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A Guide to Milford Sound & Te Anau

  • Writer: Barbara
    Barbara
  • Mar 24
  • 3 min read
Table of Contents:

  1. How to get to Milford Sound

  2. Milford Sound cruise

  3. Exploring Te Anau: Glowworms and Rare Birds

  4. Where to stay and eat


After leaving the alpine vibes of Wanaka behind, we set our sights on a place often defined as the "Eighth Wonder of the World": Milford Sound, and I have to admit, this corner of New Zealand is pure magic. From Wanaka, it’s a 3-hour drive to Te Anau, the gateway to the fjords of Milford Sound. In Te Anu we joined an organised tour to Milford Sound and then stayed overnight in Te Anau.

How to get to Milford Sound

The drive to Milford Sound is just as spectacular as the destination itself.
To get to Milford Sound there are multiple option: 
  1. Self drive: Drive yourself and join a cruise there
  2. Join a tour from Te Anu: Our top pick! It’s a 3-hour bus ride, but you can actually look and enjoy the views instead of concentrating on the road.
  3. Join a tour from Queenstown: Doable, but it’s a long day (+10 hours round trip).
I discourage you from driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound as it is a long long winding drive. I suggest to stay overnight in Te Anau and from there either join a tour or drive your self. This will be much more doable and more enjoyable.

Pro Tip: While driving to Milford Sound keep your eyes peeled for the Kea. These alpine parrots are incredibly smart and notoriously cheeky. One even decided to jump on our bus! However, as tempting as it is to share your lunch, please do not feed them, it’s vital for their health and survival in the wild.

Milford Sound Cruise

Once you’re on the water, prepare to feel very, very small. The cruise takes you through towering fjords (technically glacial carved valleys!) and past massive waterfalls like Stirling Falls. If you are lucky you may spot bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and the occasional rare Fiordland crested penguin.
The cruise we joined was part of our tour: Small group tour from Te Anau to Milford Sound If you are driving yourself you can join a cruise there, for example: Milford Sound Cruise If you are thinking of a tour from Queenstown: Milford Sound tour from Queenstown

Exploring Te Anau: Glowworms and Rare Birds

Don't just use Te Anau as a pit stop! This lakeside town has some hidden gems of its own. You could visit:

  1. The Te Anau Glowworm Caves

There are a few places in New Zealand where you can see glowworms, and this is one of them! We saw the glowworms in Waitomo and then again in Hokitika. You can read about the Waitomo Gloworms adventure here: Waitomo Glowworms and Coromandel.
In the Anu Gloworm caves, you will take a scenic boat across Lake Te Anau to a 12,000-year-old cave system. Once at the cave, you will walk through limestone passages and then get on a small boat, with thousands of shimmering glowworms all around you.
No photos are allowed (to enhance the visibility of the glowworms ), but the memory is worth the $145 NZD price tag. The tour takes about 3 hours.
You can book here: RealNZ Glowworm Caves

  1. Punanga Manu o Te Anau (Bird Sanctuary)

If instead you are looking for something low-key and budget-friendly you could visit this bird sanctuary! It is free to visit (but donations are appreciated).
Here is one of the best places to see the takahē, a flightless birds that were once thought to be extinct! It’s a short walk around but a great way to learn about New Zealand’s conservation efforts.






My last recommendations are to pack a raincoat (it can be rainy) and to book Te Anu cruises in advance especially during summer months.



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All recommendations in this article are 100% based on my personal experience and are currently unpaid. I aim to keep my content genuine, but please note that I am open to future collaborations, and any paid partnerships will always be clearly disclosed.


I routinely check my articles. If you spot any outdated information, please contact me so I can update it immediately!

 
 
 

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