Fiordland National Park is one of the most beautiful areas of New Zealand’s South Island. This stunning area is known for its snow-capped mountains, incredible fiords and dense rainforests. In my opinion, Fiordland National Park is an absolute must-visit for anyone heading to the South Island.
Two of the most accessible destinations in Fiordland are Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. You’ve no doubt heard of Milford Sound, one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist destinations. However, Doubtful Sound is growing in popularity, and I’m seeing more and more people question which one to visit.
If you’re struggling to decide whether to visit Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound, then this guide is for you. In the below post, I’ve shared my honest thoughts on both areas, including the pros and cons. (Spoiler: do both if you can)
Ultimately, whichever you choose will no doubt be a highlight of your visit to New Zealand. These beautiful fiords are absolutely breathtaking.
If you do opt to visit Doubtful Sound, I’ve written all about the Doubtful Sound cruise.
In a hurry? Quick summary
If you don’t have time to read the full article, here’s a quick summary.
Milford Sound is the more popular of the two which means more people, more boats and more crowds. However, it also means it’s a lot more accessible. The only way to visit Doubtful Sound is to join an organised day tour, which puts a lot of people off.
It’s possible to do an independent road trip to Milford Sound, meaning you can make the most of incredible stops along the way such as Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel. It’s definitely the best way to visit Milford. While a day trip to Doubtful Sound includes crossing the wonderful Wilmot Pass, you’ll be on a coach for this.
However, Doubtful Sound is a much more off the beaten path destination. There’s fewer boats, fewer people but just as much incredible scenery and wildlife.
Doubtful Sound is also the bigger of the two, and the boat cruise tends to be more diverse and longer, with more to see.
So, which to visit? If you have the time and money to see both, I highly recommend doing so. Milford Sound is an absolute unmissable spot, but Doubtful Sound also has so much to offer.
However, if you only have time to do the one, Milford Sound makes the most sense. It’s the most accessible, and with all the extra stops along the way, I think you can make more from a day trip there. For those looking to avoid the crowds, Doubtful Sound is the better option.
Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound
Getting to Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound
Milford Sound
There are multiple options for getting to Milford Sound. Most visitors opt to join a day tour from either Queenstown or Te Anau. Find out more about choosing a tour to Milford Sound.
Milford Sound is accessible by road meaning you can also drive yourself. The road to Milford Sound is beautiful and if you can, I’d highly recommend driving there. This gives you the flexibility to do the journey in your own time, and explore all the area has to offer.
If you are driving yourself, check out my guide on driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound, including all the epic spots along the way.
Doubtful Sound
Getting to Doubtful Sound is a little more challenging. The furthest you can drive yourself is to the small town of Manapouri. From there, you will need to join a tour which takes you on a boat across Lake Manapouri and then a coach to Doubtful Sound.
Find out more about how to get to Doubtful Sound.
Winner: Milford Sound
Milford Sound is more accessible, whether you’re choosing to join a tour or drive yourself. The drive from Te Anau takes about 2 hours (without stops) and is relatively straightforward.
Getting to Doubtful Sound on the other hand is much more of an adventure. Even if you drive yourself to Manapouri, you’ll still need to get a boat and a coach before starting your cruise in Doubtful Sound. It’s a fantastic experience, but it’s a very long day and won’t be for everyone.
The scenery
Milford Sound
Milford Sound’s iconic scenery is hard to beat. It’s nicknamed the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ and for good reason. Seeing the famous Mitre Peak surrounded by waterfalls and snow-capped mountains is breathtaking.
Milford Sound is stunning on a scale that’s hard to imagine without seeing it with your own eyes. The fiord itself is quite narrow and you’re surrounded by dramatic mountains towering over you.
It’s worth noting the drive to Milford Sound is also incredible and full of epic photo spots too.
Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is one of the largest fiords in New Zealand and much larger than Milford Sound. While the mountains might not be as dramatic as Milford’s, they are no less stunning or impressive. With incredible sheer cliffs, native rainforest and endless waterfalls, a trip to Doubtful Sound really shows off the true beauty of Fiordland.
I visited Doubtful Sound in heavy rain and genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen so many waterfalls in my life.
Winner: Doubtful Sound
While the road to Milford Sound is hard to beat, Doubtful Sound covers a huge area and is on a much larger scale.
I don’t enjoy comparing natural wonders, especially when they are both so beautiful. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound both show off New Zealand’s unique and wondrous beauty in different ways.
For dramatic mountains with towering peaks, a trip to Milford Sound is a must. On the other hand, Doubtful Sound shows off the true scale of Fiordland, with more to see and explore.
Note: Rainy days offer the best waterfalls, so don’t be put off by some wet weather.
Crowds
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most famous natural landmarks. It attracts around one million visitors per year (this might sound a lot, but that’s over half of all foreign visitors to New Zealand each year). There are also multiple tour operators in Milford Sound. At any one time, there will be several boats out in the fiord.
While I don’t think the crowds take away from Milford’s beauty, it can still be a little overwhelming. The boats are often packed full, and you’ll be following other boats.
Doubtful Sound
Due to its remote location, fewer people visit Doubtful Sound compared to Milford Sound. There are also fewer operators there – in fact, there is currently only one tour company which offer a day cruise to Doubtful Sound. This means the experience is very peaceful and feels less commercialised.
The Maori name for Doubtful Sound is ‘Patea’, which literally means ‘the place of silence’. This should give an idea as to how peaceful the fiord is.
Winner: Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is a much more peaceful and a quieter experience than Milford Sound. If you want to get away from the crowds and still see Fiordland’s beauty, then a trip to Doubtful Sound is a must.
