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Milford Sound's natural beauty first became accessible to explorers and tourists following the discovery of the McKinnon Pass in 1888. Following that discovery an early walking track evolved, becoming what is today known as the Milford Track. A saddle was also discovered in 1888 between the Hollyford and Cleddau Rivers, but it was not until the Homer Tunnel was built that road access to Milford Sound was possible in 1954.
Milford Sound is approximately 295km from Queenstown by road, and 121 km from Te Anau. The magnificent Homer Tunnel makes up 1.2km of this highway journey – it's an impressive feat of engineering. Work began on the tunnel in 1935 during the Great Depression, but was interrupted by World War II. Over 40,000 litres of water were pumped out of the tunnel every day, avalanches not only caused disruption, but killed workers already labouring under extreme conditions.
Highlights of the Milford Sound Highway
This road trip is one of the most scenic in New Zealand. En route, you will see a number of attractions including:
- Mirror Lakes – These beautiful tarns situated are famous for showing the reflections of mountains (calm weather only).
- Knobs Flat – A popular comfort stop.
- The Divide – This is the lowest east-west pass in the Southern Alps (531m) and marks the start of the Routeburn, Caples and Greenstone Tracks.
- Hollyford Valley Lookout - Offers spectacular views over the Hollyford Valley.
- The Homer Tunnel - 1.2km long engineering masterpiece.
- The Chasm - An impressive rock chasm formed by the Cleddau River.
Find out more about your Milford Sound highway tour.
"See the Milford Sound highway with the Milford Sound Select, scenic tour specialists."
Ten reasons to choose
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