About this place
A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls
Johnny T. Cheng · 2006
A guidebook devoted entirely to NZ waterfalls, with access notes; older, but still the only book on the subject.
New Zealand · Fiordland
Sutherland Falls
New Zealand's tallest waterfall drops 580 metres in three leaps from Lake Quill, reachable only on foot via the Milford Track or by helicopter. Pair it with Stirling and Bowen Falls on Milford Sound and Humboldt Falls off the Milford Road.
Full guide Checked September 2026 by David Bussell · 32 sources UNESCO World Heritage
Sutherland Falls pours out of Lake Quill, a hanging lake cupped in the mountains above the Arthur Valley, and falls 580 metres in three distinct leaps — roughly 229 metres, then 248, then 103 — over less than 500 metres of horizontal distance. It is the tallest waterfall in New Zealand, and it sits in one of the wettest corners of New Zealand: the nearby Milford Sound weather station averages about 6.4 metres of rain a year on around 185 days. That rain is the engine behind every waterfall in this guide, and the reason none of them runs dry.
The catch is that Sutherland Falls is invisible from almost everywhere people go. It sits roughly 20 kilometres south-west of Milford Sound in a straight line, and no cruise passes it. On foot, it is a 90-minute return side trip from Quintin Shelter on day three of the four-day Milford Track, a Great Walk whose huts sell out within minutes of opening. The only other way in is by air: helicopters from Milford Sound circle the falls and land above Lake Quill.
That is why this is really a Milford Sound waterfall guide. Stirling Falls (151 metres) and Lady Bowen Falls (162 metres) are the two permanent falls that drop straight into the fiord, and every cruise, kayak and overnight boat gets you close to them. Humboldt Falls, 275 metres in three drops, is a 30-minute walk off the Hollyford Road. And after heavy rain, which is often, the fiord walls stream with hundreds of temporary waterfalls that no map names.
Book this trip
All activities & prices ↓- Milford Track guided walkfrom US$1,711 Check availability
- Sutherland Falls helicopter flight with Lake Quill landingfrom US$319 Check availability
- Milford Sound day cruisefrom US$102 Check availability
The Track, the Sound or the Road?
The Milford Track
The only way to stand beneath SutherlandGlade Wharf (by boat from Te Anau Downs) to Sandfly Point, Milford Sound
Four days, three nights and about 53.5 km up the Clinton Valley, over Mackinnon Pass and down the Arthur Valley. Sutherland Falls comes on day three, as a side trip from Quintin Shelter after the descent from the pass: 90 minutes return through rainforest to the base, where the spray flattens the ferns. You walk one direction only, you must book all three huts in sequence, and in the Great Walk season bookings for the whole summer typically go in a single morning in May.
Clinton ValleyMackinnon PassQuintin ShelterSutherland Falls baseArthur ValleyMackay FallsGiant Gate FallsSandfly Point
- Entry DOC huts NZ$152 per international adult per night (NZ$106 NZ residents), 3 nights mandatory, 1 Nov 2026 – 30 Apr 2027; boat transport booked separately
- Best for Fit trampers who booked months ahead, and anyone for whom seeing New Zealand's tallest fall up close is the point
Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
Stirling and Bowen from the waterMilford Sound Visitor Terminal, end of State Highway 94
The fiord runs about 15 km from the terminal to the Tasman Sea, with Mitre Peak rising 1,692 metres straight from the water. Lady Bowen Falls drops 162 metres beside the terminal and is visible from the foreshore; Stirling Falls, 151 metres, is a few kilometres out along the northern wall, and most boats nose close enough to soak the bow. On a rainy day the cliffs run with temporary falls, which is when the sound is at its most dramatic, not its worst.
