Milford Road

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Possibly dubbed as one of the world's most beautiful drives, Milford Road (SH 94, sometimes Te Anau–Milford Hwy) is the sole road linking New Zealand's most popular fiord, Milford Sound, with the rest of the highway network at Te Anau.

Although most travellers drive end-to-end from Te Anau to Milford Sound, there's plenty along the way between the two as much of the road is in Fiordland National Park. Do be wary, though, some of them can get very busy during peak holiday season, especially when there are tour buses around.

For the purposes of this article, this is a guide to travelling independently on the highway – if you are travelling on a tour bus, your itinerary will be chosen for you (which depends on operator).

Understand

External links

• Official brochure
• Fiordland National Park website (DOC)

Prepare

The drive is remote, but you won't need a whole lot for this journey unless you are veering onto one of the long-distance hiking trails such as the Routeburn Track (which is not in the scope of this itinerary); the one thing that cannot be emphasised enough is to fill up your fuel tank at Te Anau. Fuel is at a premium at Milford Sound so you're going to want to have enough fuel to get you there and back.

The weather can get very cold, especially during the winter, so make sure you bring a good thick jacket even in the summer. Closed footwear is also highly advisable.

There are no shops along the way – bring some snacks along with you, but ensure you leave no trace (keep the rubbish in the car).

You do not need a special car for this drive. It is fully sealed; a tiny hatchback will suffice.

Get in

Milford Road starts at Te Anau. Specifics on getting to the start of the highway can be found at Te Anau § Get in. Ensure you check weather condtions beforehand.

Drive

Homer Tunnel

• 1 Lake Mistletoe
• 2 Eglinton Valley – the only valley in Fiordland National Park fully accessible by road.
• East Eglinton Track – a 2-hour return track from the start of Eglinton Valley to the East Eglinton River Valley and back.
• 3 Mirror Lakes – if Reflection Lake (Lake Matheson) in Westland Tai Poutini National Park was not enough, this lake on a clear day is a literal mirror. Access is via a 5-minute loop walk.
• 1 Deer Flat – you pass the 45°S line here – as you cross this line, it means that you will be closer to the equator than the South Pole.
• 4 Knobs Flat – a powerful waterfall in an area that has heavily been impacted by avalanches. If you're up for a bathroom break, this is your last chance to use flush toilets before Milford Sound.
• 5 Cascade Creek – marks the start of the Lake Gunn Nature Walk, a nice easy stroll through red beech forest. It should take about 45 minutes return.
• 6 Lake Gunn Viewpoint – a small and simple lookout of Lake Gunn.
• 7 Hollyford Valley Lookout and 8 Pop's View Lookout – too neighbouring lookouts each with endless lookouts of the towering mountains along the extensive valleys.
• 9 Christie Falls Lookout – a very blue cascade waterfall and one of the very few that manage to get so close to the side of the road. There is a footpath connecting the carpark and the waterfall, but it does require you to cross the road – do this with extreme care as it is often slippery.
• 10 Monkey Creek – not famed for the creek but rather the wildlife-spotting opportunities: especially with keas and blue ducks.
• 11 Alpine View – this is not found on most maps, including Fiordland's website, but there is a small lookout between Monkey Creek and Gertrude Valley towards the left (westbound) with near-perfect views of the valleys and mountains with the road perfectly blending in.
• 12 Gertrude Valley – serene views of long valleys. Perhaps the Kiwi equivalent of Yosemite?
• 1 Homer Tunnel – perhaps the highlight for many, as this 1.2-km road tunnel descends down towards Milford Sound. Unfortunately, the tunnel is only one lane and thus acts as a bottleneck. The traffic lights are timed to allow 10 minutes for each way, but with traffic you should allow for at least 20 minutes to cross the tunnel.
• 13 The Chasm – a series of powerful waterfalls that quite literally fall into a chasm. They're not large by any means, but the sheer velocity of the water through the falls will leave you in bewilderment.
• 1 Milford Sound / Piopiotahi – the final destination where you'll truly witness the magnificence of the fiord. The highway ends here in a massive cul-de-sac; refer to the Milford Sound article for details.

Go next

w:State Highway 94 (New Zealand)