How long queenstown to milford sound

It's kind of like the last 'pit stop' before you head north into the wilds of Fiordland, so it makes sense to make sure you have all your essentials before heading off again. We stop for 30 minutes here, picking up a few 'bits and bobs', and marvelling at the beauty of Lake Te Anau — the largest in the South Island. Making sure our camera batteries are fully charged, we're ready for the final driving leg to Milford Sound.

As we headed out of Te Anau, north on highway 94, and climbed the winding road up through the beech forest, we could feel ourselves entering another world. The road actually skirts the lake, so close you could touch it, but the curtain of trees only lets you glimpse the water every now and then — very teasing!

But also quite magical. About an hour out, we spotted Lake Gunn. It's surrounded by native bush and forest, and on the western shore, you can see many mountains, including Melita Peak m and Consolation Peak m. There are a couple of well-positioned stopping off points here, too, to get that perfect shot. The vista across the lake to the peaks is heaven sent for artists and daydreamers. We then carried on the road for another 10 minutes, until we reached Mirror Lakes.

It's a great place to stretch your legs, but also you get to see why these lakes are so called. We took the short, 5 minute loop walk up into the beech forest, and found several smaller lakes. Here, you'll witness incredible reflections off the water, of the Earl Mountains in the background. Vast paintings hanging in nature's own art gallery. Before we reached Milford Sound, we passed through Homer Tunnel. At m long, and a gradient of , it used to be the world's longest gravel road tunnel.

Thankfully, it's now been sealed, although the darkness is still quite intimidating! Once out of the tunnel, we pulled over to do the Chasm Walk. It's a spectacular 20 minute return trek, where you can stop and admire a series of crashing waterfalls from two footbridges over the Cleddau River.

Millennia of water erosion have sculpted amazing basins and pathways through the rocks. Arriving at Milford Sound, it's hard not to be instantly blown away by its beauty. It was named in honour of the town of Milford Haven, in Wales, but the towering cliffs and endless fiords seem to belong to an entirely different world.

To catch our breath, we stopped by The Blue Duck Cafe for a much needed rest after the drive, and to grab a bite to eat, before heading out to the wharf and visitor centre. The best way to experience Milford Sound, is to hop on one of the dedicated boat cruises.

Trips begin around 9. It's difficult to comprehend just how vast this body of water is, so you'll be thankful for the onboard guide who'll ensure you don't miss a thing. Take time to appreciate the natural geological wonders of the cliffs and coves, and the abundant marine wildlife like dolphins, seals and even penguins.

Strike lucky, and you'll even see a whale we didn't With every twist and turn of the boat, a new world seems to appear from nowhere. The Stirling and Lady Bowen waterfalls are permanent fixtures here, but if you happen to be visiting when it's raining which is likely! Watch out for the 'Lion' and the 'Elephant' — it's a bit like cloudbusting, trying to see the images in the rock. Then behold the awesome sight of Mitre Peak, almost impossible to comprehend at over a mile high.

No wonder, then, that this 'king of the world' is one of New Zealand's most photographed attractions. Just make sure you have a viewfinder big enough to handle it.

If you've got time, try and stop off mid-cruise at Harrison Cove, where you'll find the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory. It has a 30ft deep viewing chamber, from which you can get up close and personal with all kinds of marine life. Anemones, sponges, fish And you don't even have to get wet. But there were still places we couldn't help but stop at to grab those last camera shots.

Arriving in Te Anau, there are plenty of places to eat and drink, many with amazing views of the mountains. We decided on a good old takeaway.

As the sun began to dip, we began the two hour trip back to Queenstown. There was no rush, just a lovely, leisurely punt back across highway 94 to Mossburn, then north on highway 6. Early summer evenings in this part of New Zealand are always magical.

Winding up alongside Lake Wakatipu again, around 7. The Remarkables in the background really do live up to their name, and the twilight waters of the lake undulate, as does our car, as we soon see the lights of Queenstown welcoming us home. Obviously, we finish off our day with a few well-deserved nightcaps, and reminisce about what a truly unforgettable day we've just had.

Login to create your guides for Queenstown. Ziptrek Ecotours is New Zealand's number one ziplining guided tour featuring the steepest tree to tree zipline in the world. This is a fully guided tour. You will be well looked after by two experienced guides that manage all aspects of safety and help with your launch and arrival at each tree deck.

Everything is taken care of, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Queenstown has its fair share of food and drink establishments to unwind after a day on the slopes. Our quick 'Apres Ski' guide highlights some of the best place to continue the fun long into the night along with a few foodie options What a ride.

What a day. Hiring a bike and riding on The Queenstown Trail is a truly enjoyable way to explore Queenstown and appreciate the beauty of the region. A good breakfast is the perfect solution to getting over the night before, or preparing for an action packed day of activities.

There's no short supply of winter activities to experience in Queenstown. Given the mind boggling choice of activities to experience, we've picked our 'top 7 winter activities in Queenstown' to try. With its iconic alpine setting in the South Island, Queenstown is well known for being the 'adventure capital of New Zealand'.

The four season resort has been built on its huge range of thrilling activities combinded with breathtaking scenery. One of the most popular and breath-taking activities in Queenstown is a scenic helicopter flight.

