FAQs

Milford Sound Lodge is a boutique property in a remote location and therefore last minute cancellations of rooms are difficult for us to sell.  We strongly advise guests to take out adequate travel insurance to protect themselves against unexpected changes to their travel plans.  

Cancellation and refund policy

• All cancellations – 90% refund (10% cancellation fee)

• Cancellations within 30 days of arrival – 30% refund (70% cancellation fee)

• Cancellations within 48 hours of arrival – No refund (100% cancellation fee)

  Changes to your booking

• 30 days prior to arrival – No charge, free to change.

• Within 30 days of arrival - Cancellation policy applies

You can make a booking through the Book Now page on our website. Full payment is required at the time of booking and is processed via our secure online payment system. The total amount will be clearly shown before you confirm your payment.

Please note: Depending on your card’s currency and country of issue, your provider may apply foreign exchange or other fees as per their terms. We accept Visa and Mastercard.

Changes to your booking

• 30 days prior to arrival – No charge, free to change

• Within 30 days of arrival - Cancellation policy applies

Give the gift of a stay at Milford Sound Lodge.  Gift vouchers for accommodation available here.

Give the gift of a meal at Pio Pio.  Gift vouchers for our restaurant available here.

Our Riverside and Mountain View Chalets sleep a maximum of 2 adults and 1 infant, the infant will sleep in a cot or the main bed with the adults (under 5 years old).

Our Chalet Suites sleep a maximum of 4 people, adults or children, in one Superking bed and 2 single beds, we can also accommodate a 5th child or infant in a cot or fold-out bed (under 14 years old).

To add the additional children to your booking please make a note in the special requests box of the child's age and need for a cot or not.

Cruises: Morning and late afternoon cruises usually have space available; however, the daytime boats fill up early. You can book your cruise anytime when you visit us at the front desk or in advance online. Please ask one of our team members and we are more than happy to assist you with any queries and bookings.

Kayaking: We suggest you book kayaking trips at least 2-3 weeks in advance, as spaces on these trips are limited. Booking is essential especially during the summer period.

Flights: If you want to see the Fiord from the air – by plane or helicopter – it is a good idea to book on the day itself. The weather in Milford Sound can be very changeable and this can affect visibility and flight schedules.

Why not arrange your time in Milford Sound the easy way? We are more than happy to book your activities now and encourage you to check our our packages.

Milford Sound Lodge offers complimentary parking for all overnight guests and restaurant visitors. In the Milford Sound township, both free and paid parking options are available for those joining local activities - note that parking near the cruise terminal is paid.

Free fibre internet over wifi is available at Milford Sound Lodge.  Please be aware that because of our remote location this connection depends on environmental factors. This means that sometimes you may not be able to run Zoom, upload files as fast as you normally would.

We’re lucky enough to be located deep within one of the country’s most beautiful national parks – limited access to internet offers a rare chance for guests to disconnect from their busy lives and embrace the wilderness experience that Milford Sound offers.

Breakfast, dinner, light snacks and excellent coffee are available onsite throughout the day at Pio Pio restaurant. Meals range from light bar snacks throughout the day to full dinner service featuring a New Zealand-inspired, locally-sourced menu. Dinner is available from 530pm – 830pm and lunch from 12pm to 2.30pm, along with a licensed bar. We recommend booking early to ensure a table.

Guests have access to a fully-equipped kitchen open 24 hours a day. Make sure you have purchased all of your grocery supplies before heading to Milford Sound as there are no grocery stores in the township. The closest supermarket is located in Te Anau.

No pets can access the Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound unless there is a specific reason and permit issued.  Please do not arrive at our Lodge with a pet as we will have to ask you to leave.  Restricting your pet to a vehicle is not permitted as it is still within the Fiordland National Park.

Check-in is after 3pm and check-out is at 11am, unless otherwise organised. You can purchase an early check in at 12pm and late check out of 1pm when you book your accommodation online.

Unfortunately we don't have capacity to offer parking onsite outside of these times. 

When you stay at Milford Sound Lodge, you have access to a cosy lounge, a guest kitchen and Pio Pio restaurant. We also offer coin-operated washing machines, dryers and wifi internet facilities.

PIO PIO RESTAURANT

With an incredible menu and great reviews, Milford Sound’s Pio Pio restaurant is a ‘must-do’ NZ dining experience. After a day exploring the World Heritage wonders of Milford Sound, step into our cosy restaurant for a fill of delicious New Zealand food, wine and craft beers.

A tempting evening menu includes all locally-sourced produce as well as favourites like Fiordland Wild Venison and Blue Cod. Pio Pio is fully-licensed and open seven days. Pio Pio is open each day for lunch, dinner and your perfect caffeine fix before heading out to explore Milford Sound. Stop by for a coffee or snack throughout the day.  Continental breakfast for our chalet guests are delivered daily.  

GUEST LOUNGE 

Relax, read and recharge the batteries before turning in for the night. Our guest lounge offers plenty of super comfy sofas for chilling out and swapping stories of the day’s activities in Milford Sound. No television means no distractions from the beauty that is Milford Sound during the evening. Internet access is free for all our guests – keep in mind our remote wilderness location means speed/data can sometimes be limited.

