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Milford Road: SH94, Fiordland, Southland
Photo: ogwen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Southland, New Zealand Southland and Fiordland

Milford Road: SH94

SH 94, Milford Road, Milford Sound Highway · Te Anau → Milford Sound

Sweeping72 mi2 hr6,100 ft climbHigh point ≈ 4,600 ftOne way
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The drive

State Highway 94, the Milford Road, runs 115 km (72 mi) from Te Anau to Milford Sound through Fiordland National Park. It leaves Te Anau along the lake and beech forest, follows the Eglinton Valley before climbing to Lake Gunn and The Divide.

Past The Divide the road reaches the Homer Tunnel, 1,270 m long, which drops steeply toward Milford and is about 3.81 m tall. The Chasm car park lies on the descent into the Cleddau valley. The road ends at Milford Sound. Curves are mostly gentle with two twisty stretches, and the drive takes about 2 hr without stops.

DOC advises about eight hours for the round trip from Te Anau with stops and a cruise.

Along the way

  1. Te Anau
  2. Mirror Lakes
  3. The Chasm
  4. Milford Sound
Elevation
6,100 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 4,600 ft
Te AnauMilford Sound
Curves
Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches
Te AnauMilford Sound
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Fill up in Te Anau: there are no shops or fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound.
  • In winter, avalanche control and ice close the road often; the stretch from the Hollyford Road junction to The Chasm is a No Stopping Zone, and chains can be required and rented in Te Anau.
  • In summer, traffic lights at the Homer Tunnel can delay you by up to 20 minutes.
  • Mobile coverage is limited outside Te Anau; public toilets are only at Te Anau, Knobs Flat and Milford.
  • Kea are endangered; do not feed them.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NZTA: SH94 Milford Road status.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Milford Road SH94 take from Te Anau to Milford Sound?

Te Anau to Milford Sound on SH94 is 115 km (72 mi) and takes about 2 hr without stops. DOC suggests about eight hours for the return trip with stops.

Is there petrol on the Milford Road?

No. There are no fuel stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound, so fill up in Te Anau first.

Is the Milford Road open in winter?

Usually, but avalanche control and ice close SH94 often. Check NZTA's Milford Road status and carry chains in winter.

How long is the Homer Tunnel?

The Homer Tunnel on SH94 is 1,270 m long, and traffic lights can delay summer travellers by up to 20 minutes.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Milford Road: SH94, from Te Anau to Milford Sound