The Three Best Stops to Milford Sound in 2026
- Alice Neilson - Fiordland Enthusiast & Writer
- Jan 26
- 6 min read
The road to Milford Sound is full of incredible scenery, but if you’re short on time or not sure where to start with planning your trip, it helps to have a few must-do stops in mind.
So here are the top three Milford Road stops we recommend to make the most of the journey to Milford Sound this summer.
Key Takeaways
Mirror Lakes offers an easy boardwalk stroll, active birdlife in summer, and beautiful reflections on still days.
Christie Falls is a permanent waterfall, providing powerful water flow year-round.
The Cleddau Valley Lookout sits just beyond the Homer Tunnel and provides wide views of the glacially carved valley.
All three stops are worth visiting in rain or shine.
Always use designated pull-over bays and carparks when stopping along the Milford Road.
Stop 1: Mirror Lakes
Mirror Lakes is a collection of small ponds set beneath the Earl Mountains, formed when a major flood in the early 1970s caused the Eglinton River to change course.
The flood cut off some bends in the river, leaving behind these calm oxbow lakes and creating the surrounding wetland that continues to feed them today.
Worth it in Rain or Shine
Mirror Lakes is best known for its still water and crisp reflections of mountains, sky and forest on clear days. When the conditions are right, the surface becomes a perfect mirror, creating one of the most photographed scenes on the Milford Road.
What many people don’t realise is that this stop is just as worth stopping for in the rain. Wet weather brings a quieter, more atmospheric experience.
You can take the forest walk beneath the trees with rain falling on the leaves and water, creating a peaceful soundscape that many visitors end up loving.
Birdlife is also more active during rain, as softer ground makes it easier for birds to forage. As you stroll along the boardwalk with your umbrella, you’re likely to hear more birdsong and see more movement through the wetland and forest than on clear days.
Summer Birdlife at Mirror Lakes
Summer brings great wildlife viewing at Mirror Lakes. Native scaup, small diving ducks, live on the ponds, and during summer their chicks can often be spotted practising their deep dives.
You'll also see young birds of other species amongst the trees. Most native birds breed and nest over spring, so summer is when parents bring their chicks out to explore the forest.
Common species in the area include South Island robins, fantails, tui, tomtits, rifleman, little pied cormorants, and kākā (forest specialists, not to be confused with the alpine kea).
As Toby, co-owner of Luxe Tours, shares, “It’s always special visiting in summer because we’ve watched generations of bird families grow up here. Some even return to the same tree they were raised in, and seeing them with their chicks year after year is something we’ve been lucky to experience.”
Coffee in the Forest
Between October and April, the Coffee Cat cart operates at Mirror Lakes. Grabbing a fresh hot coffee to take on your boardwalk stroll feels quite luxurious.
You're out in the forest, away from any shops, yet enjoying barista-quality coffee surrounded by native trees and birdsong.
Good to Know
Timing: Timing is key at this stop, so we recommend getting here between 9-10 am for the best experience. After 10am large tour buses start arriving, and it can get very crowded on the boardwalks in summer.
Distance: The boardwalk loop is 400 metres total, taking around 10 minutes to walk. You can take your time and enjoy the scenery at your own pace.
Location: This walk begins from the Milford Road, approximately 56 km north of Te Anau. Car parking and the walkway are well marked on the roadside.
Tip: There are multiple viewing platforms here. If one is busy, move to another platform for unobstructed views and photos.
Stop 2: Christie Falls
Christie Falls, also known as Falls Creek Falls, is located just over one kilometre west of Marian Corner, about 87 kilometres along the Milford Road from Te Anau.
The 15-metre waterfall plummets down beside the road, where Falls Creek meets the Hollyford River. A car park just beyond the bridge leads to a short walk to the footbridge, which offers the best view of the falls.
The Roadside Waterfall
Christie Falls flows strongly throughout the year, even after long dry periods. After rain, the volume increases dramatically, making it one of the most reliable and impressive waterfall stops on the Milford Road.
The falls are named after engineer and mountaineer John Christie, who explored large parts of Fiordland, leading the first traverse between Lake Hauroko and Dusky Sound in 1931, and later working on building the Homer Tunnel.
