Natural Wonder · Te Anau, New Zealand
Milford Sound
Milford Sound (Māori: Piopiotahi, officially gazetted as Milford Sound / Piopiotahi) is a fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.
Photo: Maros M r a z (Maros) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Te Anau, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural Wonder |
| Coordinates | 44.6481° S, 167.9056° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Milford Sound is known for
Milford Sound (Māori: Piopiotahi, officially gazetted as Milford Sound / Piopiotahi) is a fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.
About Milford Sound
Milford Sound (Māori: Piopiotahi, officially gazetted as Milford Sound / Piopiotahi) is a fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey (the 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards by TripAdvisor) and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling called it the eighth Wonder of the World.
History
European explorers initially overlooked Milford Sound because its narrow entry did not appear to lead into such large interior bays. Sailing ship captains such as James Cook, who bypassed Milford Sound on his journeys for just this reason, also feared venturing too close to the steep mountainsides, afraid that wind conditions would prevent escape. The fiord was known to local Māori who had acquired a large amount of local marine knowledge, including tidal patterns and fish feeding patterns over generations before European arrival.
Best time to visit
Year-round; summer (December to February) is warmest, winter brings snow-capped peaks.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Te Anau |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) |
| Distance from the airport | 48.3 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Queenstown Airport (ZQN) · Queenstown, New Zealand · 48.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in New Zealand
More natural wonders
Frequently asked questions
What is Milford Sound?
Milford Sound (Māori: Piopiotahi, officially gazetted as Milford Sound / Piopiotahi) is a fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.
Where is Milford Sound located?
Milford Sound is in Te Anau, New Zealand. Its coordinates are 44.6481° S, 167.9056° E.
How do I get to Milford Sound?
The nearest town is Te Anau, and the nearest airport is Queenstown International Airport (ZQN), about 48.3 miles away (straight line).
When is the best time to visit Milford Sound?
Year-round; summer (December to February) is warmest, winter brings snow-capped peaks.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milford_Sound — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q187197 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
- https://www.milford-sound.co.nz/ — Official tourism / managing-body page — best time to visit.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.