How to travel from Wellington to Milford Sound, New Zealand
The distance between Wellington and Milford Sound is around 723km (449 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 2h 20m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Wellington to Milford Sound by plane, bus, ferry 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 → Wellington if you're planning a return trip.
Fly
Fly from Wellington (WLG),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport.
- Duration2h 20m
- Flight time2hrs
- Typical costNZ$660($405)
Multiple plane operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Ferry and Bus
Take a ferry to Picton then take the bus to Christchurch then Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Milford Sound.
- Duration23h 10m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical costNZ$275($170)
Multiple operators
Ferry and Car
Take a ferry to Picton then drive to Milford Sound (Water).
- Duration16h 25m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$305($185)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Wellington and Milford Sound
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Wellington to Milford Sound by plane, bus, ferry and car. The cheapest option is to take a ferry and then take the bus which costs around NZ$275 ($170) and will take around 23h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 2h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$660 ($405).
The distance between Wellington and Milford Sound is around 723km (449 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 672km (418 miles)
It takes around 2h 20m to get from Wellington and Milford Sound by plane.
The quickest way to get from Wellington to Milford Sound is to fly which takes around 2h 20m and will set you back approx NZ$660 ($405).
The cheapest way to travel between Wellington and Milford Sound is to take a ferry and then take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$275 ($170) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Wellington and Milford Sound. We recommend that you fly from Wellington (WLG),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 2h 20m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Wellington and Milford Sound. We recommend that you fly from Wellington (WLG),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 2h 20m.
Flights and Airlines
Yes you can fly from Wellington and Milford Sound. Flights depart from Wellington (WLG) and arrive at Queenstown (ZQN). The flight takes around 1h 25m.
There is no direct flight from Wellington to Milford Sound. There is however a flight that goes via . This services will take at least 2h 20m (not including layover time).
The flight from Wellington to Milford Sound typically takes around 1h 25m. Flights depart from Wellington (WLG) and and arrive into Queenstown (ZQN).
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 Wellington to Milford Sound. We recommend that you fly from Wellington (WLG),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 2h 20m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Wellington to Milford Sound is to fly which takes, on average, 2h 20m and will usually cost around NZ$660 ($405).
Compare travel optionsbetween Wellington and Milford Sound
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly + 2 similar | 2h 20m | NZ$660($405) | every 20 mins | 723km (449 miles) |
| Plane and Bus | 4h 20m | NZ$725($445) | 3 times a week | 781km (485 miles) |
| Fly to Dunedin (DUD), bus | 6hrs | NZ$700($430) | once daily | 969km (602 miles) |
Ferry and Bus | 23h 10m | NZ$275($170) | 4 times a week | 1,200km (746 miles) |
Ferry and Car | 16h 25m | NZ$305($185) | 4 times a day | 1,188km (738 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Wellington and Milford Sound
Airlines
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
Sounds Air
Bus companies
GreatSights
awesomeNZ
Ferry operators
Airports near Milford Sound
The following major airports near Milford Sound offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.
Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
- Distance
- 75km (47 miles) from Milford Sound
Wanaka Airport (WKA)
- Distance
- 104km (65 miles) from Milford Sound
Invercargill Airport (IVC)
- Distance
- 196km (122 miles) from Milford Sound