Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound: How to choose

When planning a trip to New Zealand and the South Island, there are a few things that need to be on your to-do list. And one of these is, of course, taking a trip to Fjordland and a cruise on one of the famous Sounds. Two of the most beautiful spots in the country, but if you are short of time, Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound. How do you decide which one to visit?

I visited both during my time in New Zealand, so I have put this post together to help you decide which one would be better for you in the Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound debate. Or indeed, if you wanted to visit both!

QUICK BOOKING LINKS

MILFORD SOUND:
Milford Sound day cruise
Milford Sound overnight cruise
Milford Sound trip from Queenstown
Milford Sound trip from Te Anau
Milford Sound trip with flight

DOUBTFUL SOUND
Doubtful Sound day cruise
Doubtful Sound overnight cruise
Doubtful Sound trip from Queenstown

Cars & Hotels
Rental car from Queenstown
Hotel in Milford
Hotels in Te Anau

What are the Sounds in New Zealand?

There are 14 sounds across New Zealand, which are all located in Fiordland. While geographically, they are technically fjords, the early European settlers in New Zealand named them Sounds, and the name stuck. The Sounds are narrow inlets from the sea that were carved by glaciers.

You can expect huge cliffs and enormous waterfalls cascading down into the Sounds. Deep, dark waters formed from the unique way that a fresh layer of rainwater sits on top of the denser salt water. Vertical rainforests that cling to and grow out of the rock. And wildlife encounters from beautiful creatures such as Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins, native birds and New Zealand Fur Seals.

Two of the most well-known Sounds, the subject of this blog post – Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound.

Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound: Why it is hard to choose

You’ve made it to the South Island, you are visiting Fiordland, and you’re ready to explore the Sounds. But which one? Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound both promise an incredible wilderness experience. They’re both spectacular, both breathtaking, and both will blow your mind. For many, picking just one feels impossible. Let’s break down why this decision is so tough and what each of these natural wonders offers.

Milford Sound is the most well-known and the most popular of the two, mainly because it is more accessible from Queenstown and offers self-driving options. Doubtful Sound is the quieter option and requires more time to get to. Both are absolutely beautiful, and either choice will result in the most phenomenal day trip.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is one of the most popular places on any New Zealand itinerary. It is featured on many promo shots for the country and has been called the 8th Wonder of the World.

The Pros

Accessibility

Without a doubt, it is much easier to reach Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound. Milford Sound is technically further from Queenstown at 287 KM from the town. However, it is connected via roads to the gateway to Milford Sound. Because of this, there are a lot of options for how to get to Milford Sound.

Firstly, you can book a day trip from Queenstown. While this is a long day, 12 hours round trip, it is a great option if you don’t have a car. Alternatively, there are tours you can join which pick you up from the nearest main town, Te Anau. Finally, you can also drive yourself, with the drive along the Milford Road. This is known as one of the most scenic places in New Zealand. However, be aware that the car park nearest to Milford Sound is the most expensive in New Zealand, and gets full quickly. You can park along the road, but this also gets busy, so make sure to leave yourself plenty of time.

Dramatic Scenery

Milford Sound is one of the most well-known places in New Zealand, and it has really earned this acclaim. Its dramatic scenery is utterly captivating. Think towering, sheer rock faces plunging straight into inky black waters, all carved out by ancient glaciers.

Dominating the scene is the iconic Mitre Peak, a huge dome that seems to appear directly out of the fjord. Expect waterfalls, and lots of them. There are a few permanent cascades like Stirling and Bowen Falls, but after a lot of rain, hundreds more appear from the cliffs, transforming the landscape into a living, breathing spectacle of water and mist. It is said it is good when it rains, as you get to experience all these falls.

Cost Effective

As Milford Sound is more accessible, there are more tour options to choose from. Given this competitiveness, the tours are often slightly cheaper than Doubtful Sound. Given the number of options, there is a tour to suit most budget needs. The result is that Milford Sound is the most cost-effective option.

Variety of Tours

When visiting Milford Sound, you will take a cruise. Starting from the visitor centre, these take around 2 hours and take you right to the mouth of the Sound. It is, without a doubt, the best and really only way to see the true majesty of the Sound.

However, to make the most of your day, there is a huge variety of other tours you can do to see more of the Sound and the surrounding area. These include walks, day cruises, scenic flights and kayaking.

