How to travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound, New Zealand

The distance between Queenstown and Milford Sound is around 82km (51 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 54min.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Queenstown 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 SoundQueenstown if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
bus
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plane
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Bus and Plane

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

  • Duration54min
  • Flight time35min
  • Typical cost
    NZ$435($265)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Milford Sound.

  • Duration5h 55m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$90($55)
Operated by

awesomeNZ

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Milford Sound (Water).

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Distance288km (179 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Queenstown and Milford Sound

There are several options for getting from Queenstown to Milford Sound by bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$90 ($55) and will take around 5h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus and then fly and arrive in approximately 54min, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$435 ($265).

The distance between Queenstown and Milford Sound is around 82km (51 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 70km (44 miles)

It takes around 5h 55m to get from Queenstown and Milford Sound by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Queenstown to Milford Sound is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 54min and will set you back approx NZ$435 ($265).

The cheapest way to travel between Queenstown and Milford Sound, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$90 ($55) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Queenstown and Milford Sound. We recommend that you take the bus to Airport then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 54min.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Queenstown and Milford Sound. It typically takes around 5h 55m and departs 4 times a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Queenstown and Milford Sound with no changeovers required. The bus runs 4 times a week and takes 5h 55m.

awesomeNZ run regular bus services between Queenstown and Milford Sound. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 5h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Queenstown to Milford Sound. We recommend that you take the bus to Airport then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 54min.

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

Yes it is possible to drive from Queenstown and Milford Sound. The distance is around 288km (179 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Queenstown to Milford Sound is to take the bus which takes, on average, 5h 55m and will usually cost around NZ$90 ($55).

How do I get from Queenstown to Milford Sound

Compare travel optionsbetween Queenstown and Milford Sound

Transport options from Queenstown to Milford Sound
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus and Plane
54min
NZ$435($265)
every 20 mins82km (51 miles)
Bus
5h 55m
NZ$90($55)
4 times a week291km (181 miles)
Drive
3h 25m
NZ$64($39)
on demand288km (179 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Queenstown 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