GUEST KITCHEN

All guests enjoy 24-hour access to a well-appointed kitchen. The guest kitchen features: 

• Gas cooktops

• Toaster

• Kettle

• Microwave

If you require pots/pans, cutlery etc. these are available free of charge at Reception (a deposit is held until returned clean).

LAUNDRY

Catch up on washing. The coin-operated laundry room offers two commercial washing machines and dryers.

If you have a booking with us on a day when the road is closed, we will cancel your booking for you and refund you in full. If you are flying into Milford Sound, it is a good idea to ring us and let us know if you’re still coming in.

Milford Sound Lodge is located approximately 1.5km from the Milford Sound Cruise Terminal. You will find us on the left just before arriving at the small township of Milford Sound along State Highway 94.

We are about 2.3 km from the Milford Sound Cruise Terminal, about a 45-minute walk (part on a non-maintained trail) so we typically recommend that our guests park at the Free Deepwater Basin Parking which is closer to the Cruise Departure Terminal than our lovely lodge.

Your journey time will depend on how many stops you make along the way for sightseeing! We encourage you to allow plenty of time to enjoy the many attractions along the Milford Road.

As a rough guide, you can expect your journey to be:

• 2 hours from Te Anau

• 5 hours from Queenstown

• 6 hours from Wanaka

• 4 hours from Invercargill

It is always a good idea to check the road conditions before you leave Te Anau, the last town before Milford Sound. Information centres and petrol stations have information on road conditions, road closures and snow chain requirements.

As the Milford Highway is a very remote, and in some places narrow, road we suggest you take your time during your drive to Milford Sound. Please obey all signs placed by road workers; they are placed for everyone’s safety.

Get the latest road info from the New Zealand Transport Authority.

Fiordland’s weather can be unpredictable, so we strongly recommend having a back-up plan (such as a rental vehicle) if you're considering flying to Milford Sound Lodge.

Please note: We are unable to offer refunds or date changes for last-minute cancellations due to flight disruptions.

If you'd like to fly between Milford and Queenstown, we’re happy to help arrange a return flight - weather and availability permitting.

Intending visitors to Milford Sound need to be aware that this area is exposed to a range of natural hazards and risks which are outlined below. New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes make it a top travel destination, but they also come with natural hazard risks - and Piopiotahi Milford Sound is no exception. To enjoy a safe visit, stay informed about weather conditions, follow travel advisories, and be prepared for rapid changes. Fiordland is New Zealand’s largest and most remote national park, where sunshine, snow, wind, and rain can all occur in a single day, year-round.

There is so much to do in Milford Sound and the surrounding areas.

If you are looking for activities, we can help you book cruises, kayaking trips, walking and flights.

If you are keen to go for a hike or a short walk, we are happy to provide information on walks in the area including the Milford Track.

Due to the steepness of the mountains located directly in Milford Sound, there aren’t many walks located right in Milford Sound, however, the Milford Road has many walks and photo stop to enjoy on your way in or out of Milford Sound. We also recommend allowing plenty of time for the drive to Milford Sound!

It is very rare that cruises are cancelled due to rain. Fortunately, when it rains in Milford Sound (which is often!) you get the opportunity to see the hundreds of non-permanent waterfalls that come to life.

Whilst there is a petrol station in Milford Sound, it is not always serviced. We strongly recommend fueling in Te Anau before you drive into Milford Sound.

• Wet weather gear and warm clothing — Milford Sound is in a rainforest, it is a good idea to bring wet weather gear, and some warm layers.

• Day walk gear — If you plan to walk any of the walking tracks accessible from the Milford road, it is advisable you have a good pair of walking shoes, sunblock, an appropriate amount of food and water for the length of your walk, and, of course, your camera.

• Fuel for a return trip from Te Anau — If you are driving yourself into Milford Sound please ensure you have enough fuel to drive all the way into Milford Sound and return to Te Anau. There is currently no fuel available in Milford Sound.

• Food supplies — If you are planning to cook for yourself in our guest kitchen, please ensure you bring your own supplies as there are no grocery supplies available in Milford Sound. The closest supermarket is situated in Te Anau. Alternatively, Pio Pio Restaurant at Milford Sound Lodge is open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Insect repellent - Sandflies love Milford as much as we do.

Sorry, much as we love adventure, for health and safety reasons we can't accommodate rooftop tent campers in our campervan park where the sites are all under native rainforest. 

Sorry, there are no tent sites available at Milford Sound Lodge or Milford Sound itself.

The closest campsite is at Cascade Creek, a DOC camping site, approximately 45 mins drive back towards the township of Te Anau.

We do not have a dump station at the lodge, however, there is one dump station in the Milford Sound township, close to the petrol station. 

As we are in a national park, it is advised to dispose of waste in Te Anau before or after your Milford Sound visit.

Our campervan sites can accommodate vans up to and including 7.5 meters in length.