“Classic” New Zealand Experience

Milford Sound is one of the most famous views in New Zealand, and is often used to promote the country. So if you are after one of the iconic New Zealand experiences, this is the place to head. It will be everything you imagined the country to look like when you were dreaming of your trip.

The Cons

Crowds

Due to its popularity and being one of the more accessible Sounds, it does get very busy. Particularly in peak season. The boats, of course, have maximum capacity, but it means it can be a bit of a squeeze to try and get the best photo spots. The visitor centre is busy, with long queues for the facilities, and there will be lots of other boats around you when you are on the cruise out in the Sound.

Weather

Fjordland, home to both Milford and Doubtful Sound, is known for its rain. With over 200 rainy days a year. However, Milford Sound is slightly rainier. It is the wettest inhabited place on earth, getting up to 7 metres of rain per year. This is compared to Doubtful’s 6 metres per year. Meaning, Milford has a higher chance of rain.

Despite this, it is said that the rain enhances the atmosphere and creates plenty of new waterfalls and cascades. So perhaps the damp isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Less Remote Feel

Given that it is easier to access, Milford Sound has much higher visitor numbers, as mentioned. This means that it doesn’t feel like a very remote place, even considering where it is. If it is ‘off the beaten track’ that you crave, you might not find it here.

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound is three times bigger than Milford Sound, but so much quieter. It is Milford Sound’s lesser-known sister, and is called the ‘Sound of Silence’. Famed for its deep and still waters and dramatic scenery – an incredibly impressive place.

The pros

Seclusion and Serenity

The remoteness and hard-to-access Doubtful Sound mean that fewer tourists travel there. The terminal to board the ferry is much smaller, and often you won’t see another boat on the cruise. This creates a much more tranquil feeling of being truly surrounded by this awe-inspiring scenery.

However, while there are significantly fewer people there, and you might even be on the only tourist boat, you still are on a tourist boat. All the people who travelled with you to get to Doubtful Sound are on the same boat. So there might still be the feeling of being in a crowd while on the cruise.

One of the highlights of the trip is the Sound of Silence, where they turn off the boat engines and everyone on board goes completely silent. I have never heard peace like it; the experience was worth it for this alone.

Larger and Deeper

Physically bigger than Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound really does have a different feel from Milford. Due to its remoteness, there is much more of an air of untamed wildness to this part of New Zealand. You will immediately be taken in by the sheer vastness of Doubtful Sound. This Sound is significantly larger and deeper than Milford Sound, with multiple arms branching off the main waterway. The sheer magnitude of Doubtful Sound will dwarf you, leaving you in awe of the sense of remoteness and isolation.

Unique Journey

Getting to Doubtful Sound is as much a part of the experience as actually being there. To begin, you get a boat across Lake Manapouri. This lake is said to be New Zealand’s loveliest lake, formed by glacial action in the most recent ice age, around 20,000 years ago. It is set underneath the beautiful Cathedral Mountains and has four arms, North, South, West and Hope.

Once you have crossed Lake Manapouri, you then board a bus to ride over Wilmot Pass. This takes around 40 minutes, and you do get a stop at the top of the pass to look down over the views. An incredibly beautiful drive.

Wildlife Opportunities

While you have a good chance of seeing wildlife at both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound (I saw dolphins at Milford Sound!), statistically, you have a higher chance of seeing dolphins, seals, and penguins in the less disturbed environment of Doubtful Sound.

Overnight Cruises

If you want to do something a little bit special, then spending a night sleeping overnight on one of the Sounds has got to be a good choice. Of the two, Doubtful Sound is the one to do this in. I sadly didn’t get the chance to, but did see the boat pulling back to shore as we set off. You have the option of kayaking, swimming, and a three-course meal. Then spend the night in the true middle of nowhere.

There are options to do this at Milford Sound, but you wouldn’t have quite the same level of remoteness.

The Cons

Time Commitment

It is not a quick trip to get to Doubtful Sound. Requiring at least a full day (or more if you want to stay overnight). It is possible to take a day trip from Queenstown; however, this is going to be a very long day, with lots of travel involved.

While the journey is part of the experience, you are going to need to have time in your itinerary to fit this in. Particularly if you want a shorter day and stay in Te Anau the day before and after.

More Expensive

Generally, visiting Doubtful Sound is more expensive. This is due to the various modes of transport required to access the Sound. As well as the higher exclusivity that visiting Doubtful Sound offers. Having fewer choices when it comes to tours hikes up the prices when compared to visiting Milford Sound.

