Day 6 — Te Anau → Milford Sound → Key Summit → Te Anau

Friday, March 27

Key Summit chosen over Lake Marian — it's directly on the Milford Road (zero detour), well-graded track suits tired legs, and the 360° panorama of three valleys is one of the great views in Fiordland. Lake Marian's rough opening section is better saved for a fresh day.

Before This Day

[ ] Fill up petrol in Te Anau before leaving — no fuel available past this point
[ ] Stock up on water and snacks — nothing to buy between Te Anau and Milford Sound
[ ] Check weather forecast — rain is common and actually beautiful, but affects hike decisions
[ ] Check Lake Marian track conditions — skip if heavy rain in the past 48 hrs
[ ] Leave early — the earliest cruise boat avoids crowds and calmer water

Top 3 Things

⛵ Milford Cruise
🥾 Key Summit / Lake Marian
🚶 Milford Walks

Daily Timeline

Time	Activity
6:00 AM	Breakfast at Kingsgate, pack layers
7:00 AM	Drive Te Anau → Milford Sound (~2 hrs)
9:15 AM	Arrive Milford — board Cruise Milford
9:45 AM	⛵ Milford Sound cruise — 1 hr 45 min
11:30 AM	Lookout Walk + Foreshore Walk (~45 min) + lunch
1:00 PM	Drive back — stop at The Divide
1:45 PM	🥾 Key Summit Track (~3 hrs return)
4:45 PM	Drive back to Te Anau (~1 hr)
6:00 PM	Return Te Anau, rest
7:30 PM	Dinner — Redcliff Café (booked)
Night	Sleep — Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau

Hotel: Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau Address: 20 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9600, New Zealand

Notes

6:00 AM | Breakfast at Kingsgate, Pack Layers

Milford Sound gets rain 200+ days a year — spectacular in rain but you will get wet. Waterproof jacket is essential. Pack snacks; food at Milford is expensive and limited.

7:00 AM | Drive Te Anau → Milford Sound (~2 hrs)

No petrol and almost no mobile reception past Te Anau — fill up and download offline maps before leaving.

All paved, but narrow, winding, and mountainous — drive carefully around blind bends and give way to oncoming traffic
Leave early — traffic heading toward Milford builds significantly by mid-morning and the drive back can be slow
Road to Milford Sound map and stops

Key stops along the way (all well-signposted with parking):

Mirror Lakes (~45 min from Te Anau) — short flat boardwalk to a series of small lakes that reflect the Earl Mountains when the water is still. Best in calm morning conditions before the wind picks up
Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain — a straight stretch of road where the mountain ahead appears to shrink as you approach due to an optical illusion with the valley floor rising — look for the sign
The Divide (~1 hr 20 min from Te Anau) — the lowest east-west pass in the Southern Alps; also the trailhead for Key Summit on the return drive
Homer Tunnel — a single-lane tunnel blasted through the mountains, ~1.2 km long. Traffic is controlled by lights and you may wait 5–10 minutes. The western portal opens to a dramatic descent into the Cleddau Valley — one of the most sudden landscape changes on the drive
Monkey Creek — a clear mountain stream just past the tunnel, worth a stop to fill a water bottle if needed
Chasm Walk (~10 min, just before Milford) — short, flat walk to a gorge where the Cleddau River has carved tunnels and potholes through solid rock — genuinely impressive and easy to do on the way in

9:15 AM | Arrive Milford — Board Cruise Milford

Be at the terminal 30 minutes before the 9:45 AM sailing.

9:45 AM | Milford Sound Cruise (1 hr 45 min)

Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori) is a fiord carved by glaciers, not a sound — the name is technically wrong but it stuck. Sheer rock walls rise up to 1,200 m directly from the water, waterfalls cascade year-round, and Mitre Peak (1,692 m) dominates the view from the moment you arrive. It receives over 6 metres of rain annually — one of the wettest places on Earth — which feeds the waterfalls and creates a layer of fresh water on top of the salt water that allows deep-sea creatures to live unusually close to the surface.

Check-in: Cruise Milford counter — second on the left inside the Visitor Terminal. Arrive 30 minutes before departure.

Departure: Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, State Highway 94, Milford Sound

Parking: - Paid carpark — $10/hr, card only, ~10 min walk to the terminal. Fills up fast — arrive early or you'll have no choice but the free carpark - Free carpark — Deepwater Basin Road (turn left just after Milford Sound Lodge, immediately on the left). ~30–40 min walk to the terminal. A shuttle runs occasionally for airport passengers but is unreliable for cruise guests — budget the walking time

What to know: - Cruise duration is 1 hour 45 minutes - Free coffee, tea, and biscuits on board — bring extra snacks if you want - No WiFi or reliable phone reception in Fiordland National Park — download anything you need before leaving Te Anau - Dress in layers and bring a waterproof layer regardless of the forecast — the fiord creates its own weather and you will want to stand outside even if it rains - Stand on the bow when passing waterfalls — the spray is worth getting damp for - Rain makes Milford more dramatic, not less — hundreds of temporary waterfalls appear on the cliff faces after rainfall

