New Zealand's Milford Sound - possibly the Seventh Wonder of the World?

Famously and fondly called as the “Seventh Wonder of the World”, Milford Sound in the South Island of New Zealand is a place of raw and pristine natural beauty.

I visited Milford Sound in August 2023 as part of my first-time visit to New Zealand (Queenstown, Christchurch, and Mount Cook) and, by the end of my day tour of Milford Sound, I couldn’t agree more that it should deservedly be the “Seventh Wonder of the World”.

Getting there:

Given that it was my maiden visit to Milford Sound, I chose the tourist route – by joining a group tour which picked me up near my hotel in Queenstown at 7am in the morning. Along the four hour drive (more like 4.5 hours), the tour bus brought us through the outskirts of Queenstown and into Fiordlands National Park.

They say the journey is just as exciting as the destination itself – and I wasn’t disappointed when the tour bus entered Fiordlands National Park. I began to see the tall mountains (with fallen snow!) and began appreciating the raw beauty of New Zealand’s Southern Island.

Some tips:

• Always pack sufficient food/snacks for the long drive to Milford Sound from Queenstown!

• If you’re joining a tour, don’t miss out on the attraction stops along the way! The tour which I joined made some stops at scenic points such as Mirror Lakes, which are really beautiful too!

The Cruise:

We reached the harbour of Milford Sound (the place where cruises depart) at around 1.30pm which was bustling with busloads of tourists also jostling for the same boats. We followed the tour group to embark one of the cruise boats (no need to separately purchase tickets as the tour operator had got the tickets for us).

The cruise boat we took was double decked with indoor and outdoor seats. Especially if you’re going with a tour, the boats tend to get really packed with tourists, so just take some caution to look after your belongings and your little ones (if any).

The cruise took about 2 hours and, wow, the 2 hours were simply magical. It was a crisp winter day with clear blue skies and we could do nothing else but marvel at the massive fjords towering above everything else. Along the way we saw some large waterfalls and even some penguins! The boat provides free audio guides in the form of announcements and the boat guides will point out various points of attraction along Milford Sound.

Tips:

• There are snacks/beverages for purchase on the boat, however, given that there are usually many tourists/passengers (and only two hours!), I had packed my sandwich lunch instead. This allowed me to enjoy the scenery without waiting in line for food!

• If you’re heading on the cruise during winter, don’t underestimate the weather! While it may be a clear, crisp day, the winds can be really strong (my hat nearly got blown off!) and you may feel the chill.

• Even though it’s a 2 hour cruise, I’d encourage you to move about between different parts of the boat to maximise your viewing experiences. Most people would prefer to congregate at the front of the boat – but the sides and the rear also offer amazing viewpoints!

• Some tour operators/websites may claim that you are guaranteed to see dolphins and penguins. In my opinion, and from my experience, it is definitely NOT guaranteed. As I mentioned above, I did see some penguins, but they were nestled (and almost camouflaged) within some rocks and I could only see them from afar (from the boat). So, don’t get disappointed or frustrated if you don’t see any “exotic” animals! Rather, just enjoy the untouched nature – because this is probably one of the last few great wild places in the world.

• Book your tour + cruise here https://www.viator.com/tours/Queenstown/Premium-Milford-Sound-Coach-and-Cruise-tour-from-Queenstown-Te-Anau/d407-331433P2?pid=P00290727&mcid=42383&medium=link

One of the many spectacular waterfalls along Milford Sound. It was a clear, bluebird day which made the experience so surreal.

The many snow-capped fjords we passed by which made me go "Wow, I'm just a small part in this big world!"

Final thoughts:

Milford Sound is a must for a first-time trip to New Zealand, especially if you’re a nature lover! It exemplifies New Zealand as a country – natural, stunning, and raw beauty. Visiting Milford Sound and the surrounding Fjordlands National Park had indeed got me going “Wow, I’m just a small part in this big world!”.

P.S.: Look out for my Bussin post on New Zealand!