Climbing Mitre Peak is strictly for experienced mountaineers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit and appreciate this spectacular sight. In fact, the best views of Mitre Peak may actually be from a distance, if you take in the scale and beauty of the fiordland from the water or the air. Mitre Peak is a Milford Sound highlight, so it’s included on virtually all Milford Sound cruises, paddling trips, and sightseeing flights.
Weather in Milford Sound can change dramatically throughout the day, so pack layered clothing, including a waterproof jacket.
Frequent rain is the secret behind Fiordland National Park’s lush plants and trees, but a wet forecast is no reason to cancel a trip; rain creates gorgeous waterfalls on the cliffs that line Milford Sound.
Since dining options in Milford Sound are limited, it’s worth bringing food unless your tour provides a meal.
Milford Sound is reached via the spectacular, winding Highway 94, a drive that’s almost as beautiful as the fiord itself. From Te Anau, it’s a 74-mile (119-kilometer) trip, while the drive from Queenstown is 178 miles (287 kilometers). To spend less time driving and get aerial views of the most remote fiordlands, sightseeing flights to Milford Sound are a spectacular alternative, with the option to fly round-trip or combine a one-way flight with an overland return.
The most popular time to visit Milford Sound is from November through March, when Fiordland National Park gets relatively warm, wet weather. Visiting in the chilly New Zealand winter months of June, July, and August means smaller crowds, however, and the chance to see penguins and seals at their most active.
Because the sun sets behind Mitre Peak, the best time to photograph the mountain is in the morning. Some of the most dramatic images, however, are created right at dusk; try to snap the final rays of the sun as it slips past the skyline.
