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.
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 Sound → Queenstown if you're planning a return trip.
Take the bus to Airport then fly from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Airport.
Multiple operators
Take the bus to Milford Sound.
awesomeNZ
Drive to Milford Sound (Water).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Plane | 54min | NZ$435($265) | every 20 mins | 82km (51 miles) |
Bus | 5h 55m | NZ$90($55) | 4 times a week | 291km (181 miles) |
Drive | 3h 25m | NZ$64($39) | on demand | 288km (179 miles) |
awesomeNZ
Otago Regional Council
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
The following major airports near Milford Sound offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.