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Tuesday 05 March 2024
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Milford Sound

Milford international visitor access fee will need law change – MOP 5th March 2024 /

Milford international visitor access fee will need law change – MOP

The Milford Opportunities Project’s director says current legislation will not allow a toll on SH94 to Milford Sound.


Milford Sound road alliance wins award 6th December 2023

Milford Sound road alliance wins award

The alliance that maintains the gateway to Milford Sound has won the International Road Federation’s 2023 Global Road Achievement Award for Programme Management.


Milford aerodrome obtains CAA safety approval 23rd November 2023

Milford aerodrome obtains CAA safety approval

Safety at Milford Sound Airport’s aerodrome has been formally recognised through its achievement of a Qualifying Aerodrome Operator Certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority.


Night access to Milford disrupted as part of $29m upgrade 25th October 2023 /

Night access to Milford disrupted as part of $29m upgrade

Night access to Milford Sound Piopiotahi will be unavailable in November while Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency completes improvements to the Homer Tunnel.


Wild weather cuts Milford Sound access 21st September 2023 /

Wild weather cuts Milford Sound access

State Highway 94 into Milford Sound Piopiotahi has been closed due to a high avalanche risk associated with torrential rain.


International visitors, Kiwis back Milford Sound fee – research 14th September 2023

International visitors, Kiwis back Milford Sound fee – research

There’s also support for a cruise ship ban but less so for removing the aerodrome.


Operators urged to show thanks to healthcare workers 5th September 2023

Operators urged to show thanks to healthcare workers

Milford sound tourism businesses are urging operators around the country to get behind a new effort to show appreciation for healthcare workers.


Te Anau to Milford gets ultrafast broadband 25th August 2023

Te Anau to Milford gets ultrafast broadband

Remote communities and visitors between Te Anau to Milford can now access ultrafast broadband following the successful completion of a 118km fibre haul project.


MOP initiates search for new Milford permit, park & ride systems 9th August 2023 /

MOP initiates search for new Milford permit, park & ride systems

The Department of Conservation is seeking suppliers to identify ways to manage road access to Milford Sound Piopiotahi and to identify a park and ride system for the popular destination.


Lake Wakatipu exit allows Milford investment – Southern Discoveries 7th July 2023 /

Lake Wakatipu exit allows Milford investment – Southern Discoveries

Southern Discoveries says the sale of its Spirit of Queenstown vessel to RealNZ will enable it to invest in its Milford Sound cruises and coach operations.


Cool reception to Milford Sound cable car proposal 26th April 2023 /

Cool reception to Milford Sound cable car proposal

A scheme for a cable car up Bowen Falls to provide a “world-class activity” is mooted in the area’s masterplan.


Milford engagement sessions to start 24th April 2023 /

Milford engagement sessions to start

The Milford Opportunities Project will hold a series of engagement sessions with businesses, the community and other stakeholders starting in May 2023.


Milford Opportunities Project chair to retire 6th March 2023 /

Milford Opportunities Project chair to retire

Milford Opportunities Project chair Dr Keith Turner is retiring from the board at the end of the month after more than five years with the initiative.


Milford Opportunities Project opens hub 27th February 2023

Milford Opportunities Project opens hub

The Milford Opportunities Project has opened a new hub located at Te Anau Town Centre.


Nash rejects visitor caps, looks to Milford as tourism ‘test’ 22nd November 2022 /

Nash rejects visitor caps, looks to Milford as tourism ‘test’

The tourism minister says success in the sector in NZ is not about visitor numbers.


Time to test Milford masterplan – govt 5th October 2022

Time to test Milford masterplan – govt

“Considerable assessment, feasibility testing and planning work is now needed,” says Conservation Minister Poto Williams.


Milford Opportunities Project leader appointed 3rd August 2022 /

Milford Opportunities Project leader appointed

Business transformation professional Chris Goddard has been appointed to lead the controversial Milford Opportunities Project through its next chapter of growth.


Avalanche risk closes section of Milford Road 18th July 2022 /

Avalanche risk closes section of Milford Road

The closure begins at Hollyford Road and will remain in place all day Monday 18 July.


DOC questions value of Milford Sound airstrip, scenic planes 9th March 2022 /

DOC questions value of Milford Sound airstrip, scenic planes

Fixed wing aircraft may be incompatible with one of the jewels in NZ’s tourism crown, says one of DOC’s leaders.


