Milford Track transportation is available out of:

• Te Anau (more convenient)
• Queenstown (less convenient)

You need get to one or the other of these glorious hiking towns. Maps.

Road distances and approximate times:

• Te Anau to Te Anau Downs - (27km) 30 minutes
• Milford Sound to Te Anau - (120km) 2 hours
• Milford Sound to Divide - (35km) 30 minutes
• Queenstown to Te Anau - (197 km) 2 hours
• Invercargill to Te Anau - 1 hour 45mins
• Dunedin to Te Anau - 3 hours 30mins
• Christchurch to Te Anau - 8 hours

Most hikers get to Te Anau by personal vehicle or public transportation. Travel on the south island is easy (though you will want to frequently stop for photographs).

There are a number of options — and they change year to year. Easiest for you is to contact Real Journeys <website><e-mail> and inquire. They will package all your Milford Track transportation quickly & easily. We have been very happy with their service.

Most hikers take a Milford Sound cruise — surprisingly few opt for the kayak tour. If you are interested in kayaking, be sure to ask specifically.

If you want to shop & compare Milford travel options yourself — rather than let Real Journeys do it for you — here are some site to browse:

• Kiwi Discovery
• TrackNet Fiordland
• InfoTrack (Queenstown)

Transport to Milford Sound

If you have big bucks flight seeing the Milford Sound is a wonderful life experience.

But most hikers exit Milford Sound to Te Anau via (120km of gorgeous alpine scenery) the Homer Tunnel. This is an amazing road trip & another highlight of the Milford Track. Keep your camera at the ready.

Water Transportation to Glade Trailhead

Most hikers access the Milford Track by water: almost all take the usual boat from Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf. But there are (more expensive) options:

• Sinbad Cruises (traditional wooden sailing ship, kayak, bus)
• Fiordland Wilderness Experiences (kayak Lake Te Anau)

Water Transport Milford Sound

Coming off the Milford, you need water transport from Sandfly Point into town. Almost every hiker (guided & independent) takes the same boat leaving Sandfly in the mid-afternoon.

There is another option, if you want to be different than the mob:

Rosco's Milford Track Transport <rosco@kayakmilford.co.nz> offers kayak, sail or motor boat at about the same cost, we believe.

We have not used Rosco's for exiting the Track, but we loved their Milford Sound kayak tour running every day of the year regardless of weather. Consider staying over in Milford Town overnight booking a trip with Rosco's for the next day. <kayak photos>

If you cannot decide between

1. the scenic cruise of Milford Sound
2. kayaking Milford Sound

... we would recommend you do both! They are much different, & excellent.

Many hikers book a Milford Sound cruise in advance — though it is not usually necessary. You can book on the spot once you arrive in Milford. Many are unaware that the kayak tour is an option.

Rosco's take the bulk of the sea kayak crowd but there is at least one other operator, Fiordland Wilderness Experiences.