Lady Bowen FallsStirling FallsMitre PeakMilford Sound Foreshore WalkHarrison CoveTasman Sea entrance
- Entry No entry fee in 2026; cruises from about NZ$175 (US$102); car park is limited and fills quickly in summer
- Best for Almost everyone — day-trippers, families, kayakers, and walkers finishing the Milford Track
The Milford Road and Hollyford Valley
Humboldt Falls and the roadside stopsState Highway 94 from Te Anau, and the Hollyford Road turn-off at Marian Corner
The 121 km drive from Te Anau is its own waterfall trip. Humboldt Falls, 275 metres in three drops, is a 30-minute return walk from the end of the unsealed Hollyford Road, turning off at Marian Corner about 87 km from Te Anau. On the main road, Mirror Lakes and The Chasm, where the Cleddau River has carved potholes through rock, are short stops. Between the Hollyford junction and The Chasm you are in an avalanche zone where stopping is restricted.
Mirror LakesHumboldt Falls trackHomer TunnelThe ChasmEglinton Valley
- Entry Free; allow 2 hours Te Anau to Milford without stops and fill up with fuel in Te Anau — there is none on the road
- Best for Self-drivers with a full day, photographers, anyone who wants a big waterfall without a four-day walk
The short answer
If you can get Milford Track huts, walk it: it is the only way to stand at the foot of Sutherland Falls. Everyone else should drive the Milford Road for Humboldt Falls and take a cruise or kayak past Stirling and Bowen. If Sutherland itself matters and walking is out, the helicopter flight from Milford Sound is the honest alternative.
When to go
December to April for the Milford Track and the easiest access; any month for the sound itself, ideally the morning after heavy rain, with May to October the quietest if you can cope with avalanche-season road closures.
Rain, not season, drives the water: Fiordland's falls run in every month and peak after any heavy downpour. What changes through the year is access — Milford Track huts are serviced only from November to April, and the Milford Road's avalanche season usually runs June to October.
High summer
December – FebruaryLong days, the warmest weather and every service running. Milford Track huts are fully booked, cruise boats run their fullest timetables and the Milford Sound car park fills early — DOC reported a near-record summer in 2025/26. Rain still arrives often, which keeps Stirling and Bowen loud and brings out the temporary falls. Sandflies are at their worst; bring repellent and cover up.
Open
- Milford Track (Great Walk season, huts serviced)
- All cruise, kayak and scenic flight operators
- Humboldt Falls track
- Milford Road stops, with traffic lights at the Homer Tunnel in peak periods
Closed or compromised
- Milford Track huts — almost always sold out
- Easy parking at Milford Sound after mid-morning
Shoulder months
November, March – AprilStill within the Great Walk season, with serviced huts, fewer crowds on the road and in the sound, and cooler, more changeable weather. November can bring late snow on Mackinnon Pass and spring melt adding to the falls; March and April bring settled spells and softer light. The Milford Track's last departure of the 2026/27 season is 28 April 2027.
Open
- Milford Track (to 30 April 2027)
- Cruises, kayaking and scenic flights
- Humboldt Falls and the Milford Road stops
Closed or compromised
- Track huts often still booked out
- Late-season snow can close Mackinnon Pass for a day at short notice
Winter and avalanche season
May – OctoberSnow on the peaks, low sun and the quietest cruises of the year — the waterfalls keep running and freeze only at their edges. The Milford Road stays open most days but can close at short notice when avalanche hazard is moderate to high, usually between June and October, and carry chains. The Milford Track is unserviced: DOC warns of ice, snow, avalanche risk and flooding and says only fit, experienced, well-equipped people should attempt it.
Open
- Milford Sound cruises and kayaking (weather permitting)
- Scenic flights (weather permitting)
- Milford Road, subject to avalanche closures
Closed or compromised
- Serviced Milford Track huts (May – October)
- Stopping between the Hollyford junction and The Chasm
- The road itself on high-hazard days
Rain days: when the waterfalls multiply
Most visitors hope for sun. Locals hope for a heavy downpour the night before. Milford Sound averages about 185 rain days a year, and within hours of a big storm the fiord walls turn into sheets of white water — hundreds of temporary falls that vanish again a day or two later. Stirling and Bowen roar at several times their normal volume. Cruises run in the rain unless the wind is extreme, so pack a waterproof shell and treat a wet forecast as a bonus, not a reason to cancel.
Everything you can do here
Prices are 2026 advertised rates in NZ dollars from DOC, Immigration New Zealand and operator websites, converted to US dollars at about 0.585 (late September 2026); hotel figures are 'from' rates on booking sites and older published rates where stated, so treat them as a planning guide rather than a quote.
