Milford Sound Lookout Walk is a great return walk of 400 m on an easy track. It’ll take you around 20 minutes allowing for time to take photos.
The Milford Sound Lookout walk is worth a short detour during a day at Milford Sound. It’s easily overlooked for the more popular walk along the foreshore, but this walk allows a vantage point over the Sound instead. The walk itself is not particularly impressive and does not offer much in terms of flora or fauna – but the view is worth it. Although if they don’t start trimming some trees you might not see so much of the great view anymore.
You will find the start of the Milford Sound Lookout walk in the car parking area behind the café at Milford Sound. Walk past the two brown buildings to the south of the car park and towards Donald Sutherland’s grave. There you will see a sign and the gravel pathway. Follow the path around the hedge and follow the track.
You will find steps on the track, not too many, but it’s all uphill until you reach the viewpoint. The view out to Mitre Peak is nice. Much like everywhere in Milford Sound, remember to have insect repellent. The sandflies are never far off.
Must do while in Milford Sound
We drove out to Milford Sound for the day from our hotel in Te Anau. This gave us plenty of time to do a few free walks then take a 2 hour boat trip in the Milford Sounds. It really is spectacular and well worth it. If you’d rather someone else drive while you soak up the scenery (it’s a long drive of 155m) then take a bus tour which includes the cruise and a walk, which leave from Te Anau. You’ll need to read about how much it costs to park in Milford Sound before you decide whether to take your car or not.
As an alternative to paying for parking…
Take the option of leaving the car behind and traveling to Milford Sound from Queenstown or Te Anau by bus. This is way much better, the road out to Milford Sound is long and very beautiful. If you’re driving its hard to see all the sights. You’ll also get a running commentary from the driver or tour guide the whole way. Here are some fantastic options for including a boat trip with walking tracks in Milford Sound.
Quick Facts about this walk
- Location: Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand
- Time needed: 20 minute walk
- Distance: 400 m
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Bikes allowed: No
- Route: Return
- Elevation: 50 m
- Wet Feet: No
- Toilets: There are toilets at the Visitor Centre
- Dogs: No
- Mobile Coverage: There is no mobile coverage in Milford Sound
- Last Updated: May, 2020
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