Milford Sound Boat TourMilford Sound Waterfalls: Every Fall Worth Chasing
The Milford Sound waterfalls are the reason many people come. Two of them, Lady Bowen Falls at 162 metres and Stirling Falls at 151 or 155 metres depending on the source, run all year. After rain, hundreds of temporary cascades join them on the cliff faces, some falling a thousand metres from the summits. This guide lists every named fall you can see from the water, the road and the Milford Track, explains which ones run only after rain, and shows which Milford Sound boat tour goes close to each one. Rain is a feature here, not a problem. Milford Sound collects between 6,412 mm and about 7.5 m of rain a year depending on the source, and the falls are at their best because of it.
Bowen Falls in Fiordland National Park. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Quick answer Milford Sound waterfalls at a glance
Milford Sound has two permanent waterfalls, Lady Bowen Falls at 162 metres and Stirling Falls at 151 to 155 metres, plus semi-permanent falls such as Fairy Falls and Palisade Falls and hundreds of temporary cascades that appear after rain.
Key takeaways
- Both permanent falls sit on the standard cruise route, and some small boat cruises go right under Stirling Falls.
- The Boutique Small-Boat Cruise passes under Fairy Falls and Stirling Falls on a 1 hour 45 minute run.
- Rain is what makes the sound spectacular. Hundreds of temporary waterfalls form on wet days, as covered in the rain and wildlife section.
- Sutherland Falls on the Milford Track drops 580 metres, which is a different trip entirely. See the Milford Sound weather guide for how rainfall changes through the year.
Every Named Waterfall at a Glance
The table below pulls together every named waterfall connected with Milford Sound, its height where a source gives one, whether it runs permanently, and where you see it from. Heights come from Wikipedia, DOC and operator pages, and where two sources disagree both figures are shown.
The Full List
Some of these falls you see from a boat, some from a car park on the Milford Road, and one you only reach on foot on the Milford Track. Pick the row that matters to you and jump to the matching section below.
| Waterfall | Height | Permanent? | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Bowen Falls | 162 m (also given as 161 m or 160 m) | Yes | Any cruise |
| Stirling Falls | 151 m or 155 m | Yes | Boats position close to the base |
| Fairy Falls | not stated | Semi-permanent, rarely dries up | Boats, rainbows on sunny days |
| Palisade Falls | 55 m | Semi-permanent | From the water |
| Helena Falls | 50 m | not stated | From the water |
| Sutherland Falls | 580 m in three cascades | Yes | Milford Track only |
| Humboldt Falls | 275 m in three drops | not stated | Hollyford Valley side road, 30-minute walk |
| Lake Marian Falls | not stated | not stated | 10 to 20 minutes' walk from the Lake Marian car park, depending on the source |
| The Chasm | 22 m deep ravine | River, not a fall | Milford Road stop |
| Temporary cascades | some fall 1,000 m | Only after rain | Cliff faces, from any boat |
The Read-Out
Only two waterfalls discharge permanently into the fiord, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. Both flow all year. Fairy Falls and Palisade Falls are classed as semi-permanent and can last up to two weeks without rain, so they are not guaranteed in a long dry spell, though Fairy Falls rarely dries up.
Everything else is a bonus. When it rains, hundreds of temporary cascades form along the mountainsides, some falling a thousand metres from the rock tops. The temporary waterfalls are fed by rain-soaked moss and last a few days after the rain stops, so a cruise in wet weather often delivers more falling water than a clear day ever will.
Away from the fiord itself, the Milford Road and the Milford Track add Humboldt Falls, Lake Marian Falls, The Chasm and Sutherland Falls to the count.
The Two Permanent Falls
These are the two waterfalls that never stop flowing, and both sit on every cruise route.
Lady Bowen Falls
Lady Bowen Falls, at 162 metres, is the tallest permanent waterfall discharging into the fiord. Wikipedia gives 162 m, Southern Discoveries gives 161 m and Mitre Peak Cruises gives 160 m, so you will see all three figures quoted. The falls are fed by the 9 km Bowen River, which also supplies electricity and drinking water for the Milford Sound locality.