Milford Track, independent (DOC huts)
US$267hut fees for the required 3 nights, international adult (NZ$456); NZ residents NZ$318; transport to Glade Wharf and from Sandfly Point extra
New Zealand's best-known Great Walk and the only land route to Sutherland Falls. A boat from Te Anau Downs drops you at Glade Wharf; you then walk the Clinton Valley, cross Mackinnon Pass and descend the Arthur Valley, with the Sutherland side trip on day three. Walk one direction only, carry your own food and bedding, and book the whole summer's huts when bookings open in May — the 2026/27 season opened on 13 May and sold out almost immediately.
Great Walk season 1 November 2026 – 30 April 2027 (last departure 28 April)
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
Milford Track guided walk
US$1711per adult, multishare room (NZ$2,925); private room NZ$3,750 per person twin share; child 10–16 NZ$2,189
The same track and the same Sutherland Falls side trip, but with private lodges (Glade House, Pompolona and Quintin), hot showers, cooked meals, linen and guides, and a final night at Mitre Peak Lodge on the shore of Milford Sound. Transport from Queenstown or Te Anau and a Milford Sound cruise are included. Guided places are a separate allocation from the DOC huts, so this can be the way in when the independent huts are gone.
November – April
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Sutherland Falls helicopter flight with Lake Quill landing
US$319per adult (NZ$545)
The one way to see Sutherland Falls without walking the track. The helicopter leaves Milford Sound's airfield, follows the Milford Track up the Arthur Valley, circles the falls, then makes an alpine landing above Lake Quill, where the water gathers before its 580-metre drop. You also get Mitre Peak and Mackinnon Pass from the air. Fiordland weather cancels flights often, so leave slack in your plans.
Year-round, weather permitting
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Milford Sound day cruise
US$102from, per adult (RealNZ Signature Cruise NZ$175); Southern Discoveries from NZ$179; Cruise Milford small boat from NZ$189
The standard way to meet Stirling and Lady Bowen Falls. Boats leave the Milford Sound Visitor Terminal, run out along the fiord towards the Tasman Sea and back, passing Mitre Peak and seal colonies, and nose under Stirling Falls close enough to soak the deck. Cruise Milford runs smaller boats at limited capacity; RealNZ and Southern Discoveries run larger vessels. Mid-morning and early-afternoon sailings are busiest because that is when the coaches arrive.
Year-round, several departures a day
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Coach and cruise day trip from Queenstown or Te Anau
US$175from, per adult (Cruise Milford from NZ$299); Southern Discoveries from NZ$340 (US$199)
For visitors without a car, or who would rather not drive an alpine road: a coach from Queenstown (departing around 7am) or Te Anau, with stops at Mirror Lakes and The Chasm, a cruise past Stirling and Bowen Falls, and the long drive back. From Queenstown it is about 291 km each way, so this is a very long day; starting from Te Anau cuts the driving by more than half.
Year-round; subject to Milford Road closures in avalanche season
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Milford Sound overnight cruise
US$391from, per adult (NZ$669)
The way to have the fiord without the day crowds. Instead of a two-hour loop squeezed between coach arrivals, you spend the evening and the following morning on the water, seeing the walls and waterfalls in low light and before the first coaches from Te Anau reach the terminal. Stirling and Bowen at dawn, often wrapped in low cloud, are a different sight from the midday rush. Confirm departure days, cabin types and inclusions with RealNZ when booking.
Seasonal; dates not confirmed
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Stirling Sunriser sea-kayak trip
US$196per person (NZ$335); family-friendly Milford Cruiser trip NZ$205 (US$120), minimum age 8
The closest you can get to Stirling Falls under your own power. Starting at sunrise, before the cruise boats are out, you paddle a double sea kayak along the fiord walls to the foot of the 151-metre fall and, conditions allowing, into its spray. It is a genuine sea-kayaking day in cold water and changeable wind, so it is limited to over-16s; Rosco's shorter trips suit families and first-timers but do not go to Stirling.