What you'll see on the cruise: - Mitre Peak — the iconic pyramid-shaped peak that rises 1,692 m directly from the water; most photographed mountain in New Zealand - Stirling Falls — a 151 m waterfall that drops straight into the fiord; the boat typically gets close enough to feel the spray - Bowen Falls — the tallest permanent waterfall in the fiord at 162 m, near the terminal - Fur seals — commonly seen lounging on rocks at Seal Point; the boat slows here for a close look - Dolphins — Bottlenose and common dolphins occasionally accompany the boat - Fiordland crested penguins — rare, possible sighting depending on the season

Book the earliest available boat. The fiord is calmer in the morning, crowds are minimal, and traffic heading down from Te Anau gets heavy by mid-morning. Take the early boat, do the short walks afterward, then sightsee on the drive back at your own pace with far less traffic.

11:30 AM | Short Walks + Lunch in Milford Sound

Short walks around the Milford terminal area. Good views back up the fiord. Grab lunch here before driving back — the café is mediocre but it's the last food until Te Anau.

Two short walks worth doing after the cruise:

Milford Sound Lookout Walk (~10 min return, easy): - Short climb up a small hill behind the café - Best elevated view of Mitre Peak from the village — different perspective from the water-level cruise views - Pass Donald Sutherland's grave along the way (he was the first European to discover Sutherland Falls deeper in Fiordland)

Milford Foreshore Walk (~20 min, easy): - Boardwalk along the foreshore with unobstructed views of Mitre Peak and the surrounding walls - Passes through native forest with interpretation panels about the fiord's ecology - At low tide you can step off the boardwalk to the washout — a flat rocky area good for sitting and taking photos without crowds - The single best walk in Milford Sound if you only have time for one

Sand flies: Milford Sound has some of the worst sand flies in New Zealand. They are small, silent, and their bite itches for days. Cover up or apply repellent before getting off the boat — they are relentless near the shore and at the carpark.

1:00 PM | Drive Back — Stop at The Divide

~45 min drive from Milford. The Divide trailhead is clearly signed on SH94. Park here for Key Summit.

1:45 PM | Key Summit Track (~3 hrs return)

Lake Marian Track (~3–4 hrs return, moderate) — best on a dry day: - Trailhead is off the Hollyford Road, ~10 min from The Divide - The track starts in dense beech forest and follows Marian Creek upstream to Marian Falls (~30 min) — many people turn back here, but the lake above is far more rewarding - Beyond the falls the track climbs steeply through roots and rocks before opening into a wide alpine cirque with Lake Marian — one of the most stunning alpine lakes in New Zealand, completely surrounded by peaks - Total elevation gain is significant and the track is rough underfoot in places — not difficult, but requires good footwear - Skip after heavy rain — Marian Creek becomes dangerous, side streams can be impassable, and the upper track gets very slippery - No cell coverage — tell someone your plan before you go - DOC track info - Fiordland hiking guide

Key Summit Track (~3 hrs return, moderate): - Well-graded, ~8 km return, 350 m elevation gain - Trailhead at The Divide carpark on SH94 — no detour from the return route - Climbs through tall beech forest before emerging into open alpine tussock and meadows - Summit gives 360° views: Hollyford Valley, Greenstone Valley, Eglinton Valley, and the Darran Mountains — one of the great panoramas in Fiordland - Do the summit loop — adds 20 min and is worth it - The track is part of the Routeburn Great Walk network — well-formed, well-marked, safe in rain

4:45 PM | Drive Back to Te Anau (~1 hr)

The return drive covers the same road in reverse — but the light is different in the afternoon, the traffic is lighter once past The Divide, and knowing what you're looking at makes it a different experience.

Leg 1 — Milford Sound to Homer Tunnel (~16 km, ~20 min)

Head back east out of Milford Sound on SH94
The road immediately enters the Cleddau Valley — narrow, hemmed in by enormous rock walls on both sides
The Darran Mountains above the Homer Valley were used for wide establishing shots of mountain passes in The Fellowship of the Ring — the sheer vertical scale of these peaks is unlike anywhere else on the drive. Look up as you approach the tunnel portal
Homer Tunnel — wait for the lights and pass through. Traffic coming from the east has priority at certain times — expect a short wait

Leg 2 — Homer Tunnel to The Divide (~30 km, ~35 min)

Emerge from the tunnel into the upper Hollyford Valley — a dramatic descent through alpine scrub and beech forest
The road follows the Hollyford River down through the valley floor
The Divide carpark — if doing Key Summit, park here. The trailhead is right at the carpark. If skipping the hike, continue straight on SH94

Optional hike stop — Key Summit or Lake Marian (~3 hrs) See hike details above. Key Summit trailhead is directly at The Divide carpark. Lake Marian is ~10 min further east on the Hollyford Road. Do the hike here, then continue back to Te Anau.

