Were there any issues driving in and out of Milford during winter? We are planning to go late June to July and some people recommend taking a bus in but by the looks of your video it is not crowed and the snow is not affecting the road. I did see one other video where it did snow there and there was traffic build up as they had to clear the road. But it could be a timing thing as people were rushing to get to the tunnel before it closed.
Yeah mate, we got held up leaving. It was great. I made a video "NZ4. Milford Sound in Winter". Our experience: If you have a car, then drive. If a bus can make it, a car can make it. We were getting awesome photos in the snow, all the people had to stay on the bus. No people on busses were allowed off. But all the people in the cars got out and played in the snow. We were late June and an unusual cold snap came through which made it snowy, but that was awesome. We were on the 1pm(ish) boat and on the boat they gave regular tunnel updates. We were a bit stressed cause we aren't snow people, but at the end of the day there's about 3 buses of people that seem to do that trip twice a day, everyday. If I did it again, I would only take a bus if I didn't already have a car. Hope that helps.
@@dasarktik omg I just realised the other video I was referencing was your video too 😂 how the scenery changes so drastically. We are doing it in a camper van and it’s 2 wheel drive but again if there buses there should be hope I guess. What time did you have to get out? The only other thing that sucks about winter is it gets dark too early.
@@forzer456 Yup it looks like 2 different days, but those 2 videos are the one day driving from Te Anau and back. Quite a few campers drove out and back when we did. 90% of the cars were 2 wheel drive when we left Milford. They do a good job keeping the road clear for everybody. Yeah, it gets dark way early. You can see by the time we get through the tunnel and take the chains off that it's already dark. We didn't need the chains. But the bus put them on, so we did. If you on the afternoon boat, there's enough time to see the sights on the drive out. Also, that snow, it's not normal that time of year. We got lucky. Be ready for it, but don't count on it. It was my first time driving in snow, so we probably were a little over dramatic :) Drive out mate, you'll want to stop on your terms. It's so amazing, especially that big valley. Still wouldn't leave in the morning till after the sun comes up. Overnight low temperatures is what causes black ice. Just keep an eye on the weather apps. Oh yeah, there's also signs in the servos and beside the road that update and say if the road is open. I forgot about them. Just check the signs in the servo's, they a big digital board. I should have lead with that 😆Sorry about the big reply.
@forzer456 We left straight after boat ride. maybe 3:30pm? We got back to Te Anau maybe 7:30pm? We were stopped at the tunnel for maybe 1hr? Typical speeds in the snowy conditions were 30 -50kph. everywhere else was normal speeds.
Cheers. We did use the snow chains in Late June. But if you don't go up to the ski resorts, then you might not need them. I don’t think there is any snow in early June. It was easy to add snow chains to the hire car.
Hiii waching your vedio from India Mumbai .. its really nice watching enjoying your road trip with family we too are planning our trip to NZ in june with our 2 adult children...but bit tensed as this will be our first Road trip . hope everything will go well . Can you guide us with the best route from north to south dat wise in 12 to 14days .... waiting for your positive response....thank you
Hi, I'm not familiar with the whole South Island. Our trip took 10days: Christchurch (1night), Mt Cook (1Night), Wanaka (1night), TeAnau (2nights), Queenstown (3nights). If I did the trip again I would only stay 2 nights in Queenstown and add: Fox Glacier Kaikoura Seal Colony Google apps was reliable for everywhere we drove. I think you will really enjoy your trip.
Not in this video. But in the next video NZ4 when we were coming home most people and busses put chains on. But they cleared the road really well, I don't think it was needed.
It was the first week of July. Right at the start of the snow season. We were lucky to get a cold weather cell come through, made it snowier than normal at that time of year.
OMG that’s the most incredible drive I’ve ever seeeeeeen 😂🎉
End was a bit boring though. Maybe 15minutes instead of 18 would have been enough 😅
Haha - Maybe.
We drove there end of June. Beautiful trip., we stayed overnight at the cabins inside Milford
Those cabins looked great, but we weren't able to get a booking for when we were there.
