Milford Sound, located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, is located within the Fiordland National Park. It runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1200 m or more on either side. Among its most striking features are Mitre Peak, rising 1,692 m above the sound, the Elephant at 1,517 m and resembling an elephant’s's head, and Lion Mountain, 1,302 m, in the shape of a crouching lion. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins and dolphins populate the water. “For thousands of feet upwards the eye looks upon straight cut rocky frontages, not worn smooth by time, or by wind or water, but as sharply defined and as fresh looking in all respects as if riven asunder but yesterday by the stupendous wedges of Titanic Masons.“ James Hingston 1883 .The Maori were the first to attribute the creation of the fiords to a “titanic mason”, Tute Rakiwhanoa who hued out the steep sided valleys with keen edged adzes. No other explanation seems to fit, as it is impossible to comprehend the sheer breadth of geological events that created this seemingly perfect sculpture, as sheer cliffs rise vertically upward from the ocean. Milford is by far the best known of all of the fiords and the only one that can be accessed by road. It is approximately 16km from the head of the fiord to the open sea, which means visitors can comfortably travel the length of the fiord to open ocean and return on one of the many cruise options available in one and a half to two hours cruising time. The Milford Road: One of the most incredible and frequently overlooked features of Milford Sound is the journey to get there. The Milford Road is a stunning alpine drive. Visitors need to allow plenty of time to stop at the numerous viewing points or short walking opportunities en route, just to get out of the car and drink in the spectacular scenery and the sheer scale of the landscape. At 119km (approx 74 miles) from Te Anau to Milford Sound, the sealed road takes a minimum of 2 hours driving without allowing for stops. Motorists are advised to fill vehicles with petrol in Te Anau, although supplies are available at Gunns Camp in the Hollyford Valley and at Milford Sound.
Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, only four hours drive from Queenstown or a two hour drive from Te Anau is one of New Zealand's finest natural assets with spectacular views, waterfalls and wildlife. Milford Sound is arguably one of the most beautiful and spectacular places on Earth. Milford Sound was once a long, deep valley gouged out of the rock by millions of years of glacial activity. Eventually the valley entrance was became open to the sea and icy waters of the Tasman sea flooded into the valley creating the Sound. Milford Sound is often called a fiord (Fjord), which is a term given to a steep sided inlet created by glacial activity and is common on the coastline of Norway. The untouched majesty and grandeur of Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park are a world treasure. It is a uniquely awesome sight to behold the fiord and its encompassing cliffs. The walls enclosing Milford Sound rise vertically about 300 metres from the sea floor to the relatively calm surface of the fiord. They then form sheer cliffs, some rising over 1600 metres above the fiord. This is truly a spectacular sight. Breathtaking in beauty and fascinating geologically, the spectacular scenery of the fiord can be experienced on a tour from the water on a cruise with companies such as Red Boat Cruises or by air on a scenic flight. An underwater experience should not be missed at the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory. Milford Sound is simply stunning. It is a natural wonder of world fame. In Maori legend, the fiords were created not by rivers of ice, but by Tu Te Raki Whanoa, a godly figure who came wielding a magical adze and uttering incantations. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is without doubt his finest sculpture. Whatever the fiord’s mood - teeming with rain or with sun glistening on deep water - it will inspire you. Nowhere else in Fiordland do the mountains stand as tall, straight out of the sea. In the foreground of the fiord stands the legendary Mitre Peak, a remarkable presence dominating the skyline. The most asked question about Milford and Doubtful is "Which is the best Fiord" and the honest truth is there isnt an easy answer, you have to experience them both to see which appeals to you most. For me the fiords are about how you experience them. Milford is a short narrow Fiord and therefore is dramatic and spectacular and whether you take a cruise or become apart of it by kayaking you will enjoy it's breathtaking beauty. Because it is easily accessible by the Milford road it is a cheaper option and provides the opportunity by not only experiencing the fiord but the many scenic highlights & short walks along the way. Making for a great day out. Doubtful is remote wild and expansive, so before you even reach the Fiord a boat cruise across Lake Manapouri (considered the most beautiful lake in the world)& then bus over the Wilmot pass past the wild moss gardens. This in itself is a wonderful journey. An experience on Doubtful really makes you feel like you are in the wilderness with a lot less tourism it provides a totally different experience to Milford Sound
Milford Sound was incorrectly named as it is not actually a sound, rather a fiord. A fiord is a valley which has been inundated by the sea, as the result of glaciers eroding the valley floor in the past, below todays sea level. Milford Sound is the most accessable of 14 fiords in the Fiordland National Park and one of the most spectacular. Boat trips on this fiord are available and will take you right out to the open sea and back again. The trip passes many waterfalls and you even get an opportunity to drink from the worlds cleanest water if you hold a cup in the air as the boat passes underneath some of the waterfalls. Seals can be seen sunbathing on the rocks and dolphins usually follow the boat just to make sure you don't get lost. This fiord is just as spectacular under the sea as above. The first few feet of water in the fiord is fresh and is the result of runoff from the melting snow on the mountains. Below that layer of fresh water is the salt water of the Tasman Sea. This unique combination of fresh and salt water tricks the deep sea plants to grow near the surface and provides divers are rare opportunity to see them. Divers can also be rewarded with the opportunity to see a rare black coral that grows here and which is unique to this area. Underwater world: Yet another unique feature of the Fiordland environment is life under the fiord. Beneath the water, the mountains continue to plunge down as steep rock walls until they reach the floor of the fiord at depths of 100-450m. Few visitors are aware that below the tide line there exists a fascinating and unique world. A fresh water layer that sits on top of the seawater filters light to allow normally deep water dwelling species to exist very close to the surface. A visit to the Underwater Observatory or a guided dive tour allows access to sights rarely revealed to human visitors. Click here for information on the underwater observatory or dive information