Less Accessible

There is no option to drive yourself to Doubtful Sound. You need to use the ferry to cross Lake Manapouri. You have to book onto an organised day trip, which can be joined from Queenstown, Manapouri or Te Anau. If you value your complete independence, then this might not be the option for you.

Weather

While both Sounds are, of course, still subject to the dramatic Fjordland weather, the scale of Doubtful Sound can make it feel even more dramatic. When the weather turns, the already huge cliffs can disappear into heavy mist and low-hanging clouds. This could potentially obscure those stunning views you travelled all the way for. While the rain does bring the incredible waterfalls to life, a day of relentless downpour in such a vast, remote setting might feel less like a dramatic spectacle and more like a challenge if you were hoping for clear, stunning views.

Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound: Deciding factors

Use this table for a quick snapshot as to which might be better for you!

	Milford Sound	Doubtful Sound	The winner
Travel time to get there	Much faster from Queenstown or Te Anau.	The most popular Sound so very crowded. Particularly in peak season.	Milford Sound
Cost	Considered a higher chance of seeing wildlife!	Limited choice of tours and more transport required result in a higher cost.	Milford Sound
Crowd levels	Much more popular, so lots of tours to choose from.	Much more remote, and often you will be the only boat. Much quieter.	Doubtful Sound
Scenery and Atmosphere	One of the most iconic sights in New Zealand.	Worth it for the sound of silence alone!	A tie!
Wildlife Spotting	Chance of seeing dolphins, birds and other wildlife.	Dolphins, seals and birds are often spotted.	Doubtful Sound
Tour options	Much more popular so lots of tours to choose from.	Much fewer options, but better for an overnight experience.	Milford Sound

When is Milford Sound better?

Milford Sound might be the better option for you to choose if:

• You are limited on time.
• You are on a tighter budget.
• Are first-time visitors to Fjordland and want the classic experience.
• Prefer self-driving to tours.

When is Doubtful Sound Better?

Doubtful Sound might be the one to choose if:

• You are looking for a deeper, more tranquil wilderness experience.
• Have more time and a higher budget.
• Are a wildlife enthusiast.
• You prefer guided tours and don’t mind the longer journey.
• You are looking for an overnight experience.

Milford Sound Vs Doubtful Sound – Making Your Choice and the questions to ask yourself

If you are still unsure of which might be the best option for you, Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound, ask yourself the following questions:

• How much time do you have?
• What’s your budget?
• Do you prefer crowds or solitude?
• Are you keen on seeing specific wildlife?
• Are you happy to be on an organised tour from start to finish?
• What kind of “vibe” are you looking for?

Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound: Should you visit both?

If you have time, and if the Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound debate is too hard, I would definitely recommend seeing them both! While they have similar landscapes, they both offer something different.

My only recommendation would be to perhaps have a day or two between the visits, rather than seeing them one after the other. It is a lot of time travelling, and then on boats. I think having a small break between, so you don’t get Sound fatigue, will truly help you appreciate the majestic wonder these awe-inspiring places have.

Where to stay – Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound

Here are the best choices of accommodation in Queenstown, Te Anau, and the one hotel in Milford if you want to stay closer! Whether you choose Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound, you are going to need to stay in one of these locations before and after.

HOTELS IN QUEENSTOWN:
Higher End: Eichardt’s Private Hotel – A refined lakeside boutique hotel in a historic building and spectacular Lake Wakatipu views.
Mid Range: Blue Peaks Lodge – Comfortable lodge offering well appointed rooms, kitchenettes and easy access to Coronet Peak and Onsen pools.
Budget: Haka House – Situated in a quiet residential area, but only minutes from town, with friendly vibes.

HOTELS IN TE ANAU:
Higher End: Fiordland Lodge – A luxurious, intimate lodge set lakeside with fine dining and a renowned wine cellar.
Mid Range: Distinction Te Anau Hotels & Villas – Hotel and villas on the lakefront, with spa facilities, sauna, outdoor pool and lovely gardens.
Budget: Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers – A relaxed lakeside hostel offering private, shared, cabin, glamping and dorm style rooms.

HOTELS IN MILFORD:
There is only one option in Milford:
Milford Lodge – A cosy and scenic base nestled at the edge of Fiordland National Park. As it is the only accommodation, it gets booked fast.

I hope this helps you decide whether Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound is the trip for you. Or indeed, if you want to visit both!

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