Milford airport closure plan “quixotic, utopian” – Save Milford Airport group 20th September 2021

Milford airport closure plan “quixotic, utopian” – Save Milford Airport group

Milford Sound aviation operators and stakeholders have hit back at calls for the closure of the facility in a document that outlines the case to keep the runway.


Victorian explorer to rest easy as Fiordland names set for correction 27th August 2021 /

Victorian explorer to rest easy as Fiordland names set for correction

The New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa is calling for submissions on place name changes in Fiordland.


Speed reduced on major tourist route 3rd August 2021 /

Speed reduced on major tourist route

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has issued permanent reduced speed limits across a 19km stretch from the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound.


“Disgrace, kick in the guts, disrespectful” – Milford operators on masterplan 29th July 2021

“Disgrace, kick in the guts, disrespectful” – Milford operators on masterplan

Operators line up to challenge the plan’s recommendations with aviation and cruise at the front of the queue.


Mayors weigh in on Milford makeover 29th July 2021

Mayors weigh in on Milford makeover

The launch of the Milford masterplan has received a mixed reaction among local council leadership in the deep south.


Ban cruise ships, scrap aerodrome, charge foreigners – Milford masterplan 28th July 2021

Ban cruise ships, scrap aerodrome, charge foreigners – Milford masterplan

The Milford Opportunities Project unveils its highly-anticipated plan for the destination.


Te Anau Helicopter applies for 30 year lease at Milford Sound 12th May 2021 /

Te Anau Helicopter applies for 30 year lease at Milford Sound

DOC calling for submissions by 4 June.


Last opportunity for Milford Sound feedback 5th October 2020

Last opportunity for Milford Sound feedback

Feedback was required on possible options and ideas for the sound, the road leading into it and Te Anau and the surrounding regions.


Future of Milford Sound explored in survey 15th July 2020 /

Future of Milford Sound explored in survey

Public feedback is being sought on the future of Milford Sound Piopiotahi and its surrounding regions.


Fiordland’s Homer Tunnel to close for works 27th May 2020 /

Fiordland’s Homer Tunnel to close for works

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will close Homer Tunnel for road resurfacing following Queen’s Birthday weekend.


Milford Sound access to open for private vehicles 12th March 2020 /

Milford Sound access to open for private vehicles

Private vehicle access into and out of Milford Sound Piopiotahi will start on Monday 16 March.


NZTA outlines increased Milford access proposals 6th March 2020 /

NZTA outlines increased Milford access proposals

An increase in daily convoys into Milford Sound and night-time public access are two measures being proposed to widen access to the popular destination.


Milford Sound convoys set to continue as road repairs ongoing 2nd March 2020 /

Milford Sound convoys set to continue as road repairs ongoing

Convoys in and out of Milford Sound Piopiotahi are set to be ongoing as work continues on repairing the road following adverse weather that closed the highway in February.


Milford Haven launches second season 19th December 2019 /

Milford Haven launches second season

Go Orange’s Milford Haven has launched into its second season at Milford Sound.


Stopping areas of Milford Sound highway to close due to rockfall risk 21st November 2019 /

Stopping areas of Milford Sound highway to close due to rockfall risk

Two stopping areas on the Milford Sound highway (SH94) will close for the summer season, due to increased rockfall risk.


Safer speeds proposed for popular tourist route 15th November 2019 /

Safer speeds proposed for popular tourist route

Consultation on a proposal for safer speed limits on three sections of Milford Road are set to begin Monday, 18 November.


Real Journeys vessel strikes rock at Milford Sound 8th October 2018

Real Journeys vessel strikes rock at Milford Sound

A Real Journeys vessel carrying 39 tourists on a private charter hit a rock while seal watching.


After 15 years and nearly $400K, Milford Sound’s Bowen Falls track reopens 1st February 2018

After 15 years and nearly $400K, Milford Sound’s Bowen Falls track reopens

Milford Sound/Piopiotahi’s popular Lady Bowen Falls walk has reopened for the first time in more than 15 years.


Milford Sound introduces Smart Parking tech 21st December 2017

Milford Sound introduces Smart Parking tech

The popularity of Milford Sound Information Centre and Café with the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the area each year meant increasing pressure on the parking facilities.