Leg 3 — The Divide to Lake Gunn (~15 km, ~15 min on SH94)

Continue east from The Divide through the upper Hollyford Valley
The beech forest closes in on both sides — this is the section used for Lothlórien canopy shots and parts of Fangorn Forest in the trilogy. The pale silver-beech trunks and filtered afternoon light are very close to what appears on screen
Lake Gunn — pull off at the Lake Gunn Nature Walk carpark on the left for a short loop (~45 min) through old-growth beech forest if energy allows. This is the actual forest used in filming — very atmospheric in the late afternoon

Leg 4 — Lake Gunn to Eglinton Valley (~25 km, ~25 min on SH94)

The road opens out of the forest into the Eglinton Valley — the long straight glacier-carved valley with mountains rising steeply on both sides
This is the Rohan plains and Fellowship approach landscape — pull off at any of the valley viewpoints and look back up the straight. The framing is almost identical to scenes in the films. In the afternoon the light falls differently across the valley floor than it did in the morning
Mirror Lakes (~45 min from Te Anau) — a brief stop on the left, short flat walk to the lakes that reflect the Earl Mountains. Best in calm conditions; worth checking on the way back if you skipped them in the morning

Leg 5 — Eglinton Valley to Te Anau (~50 km, ~40 min on SH94)

Continue southwest through the valley and into the Fiordland lowlands
The road flattens and the landscape opens as you approach Te Anau
Arrive ~6:00 PM — shower and rest before dinner

6:00 PM | Return Te Anau, Rest

Shower and rest before dinner. Pack tonight for the Doubtful Sound overnight — the 11:30 AM check-in at Pearl Harbour tomorrow should be stress-free.

7:30 PM | Dinner — Redcliff Café

Best option in Te Anau. Good vegetarian menu, relaxed atmosphere. Book ahead. Early night — Day 7 is the overnight cruise; sleep on the boat is a bunk, not a bed.

Lord of the Rings Filming Locations

The drive to Milford Sound along SH94 passes through Fiordland National Park — one of the most heavily used LOTR filming regions in New Zealand. Peter Jackson returned to this road and the valleys along it repeatedly across all three films. Much of what you drive through on this day is recognisable from the films without any signage or guidebook.

Eglinton Valley (on SH94, ~45 min from Te Anau)

The wide glacial valley between Te Anau and The Divide is one of the most filmed landscapes in the trilogy.

Approach to Edoras / the plains of Rohan — the long straight stretches of road through the open valley floor, flanked by steep mountains, were used for wide-angle shots of the Rohirrim crossing the plains. The scale and openness of the Eglinton Valley is unmistakable on screen
Fellowship of the Ring — Caradhras scenes — the valley was used for exterior shots of the Fellowship's journey through the mountain passes before attempting the Redhorn Gate
Pull off at any of the valley viewpoints and look back up the straight — the framing is almost identical to scenes in the films

Beech Forests Along SH94 (multiple sections)

The native silver beech forest that lines much of SH94 between Te Anau and Milford was used extensively for forest scenes throughout the trilogy.

Lothlórien — the pale-barked beech forest along the Eglinton and Hollyford valleys doubled as parts of the Lothlórien canopy. The quality of light in the forest — especially on overcast days — is very close to what appears on screen
Fangorn Forest — sections of deeper, older beech forest with dense undergrowth were used for the dark, enclosed feeling of Fangorn. The forest near Lake Gunn (about 1 hr from Te Anau) is particularly atmospheric in this regard
Lake Gunn Nature Walk (~45 min loop, easy): A short optional loop through old-growth beech forest right off the highway — worth doing if you want to walk through the actual forest used in filming. The loop is flat, well-formed, and very quiet

The Divide (on SH94, ~1 hr 20 min from Te Anau)

The Divide is the lowest east-west pass in the Southern Alps — a saddle between the Hollyford and Greenstone/Eglinton valleys. This area and the surrounding beech-forested ridgelines were used for several Fellowship scenes.

The beech forest immediately around The Divide was used as part of the forest approach to Lórien — the transition from open valley to enclosed forest happens right at this point on the drive
The Routeburn/Greenstone valleys visible from the carpark here appear as unnamed wilderness passages in the Fellowship's journey south

Fiordland Peaks (Darran Mountains, visible from Homer Tunnel approach)

The approach to the Homer Tunnel, where the road narrows into a steep glacial valley beneath enormous rock walls, provides the most dramatic mountain scenery of the drive.

The Darran Mountains — the jagged, heavily glaciated peaks above the Homer Valley — appear as background in several Rohan and Gondor scenes. The sheer vertical scale of these peaks is unlike anywhere else in New Zealand
The area around the western portal of the Homer Tunnel, where the valley opens dramatically into the Cleddau, was used for wide establishing shots of mountain passes in The Fellowship of the Ring