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Where to go, who to meet, and what to experience in Milford Sound

Date: 24 February 2023

Here are the top 3 things to look out for when you experience a journey to Milford Sound.

The most memorable 3 things to look out for in Milford Sound

Piopiotahi Milford Sound. Whether you've been there, done it, or never been and want to experience something new, surprising memorable moments line the road and waters of this top scenic New Zealand spot, and are waiting to be discovered. 

Portrait of Driver

Photo: Krista May

Meet Fiordland's friendliest driver

A journey to Milford Sound wouldn't be complete without a coach driver, enriching your day trip to the next level. Hudson, one of our Fiordland drivers, has been driving the road to Milford Sound for over a decade but knows the area from when it only had a gravel road for access.

Every landmark Hudson drives past triggers memories and stories, which he shares on the journey with his passengers, and every journey he takes adds to the collection of memories. It’s a job driving down memory lane every day.

However, it’s not always what you’re looking out the window at, or the stories your driver tells you that stay with you. On a bus with Hudson, it’s like listening to the TV theme from Cheers, “where everybody knows your name”. You might be taking a drive through the most uninhabited parts of New Zealand along wide, vast country roads, but you can be sure that the first person you come by will know Hudson. Whether that’s a wave, a quick yarn at a pit stop, or a shoutout, driving through these parts builds undeniable community, Hudson tells us “you can’t fake authenticity”.

Having a driver to bring you to Milford Sound enriches the road like nothing else.

Go to Milford, return for the journey

The drive to Milford Sound is something travellers don’t typically account for. Anticipating the fiord’s masses of mountains, hundreds of waterfalls, and thriving wildlife, guests can forget you see just as much on the journey there.

One of our drivers, Hudson, tells us how he frequently has passengers who drive themselves to the ‘8th wonder of the world’ but choose to get the coach there only a couple of days later to repeat the trip. Wanting to sit back, relax and enjoy the stories accompanying the changing landscapes, it’s a journey that never gets old.

Experience it all

“It’s like a day in Disneyland. It’s a sensory overload, and by the end of the day, you’re knackered.” Says Hudson, about the day trip to Milford Sound.

You can expect a lot of things when you suddenly immerse yourself in Milford Sound. You can expect to crane your neck up at Mitre Peak, you can expect to be looking at every part of the fiord for marine life, expect waterfalls, expect amazing family photos, and expect rain, or sunshine, but above all... expect to want to be in bed by 7:30pm that night.
Milford Sound Day cruises run all year round. Find out more here