Were there any issues driving in and out of Milford during winter? We are planning to go late June to July and some people recommend taking a bus in but by the looks of your video it is not crowed and the snow is not affecting the road. I did see one other video where it did snow there and there was traffic build up as they had to clear the road. But it could be a timing thing as people were rushing to get to the tunnel before it closed.
Yeah mate, we got held up leaving. It was great. I made a video "NZ4. Milford Sound in Winter". Our experience:
If you have a car, then drive. If a bus can make it, a car can make it.
We were getting awesome photos in the snow, all the people had to stay on the bus. No people on busses were allowed off. But all the people in the cars got out and played in the snow.
We were late June and an unusual cold snap came through which made it snowy, but that was awesome.
We were on the 1pm(ish) boat and on the boat they gave regular tunnel updates.
We were a bit stressed cause we aren't snow people, but at the end of the day there's about 3 buses of people that seem to do that trip twice a day, everyday.
If I did it again, I would only take a bus if I didn't already have a car.
Hope that helps.
@@dasarktik omg I just realised the other video I was referencing was your video too 😂 how the scenery changes so drastically. We are doing it in a camper van and it’s 2 wheel drive but again if there buses there should be hope I guess. What time did you have to get out? The only other thing that sucks about winter is it gets dark too early.
@@forzer456 Yup it looks like 2 different days, but those 2 videos are the one day driving from Te Anau and back. Quite a few campers drove out and back when we did. 90% of the cars were 2 wheel drive when we left Milford. They do a good job keeping the road clear for everybody. Yeah, it gets dark way early. You can see by the time we get through the tunnel and take the chains off that it's already dark. We didn't need the chains. But the bus put them on, so we did. If you on the afternoon boat, there's enough time to see the sights on the drive out. Also, that snow, it's not normal that time of year. We got lucky. Be ready for it, but don't count on it. It was my first time driving in snow, so we probably were a little over dramatic :) Drive out mate, you'll want to stop on your terms. It's so amazing, especially that big valley. Still wouldn't leave in the morning till after the sun comes up. Overnight low temperatures is what causes black ice. Just keep an eye on the weather apps. Oh yeah, there's also signs in the servos and beside the road that update and say if the road is open. I forgot about them. Just check the signs in the servo's, they a big digital board. I should have lead with that 😆Sorry about the big reply.
@forzer456 We left straight after boat ride. maybe 3:30pm? We got back to Te Anau maybe 7:30pm? We were stopped at the tunnel for maybe 1hr? Typical speeds in the snowy conditions were 30 -50kph. everywhere else was normal speeds.
Thanks for the great video. I am planning to go in early June this year; do we need snow chain in June? Did you use it?
Cheers. We did use the snow chains in Late June. But if you don't go up to the ski resorts, then you might not need them.
I don’t think there is any snow in early June.
It was easy to add snow chains to the hire car.
Hiii waching your vedio from India Mumbai .. its really nice watching enjoying your road trip with family we too are planning our trip to NZ in june with our 2 adult children...but bit tensed as this will be our first Road trip . hope everything will go well . Can you guide us with the best route from north to south dat wise in 12 to 14days .... waiting for your positive response....thank you
Hi, I'm not familiar with the whole South Island. Our trip took 10days:
Christchurch (1night),
Mt Cook (1Night),
Wanaka (1night),
TeAnau (2nights),
Queenstown (3nights).
If I did the trip again I would only stay 2 nights in Queenstown and add:
Fox Glacier
Kaikoura Seal Colony
Google apps was reliable for everywhere we drove.
I think you will really enjoy your trip.
Do you use snow chain while driving?
Not in this video. But in the next video NZ4 when we were coming home most people and busses put chains on. But they cleared the road really well, I don't think it was needed.
What date you captured this video?
It was the first week of July. Right at the start of the snow season. We were lucky to get a cold weather cell come through, made it snowier than normal at that time of year.