The distance between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound is around 379km (235 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 5h 15m.
We've found 3 different ways to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound by bus 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 → Aoraki Mount Cook National Park if you're planning a return trip.
Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport.
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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 Milford Sound.
Multiple bus operators
There are several options for getting from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound by bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$145 ($90) and will take around 13h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$480 ($295).
The distance between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound is around 379km (235 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 214km (133 miles)
It takes around 13h 40m to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound by bus.
The quickest way to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 5h 15m and will set you back approx NZ$480 ($295).
The cheapest way to travel between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$145 ($90) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 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 5h 15m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound. It typically takes around 13h 40m and departs 3 times a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Fox Glacier and Frankton Bus Interchange. These services run 3 times a week and will take a minimum of 13h 40m.
GreatSights and awesomeNZ run regular bus services between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound. Buses run 3 times a week and take around 13h 40m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 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 5h 15m.
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.
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Milford Sound. instead which will take 13h 40m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound is to take the bus which takes, on average, 13h 40m and will usually cost around NZ$145 ($90).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Plane + 1 similar | 5h 15m | NZ$480($295) | 4 times a week | 379km (235 miles) |
Bus to Frankton Bus Interchange, Fly | 8h 40m | NZ$495($300) | 3 times a week | 464km (289 miles) |
Bus | 13h 40m | NZ$145($90) | 3 times a week | 672km (418 miles) |
GreatSights
awesomeNZ
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
The following major airports near Milford Sound offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.