How to travel from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound, New Zealand

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.

3 routes found

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 SoundAoraki Mount Cook National Park if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Bus and Plane

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

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Flight time35min
  • Typical cost
    NZ$480($295)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
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Bus

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

  • Duration13h 40m
  • Departs3 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$145($90)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound

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.

Train travel

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.

Bus travel

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.

Flights and Airlines

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.

Drive yourself

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).

How do I get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound

Compare travel optionsbetween Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Milford Sound

Transport options from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Milford Sound
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus and Plane + 1 similar
5h 15m
NZ$480($295)
4 times a week379km (235 miles)
Bus to Frankton Bus Interchange, Fly8h 40m
NZ$495($300)
3 times a week464km (289 miles)
Bus
13h 40m
NZ$145($90)
3 times a week672km (418 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 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