the scenery, take photos, and enjoy short walks.

There are no services or shops along the Milford Road itself, so be sure to fill up with fuel and pack snacks and water in Te Anau or Queenstown.

The road includes one-lane sections—especially through the Homer Tunnel—and is sometimes subject to closures. Check the latest road and weather conditions on the NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) website before you go. When we traveled through, the Homer Tunnel had night closures, making it difficult to reach Milford Sound early. You definitely need to plan your return carefully so you don’t get stuck on the wrong side of the tunnel!

During our Great Pivot trip, we booked a midday cruise so that we could use the morning for the drive into Milford Sound. Our first amazing stop was in Te Anau at the Milford Road Merchant, where we had one of the best coffees we’ve ever tasted! It was pure liquid gold, with the fattest, sweetest, and freshest milk straight from the bottle. We also picked up some epic muffins and cookies. The sun was shining—it was an auspicious start to our road trip into the fiords.

The road starts off spectacularly, with mountains to your left, and somehow just keeps getting better. Our first “holy crap” moment came in the Eglinton Valley and Eglinton Flats. There are plenty of pullouts for jaw-dropping photos of the vast valley framed by towering peaks.

Just up the road are the Mirror Lakes—also stunning, though a few coaches pulled up at the same time as we did, so the walkways and viewpoints were a bit crowded.

After Lake Fergus and Lake Gunn, the road begins to twist and weave more dramatically. Stop at Pop’s Lookout and Falls Creek for great views, and then continue on to Monkey Creek for even more epic scenery before reaching Gertrude Valley and the stop before the Homer Tunnel.

As stops go, this one is pretty spectacular. There’s even a timer that counts down to when the tunnel opens for traffic from your side, since it’s a single-lane road.

Be prepared to lose your breath again as you exit the tunnel—it’s a spectacular view and an impressive feat of road engineering, taking you down through the valley toward Milford Sound.

We stopped at The Chasm Viewing Bridge Walk—a short, easy stroll through the rainforest to a bridge that, unfortunately, was no longer there when we visited in March 2025, having been damaged by floodwaters. Still, the walk was lovely, and we enjoyed a spot of lunch in our car afterward.

Milford Sound itself is a very small place, with only a few (very expensive) accommodation options, a small airstrip for light planes and helicopters, and the cruise terminal. We parked at the public car park (don’t forget to pay your fee!) and took a short hike past the grave of early settler Donald Sutherland to reach the Milford Sound Observation Deck. You’ll find the trailhead behind the public car park.

After our short hike, we packed some water and snacks and took the five-minute walk along the shore to the cruise terminal, where we waited in glorious sunshine for our boat to dock and take us out onto the fiord.

The drive back from Milford Sound is every bit as spectacular as the journey in. Combined with a cruise on the fiord, it was one of the most incredible days we’ve ever had in all our travels—pure magic.

Next up: Milford Sound Cruise!