Milford Sound Magic

My wife and I had been to Milford Sound a few times before, both on self-drive and bus tours. We even flew back to Queenstown once to take in the magic of the area from above and can highly recommend the experience.

We revisited Milford Sound in September 2024 as part of a two week South Island road trip. We went to the extravagance of staying two nights at Milford Lodge so we could spend time in the heart of the area. This was to make it easier to pop in and out to capture the sunrise and sunset, and to take some trips within the local area both on foot and by boat. We were looking forward to that.

As luck would have it, the few days we were there it rained SO much that most of the time we hung out in our cozy room and simply looked out in wonder at the numerous waterfalls gushing down the mountainside with all the extra rain, and the river raging outside our window.

Across the few days we were there, I literally only had two 30 minute windows of time when the rain stopped long enough to dash outside and shoot what I could.

Here's a moody image I managed to capture between the raindrops.

Here's a quick video that shows the grandeur of the mountains surrounding the area and the numerous waterfalls cascading down the side.

Between the rain, and the snow falling at higher altitudes that closed the Homer tunnel we could only finally leave the area at 3pm on our day of departure when the road opened.

Coming out at the top of the tunnel it felt like stepping out of the wardrobe into Narnia with the snow all around and sleet buffeting the windscreen. This picture from my wife's phone taken from a moving vehicle, kind of says a lot about the conditions.

Planning tips:

If you are planning a trip into Milford Sound here are some tips:

1. Essentials: Pack insect repellent and consider long sleeves and pants if spending any decent period of time outside. Don't forget sunscreen, a hat and a decent raincoat too. Take an umbrella so you can hide under it to take photos if needed - I certainly did this too.

2. Be flexible: Prepare to be flexible with your plans depending on the weather. Milford Sound receives a LOT of rain each year so do some research about rainfall across the seasons and be prepared for snow too.

3. Road closures: Be aware that the single road in and out of the area is frequently closed for a day or two. We were only travelling back to Te Anau on our day of departure which was just as well given the road only opened at 3pm. Ensure your itinerary has some flexibility. Keep an eye on the NZTA website for road closure information

4. Amenities: There are limited shops inside Milford Sound. There is a petrol pump and you can buy ready to eat food at the visitor centre during opening hours. Take plenty of supplies in case you get stuck due to bad weather. Restroom facilities are available.

5. Wildlife: Watch out for the cheeky Keas as they like to attack cars and motorbikes especially while in the queue for the tunnel. They go after rubber door seals, leather satchels etc.