- Where: On the Arthur River, near the end of the Milford Track, Fiordland National Park
- How to get there: Water taxi from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point (about 10 minutes), then walk
- Distance: About 11 km return from Sandfly Point
- Time on the track: About 3.5–4 hours return at a relaxed pace
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with a well-formed and mostly flat track
- Season for day walks: The summer season, typically from late October to the end of April
- Hut booking needed: No
- Highlights: The swing bridge view, the swimming hole, Lake Ada, and beech forest beside the Arthur River
Giant Gate Falls: Milford Sound’s picture-perfect cascade
Giant Gate Falls is a broad, powerful waterfall on the Arthur River, near the northern end of the Milford Track. It's the turnaround point for the most popular way to walk part of the Great Walk in a day. You take a short water taxi from Deepwater Basin in Milford Sound to Sandfly Point, then walk about 5.5 km through beech forest and along Lake Ada to the falls and back. You don't need a hut booking. Pair it with a Milford Sound cruise, and you'll see Fiordland from the track and the water in a single day.
How to see Giant Gate Falls
- Milford Track guided walk: Join a day hike from Sandfly Point to Giant Gate Falls, with expert guides sharing stories about Fiordland’s forests and Māori history.
- Pair your walk with a boutique cruise. Enjoy a 1h 45m trip on a 75-passenger vessel, closer to the cliffs, Stirling Falls spray, and seal colonies. Ideal for photographers, couples, and anyone avoiding big crowds.
Book a small-boat Milford Sound boutique cruise
- Combo options: Choose land-only, sea-only, or a seamless land-and-sea combo for a full day of Fiordland’s best.
Giant Gate Falls at a glance
What you'll see on the walk to Giant Gate Falls
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Deepwater Basin and Sandfly Point
The water taxi crosses a quiet corner of Milford Sound to Sandfly Point. This is where multi-day walkers finish the Milford Track, and there's a shelter and a mileage marker. As the name warns, bring insect repellent.
Arthur River and beech forest
The track heads inland under moss-draped beech forest beside the clear Arthur River. It's wide and well formed, because this final stretch was built for tourists in the 1890s.
Lake Ada
The track follows the shore of Lake Ada, where sections were cut into the rock by hand. A prison labour gang built the last few kilometres of the Milford Track between 1890 and 1892.
Giant Gate Falls
The turnaround point. The falls pour through a gap in the rock into a deep pool, best seen from the swing bridge that crosses the river in front of them. On warm days, walkers swim in the pool. Expect the water to be icy.
Wildlife
Look and listen for fantails, tomtits, bellbirds, tūī and weka along the track. In wet weather, waterfalls stream off the valley walls above you.
How to plan your Giant Gate Falls day
Getting there
Tours meet at Deepwater Basin (for the water taxi) or at the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal (if you're cruising first). Check your booking for the exact meeting point. Arrive 20 minutes early.
Timing
Allow about 4 hours on the track, plus the water taxi each way and about 2 hours for the cruise. The whole experience takes most of a day at Milford Sound. From Te Anau, including coach travel, it's about 11 hours.
Self-guided or guided?
Self-guided walks let you set your own pace and stop wherever you like. Guided walks, usually with a small group of around 12, add stories about the forest, birds and the track's history, and your guide manages the timings.
Season
Commercial day walks and water taxis operate in the summer season. Outside it, the track is unmanaged and has additional hazards, so it's not suitable for casual day walkers.
What to bring
- A waterproof jacket and warm layer. Fiordland can rain at any time, even in summer
- Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. The track can be muddy
- Insect repellent, because sandflies are relentless at Sandfly Point
- Lunch or snacks, plus a refillable water bottle
- Swimwear and a small towel, if you're brave enough for the pool
- A camera. The swing bridge is the classic shot
- Sunscreen and a hat for clear days
Protect the rivers
Didymo, an invasive algae, is present in Milford Sound but not in the Arthur River. If you've been in the fiord, Check, Clean and Dry your shoes and gear, and don't swim in the river straight after swimming in the sound.
How Giant Gate Falls compares to other Milford Sound waterfalls
| Waterfall | How to see it | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|
Giant Gate Falls | On foot, via the Milford Track day walk | Swing-bridge view and a swimming hole |
Stirling Falls (151 m) | From any Milford Sound cruise | Boats nose into the spray |
Lady Bowen Falls (162 m) | From the wharf and every cruise | The tallest waterfall in the fiord |
Sutherland Falls (580 m) | Milford Track multi-day walk or scenic flight | One of New Zealand's tallest waterfalls |
Frequently asked questions about Giant Gate Falls
Yes. Access to Giant Gate Falls requires a water taxi from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point, which is best booked in advance during the Great Walks season. Guided walks often include this service.
No, the track section to Giant Gate Falls is generally closed outside of the Great Walks season (late October to late April) due to safety and weather conditions. For year-round options, try a Milford Sound cruise where you can still see major waterfalls like Stirling and Bowen.
The walk from Sandfly Point is around 5–6.5 km one way (≈1.5 hours), making it a half-day adventure when combined with return and time at the falls. See our Milford Track guide for more on this world-famous trail.
Take a water taxi from Deepwater Basin in Milford Sound to Sandfly Point, about 10 minutes, then walk about 5.5 km along the Milford Track to the falls.
Yes, many visitors take a dip in the pool at the base of the falls, especially in summer. The water is icy year-round, so bring a towel and a change of clothes. For warmer options, some overnight cruises offer hot tubs onboard.
Yes. The walk is relatively easy and suitable for families, though younger kids may find the full distance tiring. Insect repellent is essential due to sandflies. Families may also prefer short, guided Milford Sound day tours with built-in transfers.
Unlike Bowen Falls (tallest permanent) and Stirling Falls (most iconic, seen on cruises), Giant Gate is the most intimate and photogenic up close. It’s also unique because you can cross a swing bridge in front of it. Explore more in our Milford Sound waterfalls guide.
