Milford Sound Foreshore Walk

The Milford Sounds Foreshore Walk is perfect while you’re waiting for your cruise. Or maybe you have come off the boat trip and aren’t quite ready to leave the beauty of the Sound quite yet. This walk takes you through a small Beech forest. But most stunning are the views of Mitre Peak and the surrounding mountains on the water as you walk along the foreshore of Milford Sound.

While the walk is short, it is easy to lose track of time. After all, it is not for nothing that RudyYard Kipling deemed Milford Sound the 8th Wonder of the World. Loop your way around the shore to take in the Sound from as many angles as possible.

Often missed as most people remain on the main Foreshore walk path, there is a short walk that branches off from the car park where you will find a viewpoint. This viewpoint is slightly elevated and so offers views of Milford Sound from a (comparative) vantage point from the rest of the walk.

Milford Sound is known as one of the rainiest places in the world, but it is also notoriously known for its sandflies. So don’t forget your insect repellent!

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.

Parking in Milford Sound for the Foreshore Walk

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. You’ll walk on part of the Foreshore Walk from the car park to the visitor terminal where all the boats leave from.

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.