A factor in the beauty of the area is the calm, clean water, which is surrounded by enormous cliffs with multiple waterfalls cascading down along the way. Due to the sheer rock faces, the wind often hits the sides and goes straight up. When the wind mixes with a waterfall, the water sometimes actually moves upwards along the cliffs. Those are just a few of its wonders.
Milford Sound is New Zealand's most popular tourist destination, amassing between 500,000 and 1 million visitors per year. Despite this, it only has 120 residents, most of which are involved either with tourism or conservation.
The low population is due to Milford Sound's remoteness. It's 75 miles (121 km) away from the nearest tourism center and four hours from both Queenstown and Invercargill. Most visitors stay in one of these places, as there aren't many accommodations available at the site itself.
There are a few different ways tourists can visit Milford Sound. There are various boat tours available, almost exclusively departing from the above cities and towns. Some do go overnight, but most are only for one day. There are also some small planes that will take tourists for an aerial view of the location.
Perhaps the most beautiful and fulfilling way to travel is along the Milford Track. It's not for everyone, however. It's a four-day walk, and the only way to get help is by helicopter. Luckily, helicopters are usually around, as they're used to clean up the waste that people leave behind on these walking tours.
