The distance between Milford Sound and Wanaka is around 137km (85 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 1h 35m.
We've found 4 different ways to get from Milford Sound to Wanaka 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 Wanaka → Milford Sound if you're planning a return trip.
Fly from Milford Sound Airport to Queenstown Airport then take the bus to Medical Centre Wanaka.
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1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Lakefront Carpark.
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There are several options for getting from Milford Sound to Wanaka by bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$100 ($62) and will take around 6hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 1h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$440 ($270).
The distance between Milford Sound and Wanaka is around 137km (85 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 96km (60 miles)
It takes around 6hrs to get from Milford Sound and Wanaka by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 15m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Milford Sound to Wanaka is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 1h 35m and will set you back approx NZ$440 ($270).
The cheapest way to travel between Milford Sound and Wanaka, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$100 ($62) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Milford Sound and Wanaka. We recommend that you fly from Milford Sound Airport to Queenstown Airport then take the bus to Medical Centre Wanaka. instead which will take 1h 35m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Milford Sound and Wanaka. It typically takes around 6hrs and departs 4 times a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Milford Sound to Wanaka. 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 6hrs.
awesomeNZ, Ritchies Auckland and GreatSights run regular bus services between Milford Sound and Wanaka. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 6hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Milford Sound to Wanaka. We recommend that you fly from Milford Sound Airport to Queenstown Airport then take the bus to Medical Centre Wanaka. instead which will take 1h 35m.
The closest major airport to Wanaka is Wanaka Airport (WKA) (WKA) which is approximately 9km (6 miles) from Wanaka. Queenstown Airport (ZQN) (ZQN) and Dunedin International Airport (DUD) (DUD) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Milford Sound and Wanaka. The distance is around 343km (213 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 15m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Milford Sound to Wanaka is to take the bus which takes, on average, 6hrs and will usually cost around NZ$100 ($62).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus + 1 similar | 1h 35m | NZ$440($270) | twice daily | 137km (85 miles) |
Fly to Queenstown Airport, Bus | 2h 30m | NZ$455($275) | once daily | 184km (114 miles) |
Bus | 6hrs | NZ$100($62) | 4 times a week | 391km (243 miles) |
Drive | 4h 15m | NZ$77($47) | on demand | 343km (213 miles) |
awesomeNZ
Ritchies Auckland
GreatSights
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
The following major airports near Wanaka offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.