The distance between Motueka and Milford Sound is around 1,101km (684 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 13h 10m.
We've found 2 different ways to get from Motueka to Milford Sound by bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Milford Sound → Motueka if you're planning a return trip.
Take the bus to Nelson i-SITE, Blenheim, Christchurch then Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Milford Sound.
Multiple bus operators
Drive to Milford Sound (Water).
There are several options for getting from Motueka to Milford Sound by bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$275 ($165) and will take around 21h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 13h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$245 ($150).
The distance between Motueka and Milford Sound is around 1,101km (684 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 573km (356 miles)
It takes around 21h 45m to get from Motueka and Milford Sound by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 13h 10m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Motueka to Milford Sound is to drive which takes around 13h 10m and will set you back approx NZ$245 ($150).
The cheapest way to travel between Motueka and Milford Sound, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$275 ($165) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Motueka and Milford Sound. We recommend that you drive to Milford Sound (Water). instead which will take 13h 10m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Motueka and Milford Sound. It typically takes around 21h 45m and departs twice a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Motueka to Milford Sound. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Nelson i-SITE, Blenheim, Christchurch and Frankton Bus Interchange. These services run twice a week and will take a minimum of 21h 45m.
Golden Bay Coachlines, InterCity and awesomeNZ run regular bus services between Motueka and Milford Sound. Buses run twice a week and take around 21h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Motueka to Milford Sound. We recommend that you take the bus to Nelson i-SITE, Blenheim, Christchurch then Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Milford Sound. instead which will take 21h 45m.
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 Motueka and Milford Sound. The distance is around 1,101km (684 miles) by road and it will take around 13h 10m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Motueka to Milford Sound is to take the bus which takes, on average, 21h 45m and will usually cost around NZ$275 ($165).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bus | 21h 45m | NZ$275($165) | twice a week | 1,238km (769 miles) |
Drive | 13h 10m | NZ$245($150) | on demand | 1,101km (684 miles) |
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
awesomeNZ
The following major airports near Milford Sound offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.