rmgood

Depending on travel agent, some stop in Te Anal, someone Queenstown. Which is better?

Melnq8

Depends on what you want to do.

Queenstown is a beautiful, albeit very touristy town. It has shops, restaurants, cafés, myriad activities, lake excursions, pubs, casinos, etc. It's situated in a beautiful spot, surrounded by the glorious Remarkables.

Te Anau is much smaller, more sedate and at the doorstep of some fantastic tracks. It's very quiet compared to QT and has limited services. If you need to be entertained, go for QT. If you like fewer people, peace and quiet, go for Te Anau.

They're both used as bases for seeing Milford. From QT it's a four hour drive to Milford each way, from Te Anau, it's a two hour drive each way.

For the best of both worlds, do both.

rmgood

Thanks!

For this trip, Queenstown sound best. However, a 4 hour bus drive does not sound good... perhaps driving a rental to Te Anau? Our next stop is Sydney or Cairnes... does htat mkae a difference in where to stay first - Te Anau or Queenstown?

Melnq8

The bus trip from QT to Milford and return takes about 13 hours total - it's a very long day. The bus stops in Te Anau for a loo break and stops at some of the overlooks along Milford Road en route to Milford Sound.

You can certainly make the drive yourself via rental car, but you're still looking at very long day - four hours of driving each way from QT-Milford, plus the time needed for stops en route (lots of nice tracks along the way) and of course the cruise at Milford Sound. I prefer driving myself as I like the flexibility, but some prefer the bus so they can absorb the sights w/o having to deal with driving.

If you want to see Milford Sound, the drive can't be avoided...although you could take the bus one way and fly back via an organized tour.

For access to Milford, I personally prefer to stay in Te Anau, but I'm an avid hiker, so it's as much for the tracks between Te Anau and Milford as for the sound itself.

You can't go wrong with either, it just boils down to how much time you have and what you want to do.

I assume you're leaving for AUS from Queenstown? If so, your departure time will dictate where you stay the night before. Chances are, it'll make more sense to spend that last night in QT.