Year-round, weather permitting
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Fly–cruise–fly from Queenstown
US$450from, per adult (Air Milford NZ$770, child NZ$540); Southern Discoveries fly–cruise from NZ$844 (US$494)
Swaps eight or more hours of driving for two flights across the Southern Alps, glaciers and the fiords, landing at Milford Sound's airfield for a cruise past Stirling and Bowen Falls. Some routes pass over the Milford Track country around Sutherland Falls — ask the operator whether yours does. Weather cancellations are common, so book early in your stay and keep a coach day as a fallback.
Year-round, weather permitting
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Humboldt Falls track
free
The best waterfall on the Milford Road, and one that most coach tours skip. Turn off State Highway 94 at Marian Corner, about 87 km from Te Anau, and follow the unsealed Hollyford Road to its end. A well-graded track climbs briefly through rainforest to a lookout facing Humboldt Falls, which drops 275 metres in three stages down the far side of the valley. Allow around two hours' driving from Te Anau to the trailhead.
Year-round; the unsealed Hollyford Road can be affected by snow and slips
No booking needed.
Milford Road stops: Mirror Lakes and The Chasm
free
DOC advises allowing an eight-hour day for the 240 km round trip from Te Anau with stops, short walks and a cruise. Mirror Lakes, beside the road in the Eglinton Valley, reflect the Earl Mountains on still mornings; The Chasm, a short loop near the Milford end, shows the Cleddau River carving smooth basins through the rock. Between them you pass through the 1.2 km Homer Tunnel, where summer traffic lights can add 20 minutes.
Year-round, subject to avalanche closures (usually June – October)
No booking needed.
You won't see Sutherland Falls from Milford Sound
Tour listings often bundle 'Sutherland Falls' into Milford Sound trips, but no cruise, kayak or roadside stop gets you a view of it: the falls are about 20 km south-west of the sound, around a corner of the Arthur Valley. There are only two honest ways to see it — walk the Milford Track, with huts that for 2026/27 opened on 13 May and sold out within minutes, or take a scenic flight that specifically routes over it. Separately, the government is legislating to charge international visitors for access to four conservation sites including Milford Sound; the bill had its first reading on 12 May 2026, but no fee amount or start date had been set at the time of writing.
Where to stay
Only one place offers beds within walking distance of the sound itself, so most visitors sleep in Te Anau, two hours down the road, or at the simple camps along the Milford Road.
Milford Sound Lodge
The only public lodging at Milford Sound: riverside chalets with outdoor baths, mountain-view chalets, two-bedroom suites, powered campervan sites and the Pio Pio restaurant. Staying here puts you on the fiord before the coaches arrive at 10am. It books out early.
Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas
A large lakefront hotel with villas, a pool and spa, a short walk from Te Anau's shops and restaurants. A practical base for an early start on the Milford Road or for the night before the Milford Track boat from Te Anau Downs.
Distinction Luxmore Hotel
A big, central hotel in the middle of Te Anau's main street, a short walk to the lake. Well reviewed, with parking — useful when you are driving to Milford at dawn and want to leave from the centre of town.
Fiordland Lodge
A small luxury lodge above Lake Te Anau and one of the highest-rated places to stay in the area, praised by guests for 'luxury without stuffiness'. Suits travellers who want a quiet, comfortable base between long days on the Milford Road.
Kingsgate Hotel Te Anau
A large, good-value hotel in Te Anau with parking and well-reviewed service. A sensible pick for families and anyone who will spend most daylight hours out on the road or the water rather than in the room.
Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers
A long-running, well-reviewed backpackers on the lake with parking — the default base for independent Milford Track walkers the night before and after the track, and for anyone doing the Milford Road on a budget.
Te Anau Lakeview Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels
A large holiday park with tent and campervan sites, cabins and motel units. The standard stop for campervan travellers heading to Milford, with facilities to restock and refuel before the fuel-free drive north.
Eglinton Valley Camp
Cabins with kitchenettes and hot showers on the Milford Road itself in the Eglinton Valley — cutting the drive to the morning cruises and putting you near Mirror Lakes for still, early reflections.
Gunn's Camp
A basic riverside camp on the unsealed Hollyford Road, on the way to the Humboldt Falls trailhead. Simple facilities and no frills, but the closest bed to Humboldt Falls and a quiet alternative to the main highway.