The cruise itself
Milford Sound
There are several tour companies to choose from for your Milford Sound cruise. Despite there being multiple options, the tours generally follow the same route.
Assuming you’re doing a day cruise, the boat trip lasts around 90 minutes to two hours. You’ll sail down the fiord to the Tasman sea and then come back up to the harbour. If you’re doing the Southern Discoveries extended cruise.
Doubtful Sound
The daytime Doubtful Sound cruise lasts for 3 hours (a lot longer than that of Milford Sound). The cruise takes you down to the sea and on the way back, you’ll get to explore Crooked Arm and Deep Cove, both home to some incredible scenery and waterfalls.
Winner: Doubtful Sound
The Doubtful Sound cruise gives you longer on the fiord. You’ll explore Cooked Arm and it certainly feels like there is more to see on this cruise.
However, both cruises are similar in that you’ll go down to the sea, get close to waterfalls and have the chance to see some spectacular scenery.
I find the Milford Sound cruises can feel quite quick, especially if you’ve travelled a long way to get there.
Activities
Milford Sound
Milford Sound has a lot more options when it comes to activities. For a start, the road to Milford is full of beautiful spots and hikes. If you’re driving yourself, you’ll have the option to pull over and take it all in.
Once you arrive in Milford Sound, there are a couple of short walks you can do to get a true feel for the area. Another popular activity in Milford Sound is kayaking. Rosco’s Kayaks offer kayaking tours of Milford Sound. This gets you closer to the waterfalls, wildlife and allows you to see the area from a new perspective.
You also have the option to see Milford Sound from below at the underwater observatory. This takes you down under the waterline. I was a little skeptical about this, but really enjoyed it. To visit the underwater observatory at Milford Sound, check out this Southern Discoveries tour.
For those who are brave, there is also opportunities to dive in Milford Sound.
Doubtful Sound
Activities in Doubtful Sound are much more limited (unless you’re doing an overnight cruise). As you must get an organised coach, you won’t have the option to explore anywhere on your own accord. If it’s a nice day, your coach driver will stop at a couple of viewpoints, but these will be quick stops.
As soon as you arrive at the harbour, you’ll be ushered onto the boat and not have the option to walk around.
Similar to Milford Sound, there is the option of taking a scenic flight to see Fiordland from above. You’ll need to take the flight from either Te Anau or Queenstown.
Winner: Milford Sound
Milford Sound has a lot more to offer than Doubtful Sound when it comes to activities. Firstly, you can explore the area independently which means you can make the most of some epic hiking opportunities. There is also the option to go kayaking, take a scenic flight, or even go diving.
Doubtful Sound is much more limited. You’ll be part of a day tour meaning you have no option to go off and explore, or do any additional activities.
If you are keen to spend more time on Doubtful Sound and do some additional activities, consider an overnight cruise. There are also overnight trips available for Milford Sound.
Wildlife
Both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound offer excellent opportunities at spotting wildlife, including marine life. The fiords are home to animals such as Bottlenose Dolphins, New Zealand Fur Seals and even penguins.
With fewer boats and resident dolphins in the fiord, some argue Doubtful Sound offers the best chance at seeing the wildlife.
However, I didn’t see anything on my cruise in Doubtful Sound. I visited Milford Sound several times (for work), and on some cruises I saw dolphins, penguins and seals… and on others I saw nothing.
Ultimately, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed and you will need luck on your side whether you’re in Milford or Doubtful Sound.
Winner: it’s a game of luck!
Milford Sound: Pros and Cons
Still struggling to decide whether to visit Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound? Here’s a quick summary for both.
Pros:
- Very accessible
- Can drive yourself
- Plenty of viewpoints and hikes on the drive to Milford Sound
- Lots of activities available including hiking and kayaking
- Is great at any time of the year
Cons:
- Can be crowded
- There are lots of boats out on the fiord
- Can feel commercialised
Doubtful Sound: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Much more remote
- Very peaceful
- Fewer crowds and boats
- More to see and explore
- Spend longer on the cruise
- Can be visited all year
Cons:
- Can’t drive yourself
- Long journey to get there
- Limited activities and viewpoints
My personal view
I spent five months working in New Zealand and each month, this involved a trip to Milford Sound. Despite visiting seven times, Milford Sound never got old. Each visit brought something new. With this in mind, I almost ruled out a visit to Doubtful Sound. Surely it would just be the same? Wow, I was wrong…
Doubtful Sound is magnificent and arguably just as stunning as Milford Sound (if not more so…). I am so glad I went to Doubtful Sound. Personally, I believe a Doubtful Sound cruise offers a lot more. You spend longer on the boat and there is much more to see than Milford Sound. On the other hand, the journey to Milford Sound is beautiful and a trip in its own right.
I really can’t decide which I prefer as such, but I’m very glad I did both.
Summary: Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound?
Do you want my honest answer to this? If so… the answer is: do both! If you can afford it and have the time, visiting both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound is well worth-it. As I’ve mentioned above, both are similar, but so different at the same time.
Milford Sound is an unmissable spot in New Zealand. You’ll get to experience the iconic Mitre Peak and the dramatic Fiordland landscape. Doubtful Sound shows off the true scale of the area and offers a much more peaceful experience. I visited Milford Sound several times during my time in New Zealand, so I was skeptical about needing to visit Doubtful Sound, but I am so glad I did. It was such a unique experience and one of my highlights from New Zealand.
What if you can only do one? This is a tough one. However, if you can only do one, I’d probably say go to Milford Sound. I’m not sure any visit to New Zealand would be complete without seeing the spectacular Milford Sound. The road to Milford Sound is also full of beautiful stops including some spectacular hikes.
Whatever you decide to do, both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound offer unmatched beauty and will be a trip to remember.
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