Distance: About 290 km one way, or about 600 km return. Time: 4–4.5 hours each way without stops, and more like 5 hours with breaks.
The route: Leave Queenstown south on SH6 along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, past the Devil's Staircase lookout, to Kingston at the lake's southern tip. Continue south through farmland to Five Rivers, then turn west on SH94 through Mossburn to Te Anau. From Te Anau, the Milford Road heads north into Fiordland National Park.
Stops before Te Anau:
- Devil's Staircase lookout: Views down Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables.
- Kingston: A small lakeside town at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu.
- Garston: A tiny town famous for its honey shop.
- Te Anau: The last town before Milford Sound. Fill up here, because there's no fuel or shops beyond it.
Driving it yourself: Doing the return trip in one day means 9 or more hours at the wheel on winding roads. Consider a night in Te Anau, a guided day trip, or flying one way.














