Finding Milford Sound’s Best Photography Hot Spots
Eglinton Valley
On the road to Milford Sound, this beautiful glaciated valley with steep sides and a flat floor is a great start to your Milford Sound photography escape. It varies in width and has a shingle riverbed floor which is constantly changed by the flow of the Eglinton River.
The Milford Road is great for photography, but with lots of narrow sections and sharp corners, it can be a dangerous stop. The Eglinton Valley is a perfect place to stop as the straight, wide section of road provides plenty of safe car parking spots.
Mirror Lakes
Also on the way to Milford Sound, you will find the beautiful photo stop of Mirror Lakes. These small tarns (mountain lakes) on the roadside provide outstanding reflections of the opposite Earl Mountains and in calm weather, the perfect reflection makes for magical photos. The lakes are an easy five-minute stroll along from the main road.
Milford Sound Pier and Foreshore
You’ll get picture-perfect shots by day, and even better shots at sunrise and sunset down at the Milford Sound pier. Milford Sound pier is where all the action happens as the many cruise boats come and go throughout the day. Most people come here for a day visit and miss out on the most spectacular time of the day – sunset.
For a very short period every day, the burning orange rays of the setting sun behind the fiord gives you the opportunity to capture a once-in-a-lifetime shot. Sometimes these rays break through low clouds – and the effect is stunning!
Mitre Peak is the most popular spot for photographers who visit Milford Sound. The best way to ensure you capture that stunning sunset Milford Sound photo is to spend the night at Milford Sound Lodge.
From the Air
The ultimate perspective on Milford Sound. To truly grasp the scale and beauty of Milford Sound, lift off on a scenic flight that explore our famous fiord. These short aerial journeys take you above sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and glacier-carved valleys - offering a completely different perspective than what you see from land or water.
From the air, the iconic silhouette of Mitre Peak stands tall, and you’ll trace the path of hidden rivers, hanging valleys, and untouched alpine basins. It’s a view few get to experience, and one that reveals the true remoteness and grandeur of this World Heritage landscape.
Flights depart directly from the Milford Sound airstrip and operate year-round (weather dependent). For photographers and nature-lovers alike, this is one of the most awe-inspiring ways to experience the fiord.
Lake Marian
Just a kilometre down the Hollyford Road, the beautiful Lake Marian Track (3 hrs return) offers quintessential Fiordland shots. You’ll find a swingbridge over the beautiful Marian Valley, beech forest and wildlife. Everything there is to love about this pristine region, captured in your lens as a lifelong memory.
Night sky photography from Milford Sound Lodge
A stargazer’s dream in the heart of Fiordland.
Nestled deep within Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound Lodge offers one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking stargazing locations. With virtually no light pollution and dramatic peaks framing the sky, it’s the perfect setting for capturing the cosmos.
Step outside your chalet after dark and you’ll be treated to an awe-inspiring view: the Milky Way arching overhead, constellations glinting like diamonds, and on particularly clear nights, even the occasional shooting star. The cool, crisp air of autumn and winter offers the clearest skies - ideal conditions for photographing the galaxy in all its glory.
Whether you're a seasoned astrophotographer or simply want to try long-exposure shots on your phone, Milford Sound Lodge is the perfect base. Bring a tripod, layer up, and let the stillness of the night - and the brilliance of the stars - guide your lens.
