Milford Sound
Milford Sound is one of the most sought after places to visit amongst travellers to New Zealand, and it’s a ‘bucket list’ experience for people all over the world. The Sound is in the heart of Fiordland, New Zealand’s biggest national park, at 1.25 million hectares (12,500km2). The national park is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its cultural, historical, and scientific significance, and is protected by international treaties. Here’s what you need to know about a trip to Milford Sound with New Zealand Walking Tours.
UNESCO World Heritage Status
Milford Sound is in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand’s largest National Park. It’s full of stunning natural beauty, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is named after Milford Haven in Wales, the hometown of the first European ship’s captain to visit the area, Captain John Grono.
It’s a Fiord not a Sound
Milford Sound is incorrectly called a Sound. A sound is a river valley which has been flooded by the ocean, whilst a fiord is a glacial valley – and like much of the geological features of New Zealand, Milford was formed by glaciers! Maori refer to Milford Sound as ‘Piopiotahi’.
Amazing, Exclusive Accommodation
We’ll stay in the Mountain View Chalets at Milford Sound Lodge. The lodge is the only accommodation provider in Milford Sound, unless you’re walking the whole Milford Track. We’re extremely lucky to be able to stay in these beautifully appointed lodges in the heart of Fiordland.
Invaluable Local Knowledge
Our local knowledge means we know when is best for each activity in Milford Sound, an area which gets up to 2000 visitors a day. We’ve structured our days to avoid the crowds wherever possible. We’ll walk on the Milford Track early in the morning, before the hiking groups walking the other way reach us, for example.
More information about New Zealand
Best time to visit
The best time to visit New Zealand will often depend on what your priorities are from a visit. Here we’re talking about the seasons and what you can expect.
Walking and Hiking
This page is full of information about the Great Walks we’ll experience on our trips, as well as the other beautiful day walks we’ve chosen to include.
Photography
New Zealand is a popular destination for photographers. Here we’re talking about where and when you’ll find some of the most popular photo subjects.
About New Zealand
If you’re not sure where to start in planning your trip to New Zealand, head to this page – it’s the best place to find all sorts of information about New Zealand.
Wine Regions
New Zealand’s reputation as a producer of some of the world’s best wine is always growing. Here we’ll tell you about the regions you can visit on trips with us.
Local Fare
New Zealand produces a lot of its own delicious fresh produce. On this page we’re talking about Kiwi delicacies, and the the best place, and time of year, to try them in.
Our Trips
Why travel with us?
Unbeatable local knowledge
Our team have spent their lives immersed in the places we go. Our trip itineraries are created based on our favourite childhood holiday spots, secret hideaways we’ve kept under our hats, the places where we proposed to our spouses, and areas we’ll keep going back to in our free time, for the rest of our lives. It’s made our New Zealand journeys authentic, timeless and beautifully crafted.
First-class New Zealand Guides
A good guide points out features, provides information and context, and connects the dots on a trip. A first class guide is a host who pours their heart and soul into the trip, takes it personally, and will move heaven and earth make it all come together seamlessly. That doesn’t happen easily – we dedicate ourselves to selecting, training and supporting the absolute best travel leaders in New Zealand.
Superb Food & Wine
New Zealand is firmly on the map when it comes to fine wine and unique, refreshing dining experiences. We showcase the culinary uniqueness and local wines of the regions we visit. To us, they’re an equally important part of the New Zealand experience, complementing our beautiful landscapes perfectly!
Unique experiences in stunning locations
It’s as much about the ‘where’ as it is the ‘what’ when it comes to a beautiful New Zealand experience. We not only walk through stunning landscapes to unforgettable places, but we make sure the journey is dotted with captivating stories, great food & wine and a few surprises that will have you brimming with stories of your own when you return back home.
Adventure at a leisurely pace
What’s the rush? We’ll slip on our best pair of walking shoes and journey into the most beautiful places in New Zealand. And to soak it all in properly, it makes sense to take our time and not necessarily set ourselves challenges that are a race against daylight hours. That means having the choice to walk, explore and escape at a pace that suits you. Slow down, soak it in, breath in the fresh air, properly feel the ground beneath your feet.
20+ years experience
Good things take time, including learning to run first class New Zealand journeys. Time to learn and understand how to be amazing hosts, seek out those hidden places that aren’t so easily seen on a map, and bring together every ingredient to create the perfect trip. It’s a journey we’ve taken for the last 20 years, and a path we’ll stay on in pursuit of providing immaculate trips that you’ll never forget.
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