How to travel from Whangārei to Milford Sound, New Zealand
The distance between Whangārei and Milford Sound is around 1,251km (777 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 3h 10m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Whangārei to Milford Sound by plane, bus, car and ferry. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Milford Sound → Whangārei if you're planning a return trip.
Fly
Fly from Whangarei (WRE),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport.
- Duration3h 10m
- Flight time2h 55m
- Typical costNZ$790($480)
Multiple plane operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Car and Ferry
Drive to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then drive to Milford Sound (Water).
- Duration1 day 1h
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$480($295)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Whangārei and Milford Sound
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Whangārei to Milford Sound by plane, bus, car and ferry. The cheapest option is to drive and then take a ferry which costs around NZ$480 ($295) and will take around 1 day 1h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 3h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$790 ($480).
The distance between Whangārei and Milford Sound is around 1,251km (777 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,132km (704 miles)
It takes around 3h 10m to get from Whangārei and Milford Sound by plane.
The quickest way to get from Whangārei to Milford Sound is to fly which takes around 3h 10m and will set you back approx NZ$790 ($480).
The cheapest way to travel between Whangārei and Milford Sound is to drive and then take a ferry which will typically cost around NZ$480 ($295) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Whangārei and Milford Sound. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 3h 10m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Whangārei and Milford Sound. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 3h 10m.
Flights and Airlines
Yes you can fly from Whangārei and Milford Sound. Flights depart from Whangarei (WRE) and arrive at Queenstown (ZQN) - via Auckland (AKL). The flight takes around 2h 20m.
There is no direct flight from Whangārei to Milford Sound. There is however a flight that goes via Auckland (AKL). This services will take at least 3h 10m (not including layover time).
The flight from Whangārei to Milford Sound typically takes around 2h 20m. Flights depart from Whangarei (WRE) 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 Whangārei to Milford Sound. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE),Queenstown Airport to Queenstown (ZQN) and then to Milford Sound Airport. instead which will take 3h 10m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Whangārei to Milford Sound is to fly which takes, on average, 3h 10m and will usually cost around NZ$790 ($480).
Compare travel optionsbetween Whangārei and Milford Sound
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly + 3 similar | 3h 10m | NZ$790($480) | every 20 mins | 1,251km (777 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 4h 55m | NZ$945($580) | twice daily | 1,408km (875 miles) |
| Bus to Auckland - Central, plane | 5h 40m | NZ$745($455) | 5 times a week | 1,284km (798 miles) |
| Plane and Bus | 7hrs | NZ$730($445) | once daily | 1,544km (960 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 1 day 1h | NZ$480($295) | 4 times a day | 1,986km (1,234 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Whangārei and Milford Sound
Airlines
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
Bus companies
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