The name honours Diamantina Bowen, wife of Governor George Bowen, after he visited aboard HMS Clio in 1871. The Māori name is Hineteawa. You see them from the water on a Milford Sound boat tour.
You cannot currently walk to them. DOC lists the Bowen Falls Walk as permanently closed because there is no boat service to reach the start, so the water is the only viewpoint.
Stirling Falls
Stirling Falls is the second-highest waterfall in Milford Sound at 151 metres by Wikipedia's count or 155 metres by Southern Discoveries' count, and it has existed for 15,000 years. It is named after Captain Frederick Stirling of HMS Clio, the ship Governor Bowen visited aboard in 1871. Southern Discoveries says its boats position within metres of the base for what it calls a glacial facial, with ponchos available for purchase.
On the Nature Cruise with Optional Lunch at $89 per person, the route passes Bowen Falls, Mitre Peak and Stirling Falls. Anyone on deck near the falls can get wet from the spray.
The Falls That Only Run After Rain
Milford Sound collects between 6,412 mm and about 7.5 m of rain a year depending on the source, and the rain is what multiplies the falls.
Semi-Permanent Falls
Fairy Falls and Palisade Falls are the named semi-permanent falls. They can last up to two weeks without rain, though Fairy Falls rarely dries up. Fairy Falls rarely dries up and creates rainbows on sunny days, and Southern Discoveries says visitors can sample water collected from the falls.
Palisade Falls is listed at 55 m in Wikipedia's waterfall inventory, and Helena Falls is 50 m. The Boutique Small-Boat Cruise at $94 per person stops at the Hanging Gardens, Fairy Falls and Stirling Falls on its 1 hour 45 minute circuit, which covers Fairy Falls without hiring a kayak.
The Hundreds of Temporary Cascades
On rainy days the waterfalls in the sound are bigger and more numerous than on clear days. When it rains, hundreds of temporary cascades form along the mountainsides, some of them falling a thousand metres from the tops of the rock faces, which rise 1,200 metres or more. These falls are fed by rain-soaked moss on the cliff walls and last a few days after the rain stops.
In a place where Wikipedia counts 184.8 rainy days a year, the odds of catching them are good. Heavy rain can also send whole slabs of forested hillside down the cliffs as tree avalanches, which is a reminder of how much water moves through the rock. RealNZ says the falls intensify from March as rainfall increases, are at their most theatrical in May after sustained rain, and run at their most powerful in winter on rain and snowmelt.
Humboldt Falls in Fiordland, seen from the falls lookout walk at the end of the Lower Hollyford road. Photo: Karora, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Waterfalls on the Way In
The drive along the Milford Road adds several falls you can reach on foot without a boat.
Humboldt Falls, Hollyford Valley
Humboldt Falls descend 275 metres in three drops, the largest 134 metres, and are a horsetail fall fed by Humboldt Creek. The trail starts from Hollyford Road, which turns off the Milford Road, is well graded and takes about half an hour return over 600 metres.
Lake Marian Falls
The Lake Marian Track reaches the falls about 10 minutes from the car park according to DOC, though Fiordland tourism lists the walk as 20 minutes and moderate. You see the falls from a gantry beside a steep bank. The alpine lake itself lies another 1 hour 30 minutes beyond the falls and is a serious tramp on a steep muddy track.
DOC advises long trousers here because of large amounts of ongaonga, or stinging nettle.
The Chasm
The Chasm is a 22-metre-deep ravine where the Cleddau River has cut through the rock on its way to the sound. RealNZ lists it as a 30-minute stop with waterfalls and river-carved rock that is slippery when wet, and Mitre Peak Cruises describes the same formation. Check the status before you go.
Fiordland tourism notes the viewing platform and track were washed away in the February 2020 flood and advises confirming with DOC. The Cleddau has three branches, from Mount Ada, from Te Pari or Sheerdown Peak, and from the Homer Tunnel area, and all three feed the ravine.
Getting Close
Every cruise sees the permanent falls, but how close you get depends on the boat you pick.
