Sutherland Falls
New Zealandmountain

Milford Road: Te Anau to Milford Sound

Fiordland at its most theatrical: mirror lakes, the Homer Tunnel, sheer walls

Distance
75 mi
121 km
Driving
1 hr 54 min
excl. stops
Suggested
2 days
balanced split
Stops
4
curated

Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 4 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.

Sutherland Falls · Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Day by day

Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.

What the drive is like

Most of it is one road: the SH94 carries 98% of the distance.

This is a mountain drive. It reaches about 1,379 m near Milford Sound and climbs around 2,386 m in total, so check the high roads are open before you set off.

Part of the drive follows the Milford Road (SH94).

  • SH9498%

How high it goes

~1,379 m near Milford SoundTe AnauMilford Sound · 120 km
Height above sea level along the driving route, measured at about 50 points. Total climb roughly 2,386 m.

Passes and famous roads

From the 500-plus roads drivers collect in the Plan Your Road Trips app.

Famous road · On the route

Milford Road (SH94)

Before you go

Best time to drive it

November to March

New Zealand's summer. The road is open all year but avalanche risk in winter (roughly May to November) can close it, and chains may be required.

Driving rules

Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.

Every stop on the Milford Road: Te Anau to Milford Sound

  1. Te Anau

    Start

  2. Mirror Lakes

    +44 km from the last stop

  3. Homer Tunnel

    +61 km from the last stop

  4. Milford Sound

    +15 km from the last stop

Worth a detour

Curated places within 25 km of the road.

Show 5 more

  • Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

    natural wonder

    Fiord in Fiordland National Park at the end of State Highway 94, with Mitre Peak rising from the water and a cruise terminal car park.

  • Mirror Lakes

    scenic viewpoint

    Small roadside lakes on the Milford Road that reflect the Earl Mountains, with a short boardwalk from a signed parking bay.

  • Glenorchy and the Dart Valley (Isengard and Lothlorien)

    film location

    The beech forest and river flats at the head of Lake Wakatipu provided Isengard, Lothlorien and Amon Hen.

  • Takaro Road, Fiordland (Fangorn Forest)

    film location

    The mossy beech forest along Takaro Road near Te Anau was Fangorn Forest and the Wizard's Vale approaches.

  • Milford Road (SH94)

    famous road

    The road to Milford Sound through the Homer Tunnel and the Eglinton Valley, one of the world's great cul-de-sacs.

Common questions about the Milford Road: Te Anau to Milford Sound

How long does the Milford Road: Te Anau to Milford Sound take?

The driving itself is about 1 hr 54 min across 75 miles (121 km). Most people spread it over 2 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.

How many miles is the Milford Road: Te Anau to Milford Sound?

75 miles, or 121 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.

When is the best time to drive the Milford Road: Te Anau to Milford Sound?

November to March. New Zealand's summer. The road is open all year but avalanche risk in winter (roughly May to November) can close it, and chains may be required.

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