DOC campsites on the Milford Road
Basic Department of Conservation campsites strung along the highway, the cheapest way to sleep close to the sound. DOC asks visitors to book Milford Road campsites online in advance; expect minimal facilities and relentless sandflies in summer.
Search all Te Anau accommodation
Getting there & getting in
ZQN
Queenstown Airport
The practical gateway: about 170 km / 2 hours to Te Anau and 291 km / 4–5 hours to Milford Sound by road. Domestic flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and trans-Tasman flights from eastern Australia; scenic fly–cruise trips to Milford Sound also depart here.
TEU
Te Anau–Manapouri Airport
About 20 minutes from Te Anau, but no regular scheduled airline service at the time of writing — used for charters and scenic flights. Most travellers arrive in Te Anau by road from Queenstown.
MFN
Milford Sound Aerodrome
A short airstrip beside the fiord used by scenic fly–cruise operators from Queenstown and Te Anau and by Milford Helicopters for the Sutherland Falls flight. No scheduled services.
Auckland is the international hub for most long-haul arrivals, connecting to Queenstown; travellers from Australia can often fly direct to Queenstown.
Milford Road logistics and Milford Track transport
Te Anau to Milford Sound is 121 km on State Highway 94, and there is no fuel or shop after Te Anau. DOC advises allowing at least two hours for the drive plus 45 minutes to park at Milford in summer. The road is in an avalanche zone for 17 km from Falls Creek, usually hazardous from June to October: it closes when the hazard is high and stopping is restricted between the Hollyford junction and The Chasm; carry chains in winter. Mobile coverage is limited beyond Te Anau. For the Milford Track, book the boat from Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf and the Sandfly Point pick-up in advance — Fiordland Outdoors Co. is one operator.
Visas & entry
- NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority)
NZ$17 via the official app or NZ$23 online (about US$10–13.50) Required for visa-waiver travellers, including US, Canadian, UK and EU citizens. Request it only through Immigration New Zealand's official app or website before you fly. Australian citizens do not need one. - International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL)
NZ$100 (about US$58.50) per person Paid at the same time as the NZeTA or visa application; non-refundable, even if the application is declined. Australian passport holders, many Pacific Island nationals and Auckland transit passengers are exempt.
The fees above are from Immigration New Zealand's May 2026 fees guide. A separate charge for international visitors at Milford Sound and three other conservation sites is being legislated but was not in force at the time of writing — check doc.govt.nz before you travel.
Ways to spend the time
1 day, any season
Milford Sound in a day from Te Anau
- Early — fill up with fuel in Te Anau and leave by 7:30am; stop at Mirror Lakes while the water is still.
- Mid-morning — detour down the Hollyford Road for the 30-minute Humboldt Falls track.
- Late morning — through the Homer Tunnel, stop at The Chasm, then park at Milford Sound with 45 minutes to spare.
- Afternoon — cruise past Stirling and Lady Bowen Falls, walk the foreshore for the Bowen view, and drive back to Te Anau before dark.
2 days, October – April
Two days with a night at the sound
- Day 1 — drive from Te Anau with stops at Mirror Lakes, Humboldt Falls and The Chasm; check into Milford Sound Lodge or board the overnight cruise.
- Day 1 evening — the foreshore walk and Mitre Peak at dusk after the day visitors leave.
- Day 2 — sunrise Stirling Sunriser kayak trip to the foot of Stirling Falls, or a morning Sutherland Falls helicopter flight if the weather is clear.
- Day 2 afternoon — drive back to Te Anau or on to Queenstown.
6 days, November – April
The Milford Track to Sutherland Falls
- Day 1 — Queenstown to Te Anau; collect hut tickets and final weather advice at the Fiordland Visitor Centre.
- Days 2–3 — boat from Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf and a short walk to Clinton Hut; the next day up the Clinton Valley to Mintaro Hut.
- Day 4 — over Mackinnon Pass, then drop your pack at Quintin Shelter for the 90-minute return side trip to the base of Sutherland Falls before Dumpling Hut.
