Milford Sound and the drive there rank as some of the best scenery I saw in New Zealand. The road there has breathtaking views of mountains and snow, but take care as it has the sharpest bends i've seen on any roads and has a high accident rate and high risk of injury if involved in an accident.

The Homer Tunnel is amazing, and make sure you stop to admire the views before entering when heading towards the sound. I have heard that this may be dangerous in winter time due to avalanches though. Also don't be afraid of the parrots, but please don't feed them. Yes they might bite you if you let them, and they do like to rip up windscreen wipers and mudflaps, but they're gentle birds as long as you make sure they know who's boss.

The sound itself offered spectacular views of cliffs, mountains, snow, waterfalls, seals, penguins, and other beauties of nature.

I did a roughly 2 hour cruise on Mitre Peak Cruises, which was awesome value. They're a smaller operator than a couple of the others, but don't let that discourage you. The boat is small and nimble enough to get up close to the shore and under waterfalls. The Captain made sure we got up close to thing so interest like the seals and penguins and even under a waterfall so people could get wet for fun is they chose. Good commentary and skillful piloting. Free tea and coffee too, a pity they ran out of soup as it was the last cruise of the day.

If you take the last cruise of the day, you won't be able to visit the underwater observatory as part of your cruise, but what they don't tell you on the website is that you can come back the next day and visit the observatory for free. I'd highly reccommend Mitre Peak Cruises.

A word of warning though, be prepared for the mosquitos (or whatever they are). During the cruise they were not to be seen, but as sun was setting and we were in the car park before heading home, massive swarms of insects would gather around each person. Make sure you wear lots of insect repellant.

milford sound boasts some of new zealand's most spectacular scenary. beautiful all year round, the day cruise on one of the several boats offers a truely memorable experience with amazing waterfalls, jaggared cliff faces and rare and exotic wildlife. the beauty of this region can be seen even before you reach the sound. there is very little accommodation in milford (unless you are a keen camper), so most visitors stay in beautiful Te Anau about an hour away. the drive from Te Anau to milford is part of this magnificent experience where you will see the mirror lakes and the disappearing mountains on a clear day with magical mist and snow depending on the weather. great all year round however the roads to milford often get snowed in in winter so ring ahead to check. my suggestion is however that no matter what time of year you go, bring a warm weather-proof jacket and enjoy the experience.

Milford Sound is a wonderful place to visit, even on the slightly overcast day we went. The boat cruises are all around NZ$70 for around 2 hours and we got up close to waterfalls, saw dolphins and seals and even made it out to the Tasman Sea.

We drove from Te Anau to Milford (around 2 hours non-stop), which allowed us to stop at a few of the walks on the way back. There's a wide variety of walks, ranging from 10 mins to all day hikes. Guides can be bought from Te Anau DOC centre.

Be warned: we went slightly out of season and the roads were largely clear, but we still ended up stuck behind a number of coaches, which are impossible to pass. You must plan your trip around the large tour parties to fully enjoy the day.

Also, snow chains may be required in winter months, which can be hired for NZ$25 from garages in Te Anau, and the road may be closed due to avalanches.

Milford Sound is a spectacular reminder of the forces of nature, formed thousands of years ago during the ice ages. It is an absolutely beautiful place. It doesn’t matter what the weather is like because its gorgeous on a sunny day and when it rains there are lots more waterfalls. It is breathtaking and it is something you must do.