THE MILFORD ROAD EXPERIENCE

Travel Tips for Drivers

Introduction convenience other travellers wishing to stop at the same site. Always
be aware of pedestrians.
The Milford Road experience is a stunning scenic journey from Te
The road, although sealed and maintained to state highway stand-
Anau to Milford Sound. It takes you through part of the Te
ards is, nevertheless, a challenging and, in places, narrow and wind-
Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, one
ing drive. The scenery can be distracting - take your time, be aware of
of the great wilderness areas of the southern hemisphere.
other road users and if you wish to enjoy the views pull over with
Despite its remote location, many people travel along the Milford Road
plenty of warning.
each year, particularly in the busy summer season (October to April).
Drivers will be sharing the road with cars, coaches, campervans and
minibuses. There is less traffic in winter months (May to September) The Homer Tunnel
but road conditions require more caution. The Homer Tunnel was completed in 1953 and opened up Milford
The following information will help you to prepare for your journey along Sound to road access. The tunnel, at 945 metres above sea level, is
the Milford Road and enable you to get the most out of your trip. 1.2km long and has a steep gradient down towards Milford.
There is no internal lighting in the tunnel, so remember to take off
Planning Your Trip your sunglasses and turn your lights on before you drive in. The
tunnel has two narrow lanes with a passing bay at either end for larger
Times and Distances
vehicles. Don’t forget to turn your lights off when you exit the
The journey from Te Anau to Milford and return (along the same route)
tunnel.
is 240kms (144 miles). An eight hour day is needed if you plan to take
in the many scenic sights and short walks along the way, and do a
boat cruise on Milford Sound. From Queenstown the return trip is
even longer - 600kms (360 miles) taking 12 to 14 hours. So, for your
comfort and enjoyment, we suggest that you plan your return trip
from Te Anau.

Avoiding Congestion
Over 400,000 people visit Milford Sound each year, most during the
summer season. Many visitors plan their arrival in Milford to coincide
with boat cruise departure times. This can result in congestion at some
of the scenic stops along the Milford Road during peak times.
The majority of coaches depart from Te Anau between 9am and 10am,
and arrive at Mirror Lakes around 10.30am, Knobs Flat at 11am, The
Chasm at 12.30pm and Milford Sound for the 1pm cruise. By avoid-
ing this pulse of traffic, your Milford Road experience will be more
relaxed, with less disturbance from the heavy coach traffic and high
numbers of visitors. If you have limited time, a non-stop direct drive
from Te Anau to Milford will take at least 2 hours.

To avoid traffic congestion during summer (October to April), Winter Conditions

either leave Te Anau early in the morning (before 8am) or
later in the morning (11am onwards).
Before You Leave
There are no shops or fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford
Sound. A limited selection of food, drink and fuel (petrol and diesel)
is available at Milford Sound and at Gunns Camp (petrol only), which
requires a detour down the Hollyford Valley Road. Refreshments are
also available on the boat cruises. Public toilets are only available at
Te Anau, Knob’s Flat and Milford. Remember, dogs are not allowed
in the National Park.
If you’re planning a relaxing day, taking time to stop and experience all
that the Milford Road journey has to offer, make sure you have a full
tank of fuel before leaving Te Anau, and take food and beverages
with you. It is also recommended that you take insect repellent.
Ensure you have a full tank of fuel before leaving Te Anau.
Safety
On the Road
Milford Road is a scenic highway and everyone will travel at different
speeds. If you are holding up other travellers please be courte-
ous, pull over at a safe site and allow queued traffic to pass.
When parking at a scenic spot along the road, be sure to make the
best use of the sometimes limited space available, so as not to in-
During winter (May to September), driving conditions can be extremely
challenging. Freezing temperatures will cause the road to ice over in
places. At this time of year the traffic numbers are low, so it’s advis-
able to leave later in the morning (9am onwards). Drive with extreme
care, especially in areas where the road is in the shade.
The road can often be covered in snow and ice. You must carry snow
chains for your vehicle during winter. (These are available from Te
Anau garages or Te Anau Hire Services). Make sure you know how to
fit them before starting your journey. The section of road between the
Hollyford Road junction and The Chasm is a restricted NO STOP-
PING ZONE as this is an avalanche area. For more detail on the
avalanche hazard and winter driving, please pick up a copy of Transit
New Zealand’s Awareness of the Avalanche Hazard brochure.
For up to date information on road conditions visit the website
www.milfordroad.co.nz
Roadside information signs at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford also
advise current road conditions. If you have started your journey and
find the road conditions are too difficult, you can leave your car or
campervan at Knobs Flat and catch a coach to Milford Sound. You
can contact the coach companies using the card-phone and
freephone numbers located at Knobs Flat.
During winter you must carry snow chains for your car, bus or
campervan. If you are not confident about driving in winter
conditions take a coach, relax and enjoy the winter scenery.
Telephones
Milford Sound - walk to
Telephone services are available at Knobs Flat (card-phone), from M
Bowen Falls (30 min.
Humboldt Falls -
Pi ilfo return), fiord cruises.
the Homer Tunnel (satellite phone for emergency use only) and at op rd
io S
ta ou
(30 min. return)
hi n
Milford Sound (card-phone). There is no cell phone coverage be- d
ck

H o l lyf o
/
ra
tween Te Anau Downs and Milford. rnT
bu
ute

rd
Ro
Accommodation

Va
lley
Gunns Camp

s
The Chasm - waterfalls

min
and Museum
Homer Tunnel - view point
Te Anau has a population of 3,000. It has a wide range of accommoda- walk (20 min. return)
and nature walk (15 min)

30

Road
tion providers with hotels, motels, backpackers, home stays and
Pops View - view point
motorparks, as well as many restaurants and cafes. over Hollyford Valley
Accommodation is also available at Te Anau Downs, in the lower
Key Summit - 2 hrs
Hollyford Valley, at Milford and on overnight boat cruises on Milford return from The Divide
Sound. There are several basic self-registration campsites along the 30 m The Divide Ca
ins pl
Milford Road. es
Monkey Creek - view of Tr
a ck
Campervan drivers please note; there are dumping stations at Te Anau, Upper Hollyford Valley

Manapouri, Knob’s Flat and Milford. There are NO dumping stations Falls Creek
Lake
at any of the camp sites on the Milford Road. Please do not dis- Gunn
charge any waste along the road or into the National Park.

G
ns

re
en
mi

st
Mi

on
lfo

25
rd

e
Tra Lake Gunn nature

Tr
c

ac
k walk (45 min.)

k
Knob’s Flat

Mirror Lakes

McKay Creek - view point

s
over Eglinton Valley

min
30

Te Anau
Further Information Downs
For further information or to obtain a copy of The Milford Road World
Heritage Highway Guide brochure from the Department of Conserva-
tion contact:
A n a u

Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre,

Lakefront Drive, PO Box 29, Te Anau.
Phone (03) 249 7924, E-mail fiordlandvc@doc.govt.nz;
T e

Department of Conservation Queenstown Visitor Centre

37 Shotover Street, P.O. Box 811, Queenstown.
30 mins
L a k e

Phone (03) 442 7935, Email queenstownvc@doc.govt.nz

Also visit Destination Fiordland at www.fiordland.org.nz

and
Transit New Zealand at www.milfordroad.co.nz

Ke
ple k
r c
Tra
TE ANAU

To Queenstown

Sponsored by: Travelling times are approximate and do not allow for stopping.