- Days 5–6 — down the Arthur Valley past Mackay and Giant Gate Falls to Sandfly Point, boat to Milford, and a cruise past Stirling and Bowen the next morning before heading back.
Practical notes
- Booking the Milford Track Hut bookings open once a year in May for the whole following summer — 13 May 2026 for the 2026/27 season — and typically sell out in minutes. Create a DOC account beforehand, log in early, have every walker's details ready and hold backup dates. If you miss out, watch for cancellations or book the Ultimate Hikes guided walk, which uses its own lodges.
- Money and costs Prices here are converted at about US$0.585 per NZ dollar (late September 2026). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but there are no shops, ATMs or fuel between Te Anau and Milford Sound. International visitors pay higher DOC hut fees than New Zealanders — NZ$152 versus NZ$106 a night on the Milford Track in 2026/27.
- Weather and what to pack Expect rain whatever the forecast: Milford Sound averages about 6.4 metres a year. A proper waterproof jacket, warm layers and quick-drying clothes matter more than anything else, on the track or on a cruise deck. Scenic flights are frequently cancelled for cloud, so book them early in your trip and keep a fallback.
- Sandflies Fiordland's sandflies are small, persistent and at their worst on still summer days near water — the Milford Sound foreshore and Milford Track huts especially. Bring a strong repellent, long sleeves and trousers. They are harmless apart from the itch, but they will shape how long you want to linger at a viewpoint.
- Driving the Milford Road Allow two hours each way from Te Anau without stops, plus parking time in summer, and eight hours for a day trip with a cruise. Traffic lights at the Homer Tunnel can add 20 minutes. From June to October, check the NZ Transport Agency's SH94 status page before leaving — the road closes when avalanche hazard is high — and carry chains.
- Track safety off-season From May to October the Milford Track huts are unserviced, and DOC describes cold, wet conditions with ice, snow, flooding and avalanche risk, and short daylight hours. It should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well-equipped trampers. Summer walkers should also be ready for Mackinnon Pass to be crossed in snow or high wind.
How it compares
This waterfall
Sutherland Falls
New Zealand
Height580 mWidth—
Most similar
La Chorrera
Colombia
Height590 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall and of similar height
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
108 m
330 m
580 m
590 m
979 m
Victoria FallsEiffel TowerSutherland FallsLa ChorreraAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 1.7× taller than Sutherland Falls. It drops 5.4× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Sutherland Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Sutherland Falls
1:15
1:14
3:21
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Natural history
Wild Fiordland: Discovering the Natural History of a World Heritage Area
Neville Peat and Brian Patrick · 2006
Explains the glacial landforms, rainfall and wildlife that shape Fiordland's hanging-valley waterfalls.
Walking guide
New Zealand's Great Walks: The Complete Guide
Paul Hersey and Shelley Hersey · 2018
Covers the Milford Track day by day, including the side trip from Quintin Hut to the foot of Sutherland Falls.
DK Eyewitness New ZealandDK Eyewitness
Guidebook
DK Eyewitness New Zealand
DK Eyewitness · 2024
Illustrated maps and regional chapters, helpful for planning a road trip between Taupo, Waitomo and Fiordland.
On the map
Questions people actually ask
Can you see Sutherland Falls from a Milford Sound cruise?
No. Sutherland Falls is about 20 km south-west of Milford Sound, up the Arthur Valley, and no cruise passes it. You can reach it on foot via a 90-minute return side trip from Quintin Shelter on the Milford Track, or see it from the air — Milford Helicopters' flight from Milford Sound circles the falls and lands above Lake Quill. The falls you see from cruises are Stirling and Lady Bowen.
How tall is Sutherland Falls?
About 580 metres (1,904 feet), in three leaps from Lake Quill — roughly 229, 248 and 103 metres. DOC gives 580 m; some operators and references say 581 m. It is New Zealand's tallest waterfall, more than twice the height of Humboldt Falls (275 m) and far taller than Lady Bowen (162 m) and Stirling (151 m) Falls in Milford Sound.
How much does the Milford Track cost in 2026/27?
