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.
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 Sound → Christchurch if you're planning a return trip.
Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport.
Multiple operators
Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Milford Sound.
Multiple bus operators
Drive to Milford Sound (Water).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Plane | 8h 35m | NZ$500($305) | 4 times a week | 554km (344 miles) |
Bus | 13h 35m | NZ$155($95) | 4 times a week | 762km (474 miles) |
Drive | 8h 50m | NZ$170($105) | on demand | 757km (471 miles) |
awesomeNZ
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
The following major airports near Milford Sound offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.