At the Footbridge
From the footbridge, you’re positioned right beside the falls, with steep mountains rising on either side of the valley. Standing there, it’s hard not to feel dwarfed by the scale of the landscape.
Rainy days intensify the experience, with the sound of water crashing down and countless temporary waterfalls spilling from the surrounding cliffs.
The contrast of colours here is also quite striking, as Luxe Tours Marketing Creator Demi puts it: “I love how blue the water is there. You have the contrast with the grey rocks, green forest, this waterfall thundering down, and then below the water is this vivid blue. It’s stunning”.
This is also a spot where kea are sometimes hanging out, and our tours occasionally see the first kea of the day here, as the curious birds investigate vehicles and visitors.
Good to Know
Timing: If you arrive to find the footbridge crowded, consider stopping here on your way back from Milford Sound instead. On our tours, we have the flexibility to make this adjustment if any stops get busy.
Tip: Don't skip this stop in the rain. Rainy weather is actually when the experience is most dramatic, with the main waterfall at full power, rain drumming down on your umbrella, and smaller waterfalls covering the surrounding mountains.
Winter safety warning: We don't recommend this stop in winter due to ice in the car park. This section of the Milford Road receives little to no sun in winter, so icy patches often don't thaw. The short walk from the car park becomes quite difficult on ice, and driving afterwards can be challenging as tyres may spin and skid.
Stop 3: Cleddau Valley Lookout
As you emerge from the darkness of the Homer Tunnel, heading toward Milford Sound, the Cleddau Valley opens up suddenly in front of you.
The contrast between the enclosed tunnel and the wide, open valley leaves many travellers awestruck. Just beyond the western side of the tunnel, the Cleddau Valley Lookout gives you a chance to pause and take it all in.
This is also a prime location for kea sightings. The curious alpine parrots often hop right up to people when they stop, providing excellent photo opportunities.
At the Lookout
You reach the lookout after emerging from the Homer Tunnel, driving around the first corner, and then the following corner has a bay where you can stop. Here, you're above the tree line, looking down on the forested valley floor.
As you stand at the lookout, you feel the enormity of your surroundings, particularly when you consider that where you're standing would have been covered by a glacier stretching all the way to the sea around 20,000 years ago.
Steep, glacially carved walls rise on either side of the valley, dropping down to a lush green floor below. It’s a view that’s hard to fully grasp until you’re there, looking down into it.
The "Hundred Falls" Area
The Cleddau Valley is often referred to as the “hundred falls” area. After rain, hundreds of waterfalls appear across the valley walls, pouring down from every crack and crevice in the mountains.
On clear days, the experience is different but just as impressive. You can see far down the valley, with the road winding its way toward Milford Sound, giving you a sense of what’s still to come.
Good to Know
Safety tip: Only stop at designated pull-over bays. These are well marked along the road.
These three stops capture some of the best experiences along the Milford Road in summer, from peaceful forest walks to powerful waterfalls and wide alpine views.
Together, they offer a sense of Fiordland’s scale and character before you reach Milford Sound.
Taking the time to pause along the road adds depth to the journey and makes the drive to Milford Sound just as memorable as the destination itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there toilets on the Milford Road?
The last flushing toilets on the Milford Road are at Knobs Flat in the Eglinton Valley, just after Mirror Lakes. After that, the next public toilets are at Milford Sound.
Is the road to Milford Sound dangerous?
The Milford Road is narrow and winding in places, which can feel challenging for international visitors, especially if you’re not used to driving on the left. In summer, increased traffic and distracted drivers can add to the difficulty.
Allowing plenty of extra time helps avoid rushing, and it’s important to only stop in designated pull-over bays rather than on the roadside. If you’re unsure about driving yourself, a guided tour is a good option, as local drivers know the road well and let you relax and enjoy the scenery.
How long does it take to drive the road to Milford Sound?
From Te Anau, the drive to Milford Sound can take around two hours without stops. However, we recommend allowing three to four hours so you can enjoy scenic stops, navigate traffic, and travel without feeling rushed, especially if you’re heading to a cruise.