DOC hut fees are NZ$152 (about US$89) per night for international adults and NZ$106 for New Zealand residents; international children pay NZ$76 a night and NZ children NZ$53. Three nights are mandatory, so international adults pay NZ$456 (about US$267) in hut fees, plus boat and bus transport at each end. The Ultimate Hikes guided walk starts at NZ$2,925 (about US$1,711) with lodges and meals.
When do Milford Track bookings open?
Once a year, in May, for the following November-to-April season. Bookings for 2026/27 opened on 13 May 2026, and the track usually sells out within minutes. Bookings for the 2027/28 season will most likely open in May 2027; DOC announces exact dates in advance. Outside the Great Walk season you can walk without the booking crunch, but only if you are experienced.
Which cruise gets closest to Stirling Falls?
All the main day cruises — RealNZ, Southern Discoveries and Cruise Milford — nose in beneath Stirling Falls when conditions allow, close enough to soak the bow. For the nearest approach under your own power, Rosco's Milford Kayaks' Stirling Sunriser paddles to the foot of the fall at dawn; it is for over-16s. Lady Bowen Falls can also be seen from the Milford Sound foreshore.
Is the Milford Road open in winter?
Usually, yes, but with conditions. The avalanche season normally runs June to October over a 17 km stretch from Falls Creek. When the hazard is moderate the road may close at short notice; when it is high the road is closed. Stopping is restricted between the Hollyford junction and The Chasm. Carry chains, fuel up in Te Anau and check the NZ Transport Agency SH94 status before setting off.
Do I need an NZeTA to visit Milford Sound?
You need one to enter New Zealand if you travel visa-free on a US, Canadian, UK or EU passport. It costs NZ$17 by the official app or NZ$23 online, plus the NZ$100 International Visitor Levy, paid together before you fly. Australian citizens need neither. There is currently no separate fee to visit Milford Sound, though one for international visitors is being legislated.
Is it worth visiting Milford Sound in the rain?
Yes — arguably more than in sunshine. Milford Sound gets rain on around 185 days a year, and heavy rain turns the fiord walls into hundreds of temporary waterfalls while Stirling and Bowen roar at full volume. Cruises run in the rain unless winds are extreme. The downsides are low cloud hiding Mitre Peak and a higher chance of scenic flights being cancelled.
Where is Sutherland Falls?
Sutherland Falls is in New Zealand (Fiordland, South Island), inside Fiordland National Park. The nearest base is Te Anau and the closest airport is ZQN. Its coordinates are -44.8002, 167.7302.
Sources (32)
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- www.realnz.com/en/experiences/cruises/milford-sound-cruises/
- www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/
- www.cruisemilfordnz.com/
- roscosmilfordkayaks.com/
- www.airmilford.co.nz/
- www.newzealand.com/uk/plan/business/sutherland-falls-helicopter-scenic-milford-helicopters…
- www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/fees-processing-times-and-ref…
- www.immigration.govt.nz/assets/inz/documents/forms-and-guides/Fees-Guide-INZ-1028.pdf
- www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/increase-to-visa-charges-comes-into-effect-fr…
- www.tradingpedia.com/2026/09/24/kiwi-dollar-holds-near-0-5850-ahead-of-trump-xi-talks/
- www.kayak.com/Te-Anau-Hotels.49311.hotel.ksp
- www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsList-Te_Anau-Lodge-Luxury-zfp14333691.html
- www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g255121-Milford_Sound_Murihiku_Southland_South_Island-Hotels.ht…
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutherland_Falls
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Bowen_Falls
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_Falls
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milford_Sound
Prices, fees and entry rules change. We re-check full guides regularly; spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Nearby
Closest to Sutherland Falls
UNESCO Bowen Falls
New Zealand · 162 m · 20 km away
One of only two permanent waterfalls on Milford Sound
UNESCO Stirling Falls
New Zealand · 151 m · 20 km away
One of only two permanent waterfalls on Milford Sound
Kayaking
Humboldt Falls
New Zealand · 275 m · 30 km away
Humboldt Falls is a waterfall located in the Hollyford Valley in the Fiordland district of New Zealand. They…
Browne Falls
New Zealand · 836 m · 80 km away
Browne Falls is a waterfall above Doubtful Sound, which is located in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand.…