Image: Lizzy Sutcliffe | DOC
A road disappears into the mist at the bottom of a mountain valley.
Sustainable Destinations Milford Sound Piopiotahi
We are working with Ngāi Tahu, local and national government agencies and key stakeholders to deliver a more sustainable system for tourism to Milford Sound Piopiotahi.

Background

Milford Sound is in a stunning World Heritage Area and is seen as the final creation of Tū Te Rakiwhānoa. It attracts over one million visitors each year. These visitors bring $200 million to the region. But rapid growth in tourism numbers is putting pressure on the natural environment and facilities.

In 2021, the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) gave the government a masterplan for a sustainable tourism system that could pay for itself. In June 2024, they shared a business case to test how well the masterplan could work.

About Sustainable Destinations Milford Sound Piopiotahi

DOC is working with Ngāi Tahu, other government agencies, and local groups and businesses to make changes to protect nature and improve the tourism system, based on MOP’s recommendations. 

The Government has approved $6.4 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). This money is delivering improved visitor experiences and new infrastructure in Piopiotahi and along the Milford Road. 

This work focussed on:

  • Conservation and cultural presence
  • Investment priorities and opportunities
  • Visitor safety, experience, and reducing negative impacts

Visitor experience upgrades

DOC is delivering visitor experience improvements right along the Milford Road and in Piopiotahi Milford Sound using $6.4 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Combined with DOC’s wider work programme in the region, visitors will benefit from upgrades to walking tracks, car parks, toilets and recreational facilities at nine key visitor sites along the Milford Journey.

Visitor safety

DOC is also supporting collaborative planning and communication regarding natural hazard risks in Piopiotahi. More information on this can be found in this Milford Sound Piopiotahi tsunami risk explainer (PDF,1,561K)

A key output from this work was the development of a collective strategy for communicating natural hazard risks in Piopiotahi Milford Sound to visitors and workers.

Piopiotahi Milford Sound Collective Hazard Risk Communications Strategy (PDF, 3,468K)

Programme Board

A Programme Board is guiding this next phase with independent, Ngāi Tahu, community and agency representation, chaired by Penny Nelson, Director-General of DOC.

Programme Board meeting summaries

Newsletter updates

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Community and stakeholder engagement

The programme is working closely with community and stakeholders to drive and inform planning, through online meetings, regular community updates, and focus group hui. Notes, presentations and outputs from this engagement are included here.

Community updates

Focus group hui

Milford Opportunities Project (2017 to 2024)

Find out about the Milford Opportunities Project. Includes links to its 2021 masterplan and 2024 business case and supporting research and reports.

Milford Opportunities Project (2017 to 2024)