Ranging from affo The Clutha Gold Trail is a joy to walk. In fact this was our first walk over 6 hours. But the relatively gentle terrain alongside the sparkling turquoise waters of the Clutha River meant we could actual Situated in Cromwell, the eight-kilometre loop trail, winds its way alongside Lake Dunstan and pretty orcha We like to cycle, not for exercise but as a fun and relaxing way to explore an area. Although burning off some calories is a welcome bonus.

With no parking to worry about, or time pressure concerns, the fun of touring an area on 2 wheels is a If you are interested in becoming a local travel partner and would like to find out more then click for more info about our Website Business Opportunity. No results found.

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Best Queenstown Wineries To Visit. Wooing Tree Vineyard Company. Gibbston Valley Winery Restaurant Company. Domaine-Thomson Wines Company. Peregrine Winery Company.

Aurum Wines Company. Amisfield Winery and Restaurant Company. Mt Difficulty Winery Company. Wooing Tree Vineyard. View Full Profile. Gibbston Valley Winery Restaurant. Renowned as one of the finest dining experiences in the Queenstown region, Gibbston Valley Winery Restaurant offers a Central Otago wine and food experience Domaine-Thomson Wines. Peregrine Winery. Peregrine Winery features a modern cellar door building in the heart of Gibbston. Aurum Wines. Aurum Wines is a family run estate situated in the Lowburn sub-region of Central Otago.

Using certified organic practices, the vineyard strives to produce wines that speak truthfully of their origins. The Cellar Door and Tasting Room is situated in the original farm cottage, just off the highway between Cromwell and Wanaka. Amisfield Winery and Restaurant. Set amid a stunning backdrop of Lake Hayes and Coronet Peak, Amisfield offers dishes created from local produce and even the local land Mt Difficulty Winery.

Stop by Mt Difficulty, one of Central Otago's major vineyards for a tasting, lunch and to enjoy the extraordinary view Best Cocktail Bars in Queenstown. Eichardt's Bar Company. The Bunker Company. Bardeaux Company. The Lodge Bar Company. Habana Boutique Rum Bar Company.

Eichardt's Bar. The stylish bar features a welcoming fireplace, comfortable The Bunker. The Bunker offers an intimate fine dining experience with a distinctly New Zealand cuisine, specialising in red meats and local delicacies Bardeaux lets its wide selection of wines do the talking.

Guests can expect a huge range of local Pinot's supported by a cellar of vintage champagne and wines The Lodge Bar. This stylish bar located in the Sofitel Queenstown hotel offers wines by the bottle and another 50 by the glass Habana Boutique Rum Bar. Best Cafes in Queenstown Guide Options.

Best Cafes in Queenstown. The Bathhouse Company. Jack's Point Clubhouse Company. The Hole in One Cafe Company. Vudu Cafe Company. The Boatshed Company. Yonder Company. Left Bank Cafe at Sofitel Hotel. The Left Bank Cafe is inspired by the cafe lifestyle of Paris. The elegant interior seats 70, with furnished shipped from Paris to create an authentic Parisian cafe exper The Bathhouse. Situated as close as you can get to Lake Wakatipu without getting your feet wet, The Bathhouse offers fine dining in a stunning location Jack's Point Clubhouse.

Modern, light and spacious restaurant in the spectacular Jack's Point setting with an outdoor seating area overlooking Lake Tewa and glorious views of the golf course The Hole in One Cafe. The Hole in One Cafe enjoys a tranquil setting in the grounds of Millbrook, the of the world's top golf resorts Vudu Cafe. The Boatshed.

Hold your next event in one of Wellington's most iconic buildings - the timeless Boatshed along the waterfront Join the Cruise Milford small coach tour for an amazing journey to Milford Sound. Our extended day trip to Milford Sound from Te Anau ensures that you see all the best bits that Fiordland has on offer. We include extra walks along the way and also your nature cruise on world-famous Milford Sound.

Departing Te Anau at 7. Our knowledgeable local guides will astound you with jewels of information about the National Park and the people who lived there. Along the Milford Road we will take you to all the best photo stops and a few special places that only locals know about! With at least 15 stops along the journey you will need plenty of space on your camera. The engineering feat of the Homer Tunnel will amaze as you travel underneath the mountain.

The operation of blasting through the rock to make the tunnel is truly staggering. On arrival at Milford Sound your guide will provide you with our delicious picnic lunches and take you to the wharf ready to board the boutique Cruise Milford vessel. The skipper and crew will give you a warm welcome and will be your personal guide throughout the cruise as they mingle amongst the guests. Your local driver-guide will meet you after the cruise to continue your journey in the Fiordland National Park.

The only tour to visit the Hollyford Valley we will take you to a spectacular cascading waterfall followed by our famous picnic in the park for morning or afternoon tea. If the amazing Fiordland rain makes an appearance, we will take you to the historical Gunns Camp where the log fire will be offering a warm welcome. This is the only remaining camp that was used for the building of the road to Milford Sound.

Because most people plan their trip to Milford Sound to coordinate with cruise times, traffic along the road is often heavy. To avoid this traffic it is best to leave either very early in the morning around 6am or later in the day. Many visitors choose to stay the night in the pretty little town of Te Anau , rather than attempting to drive to Milford Sound and back in one jam-packed day. There are several high-quality accommodation options in Te Anau, as well as cafes, restaurants and bars.

Activities in Te Anau include scuba diving, cycling, fishing and jet boating. Drive to Milford Sound.