Small Boats Versus Large Ones
Some small vessels go right under Stirling Falls and Fairy Falls. Southern Discoveries says its boats position within metres of Stirling Falls for a glacial facial, and Cruise Milford's boutique cruise lists stops under Fairy Falls and Stirling Falls as a formal part of the route. The Mitre Peak Small Boat Cruise runs 2 hours for $100 per person with the smallest cruise operator in the fiord and live commentary from the skipper, and its 2-hour route sails the full sound and out into the Tasman Sea.
No cruise includes a visit to Lady Bowen Falls by land. DOC lists the Bowen Falls Walk as permanently closed with no boat service to reach it, so the fiord viewpoint is the only one.
Spray and What to Wear
Boats that position within metres of Stirling Falls bring spray onto the deck. Southern Discoveries sells ponchos on board for the Stirling Falls approach. Fiordland's high rainfall means every visitor should have a good raincoat, which is DOC's general advice for the area anyway.
A waterproof jacket with a hood, shoes that can get wet and a dry bag for your phone cover the basics, and there is more detail in the what to wear guide. Cameras come out for the approach, so keep a cloth handy because the lens will mist.
Waterfall Tips: Do and Don't
Do
- Do choose a small boat if the falls are the priority, because some small boats go right under Fairy Falls and Stirling Falls.
- Do bring a proper raincoat, because Fiordland's high rainfall means every visitor should have one and the best falls run in the wet.
- Do cruise in the rain deliberately, because hundreds of temporary cascades form on rainy days and they are absent in dry weather.
- Do walk to Humboldt Falls if you are driving in, because the well-graded trail takes about half an hour return for a 275-metre fall.
- Do allow time for Lake Marian Falls, because the track reaches the falls about 10 minutes from the car park and the gantry viewpoint is built for it.
Don't
- Don't plan to walk to Bowen Falls, because DOC lists the Bowen Falls Walk as permanently closed with no boat service to the start.
- Don't count on Palisade Falls running in a long dry spell, because the semi-permanent falls can last only up to two weeks without rain.
- Don't assume The Chasm is open, because the platform and track were washed away in the February 2020 flood and the status needs checking with DOC.
- Don't leave your rain gear on the bus before the Stirling Falls approach, because boats position within metres of the falls and spray reaches the deck.
Milford Sound Waterfalls FAQ
How many waterfalls are in Milford Sound?
There are two permanent waterfalls, Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls, plus semi-permanent ones such as Fairy Falls and Palisade Falls. After rain, hundreds of temporary cascades form along the mountainsides, some falling a thousand metres. The comparison of Milford Sound boat tours shows which cruises stop at each.
What is the tallest waterfall in Milford Sound?
Lady Bowen Falls is the tallest permanent waterfall discharging into the fiord at 162 metres. For the area as a whole, Sutherland Falls on the Milford Track drops 580 metres, though a Wikipedia list of New Zealand waterfalls puts Browne Falls, also in Fiordland, first at 836 m.
Can you walk to Bowen Falls in Milford Sound?
Not at present. DOC's Bowen Falls Walk page lists the walk as permanently closed because there is no boat service to reach it. You see the falls from the water on any Milford Sound boat tour.
What is the most famous waterfall in New Zealand?
Sources disagree. Wikipedia's Milford Track page calls Sutherland Falls the tallest waterfall in New Zealand at 580 metres, while Wikipedia's list of waterfalls ranks Browne Falls first at 836 m with Sutherland in fifth. Sutherland Falls sits on the Milford Track and is reached only on foot.
Which cruise gets closest to Stirling Falls?
Small boats get closest. Southern Discoveries says its boats position within metres of the base for a glacial facial with ponchos for sale, and Cruise Milford's boutique cruise stops under Fairy Falls and Stirling Falls on a 1 hour 45 minute run at $94 per person.
Do the waterfalls run in dry weather?
The two permanent falls, Bowen and Stirling, flow all year. Fairy Falls and Palisade Falls can last up to two weeks without rain, and the temporary cascades vanish a few days after the rain stops. The monthly rainfall figures in the Milford Sound weather guide show when wet-weather falls are most likely.