How to travel from Christchurch to Milford Sound, New Zealand

The distance between Christchurch and Milford Sound is around 554km (344 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 8h 35m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Christchurch to Milford Sound by bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out Milford SoundChristchurch if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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bus
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plane
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Bus and Plane

Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport.

  • Duration8h 35m
  • Flight time35min
  • Typical cost
    NZ$500($305)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Milford Sound.

  • Duration13h 35m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$155($95)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Milford Sound (Water).

  • Duration8h 50m
  • Distance757km (471 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Christchurch and Milford Sound

There are several options for getting from Christchurch to Milford Sound by bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$155 ($95) and will take around 13h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 8h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$500 ($305).

The distance between Christchurch and Milford Sound is around 554km (344 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 397km (247 miles)

It takes around 13h 35m to get from Christchurch and Milford Sound by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Christchurch to Milford Sound is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 8h 35m and will set you back approx NZ$500 ($305).

The cheapest way to travel between Christchurch and Milford Sound, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$155 ($95) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Christchurch and Milford Sound. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 8h 35m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Christchurch and Milford Sound. It typically takes around 13h 35m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Christchurch to Milford Sound. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Frankton Bus Interchange. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 13h 35m.

InterCity and awesomeNZ run regular bus services between Christchurch and Milford Sound. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 13h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Christchurch to Milford Sound. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 8h 35m.

The closest major airport to Milford Sound is Queenstown Airport (ZQN) (ZQN) which is approximately 75km (47 miles) from Milford Sound. Wanaka Airport (WKA) (WKA) and Invercargill Airport (IVC) (IVC) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Christchurch and Milford Sound. The distance is around 757km (471 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Christchurch to Milford Sound is to take the bus which takes, on average, 13h 35m and will usually cost around NZ$155 ($95).

How do I get from Christchurch to Milford Sound

Compare travel optionsbetween Christchurch and Milford Sound

Transport options from Christchurch to Milford Sound
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus and Plane
8h 35m
NZ$500($305)
4 times a week554km (344 miles)
Bus
13h 35m
NZ$155($95)
4 times a week762km (474 miles)
Drive
8h 50m
NZ$170($105)
on demand757km (471 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Christchurch and Milford Sound

Bus companies

Airlines

Airports near Milford Sound

The following major airports near Milford Sound offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.

ZQN
Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
International Airport
Distance
75km (47 miles) from Milford Sound
WKA
Wanaka Airport (WKA)
Domestic Airport
Distance
104km (65 miles) from Milford Sound
IVC
Invercargill Airport (IVC)
Domestic Airport
Distance
196km (122 miles) from Milford Sound