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The winding road to Milford Sound can seem daunting for those prone to travel sickness, and we’re often asked about how to avoid or minimise travel sickness during the trip.
Every day, we see visitors who are nervous about travel sickness successfully make the journey and discover that with the right preparation and approach, travel sickness doesn't have to limit their experience of one of New Zealand's most desirable destinations.
Whether you're considering self-driving or joining a tour, understanding how to manage travel sickness can transform your Milford Sound journey from a concern into a relaxing, memorable experience.
Key Takeaways
Travel sickness is often caused by conflicting signals between your eyes and body's motion sensors
Psychological factors like anxiety can trigger or worsen symptoms
Tours feature stops every 10-20 minutes, helping prevent travel sickness
Front seat requests can be accommodated to help manage symptoms
Natural remedies like ginger tablets and peppermint can be effective
The Milford Sound cruise portion is typically calm and comfortable
Timing any medication for the return journey allows you to enjoy the scenic stops
Regular access to fresh air and horizon views helps prevent symptoms
Both self-driving and guided tour options can work for those prone to travel sickness
Understanding Travel Sickness
Travel sickness occurs when your brain receives conflicting information from different parts of your body while travelling in vehicles like cars or boats:
Your eyes see the landscape moving past - trees, signs, and scenery sliding in and out of view - telling your brain you're in motion
Meanwhile, your inner ear balance system and the sensors in your muscles and joints detect that you're actually sitting still in your seat
When your brain struggles to process these conflicting signals (movement vs stillness), it can trigger symptoms like headaches, nausea, and sweating.
When travelling to remote places like Milford Sound, these sensations can be more intense due to the winding roads and changing elevations.
As your eyes track the curving road and changing landscape, your body works overtime trying to process these constant directional changes.
Psychological factors can play a role in travel sickness too. Anxiety about the journey itself - whether it's worry about the winding roads, uncertainty about the driver's experience, or concern about feeling unwell in front of other travellers - can trigger or worsen symptoms.
For some people, travel sickness may begin with the anticipation before the journey begins.
Managing Travel Sickness on the Way to Milford Sound
Self-Driving
If you're prone to travel sickness, self-driving offers complete control over your journey and may alleviate a lot of worries around feeling unwell.
Being in the driver's seat typically reduces travel sickness symptoms, and you can stop whenever you need to manage any discomfort. You'll also have the freedom to set your own pace and take breaks at your convenience.
However, self-driving comes with its own challenges. The road to Milford Sound requires intense concentration, which can be tiring for the driver.
While you might avoid travel sickness, you'll likely miss much of the scenery as you focus on navigating the winding road safely.
On a Milford Sound Tour
Self-driving may be the right choice for you. But if you want the experience of relaxing and enjoying the scenery without the stress of navigation, rest assured we very rarely have anyone actually feel sick on a tour.
We find that guests who are typically prone to travel sickness are surprised to have minimal symptoms on the journey, even if they start the day feeling anxious.
This success isn't just due to our drivers' expertise on the road. The tour's frequent stops - typically every 10-20 minutes and sometimes even more often - provide regular opportunities to step out into the fresh air and reorient yourself.
These consistent breaks, combined with the calming effect of the immersive scenery, help keep travel sickness symptoms at bay.
Milford Sound Luxe Tours owner and driver, Toby, is no stranger to travel sickness, being very prone to it himself, and our tours and vans are designed to provide guests the with most comfortable and relaxing experience possible.
"When I travel myself, ironically I get quite nervous about taking a tour and end up doing a pile of research into how often the tour stops, what the road is like and I also read a lot of reviews to look out for warnings about the company's driving style & drivers. Knowing what it is like to be travel sick, has helped us design our tour in a way that limits the likelihood for our own guests." Toby Pascoe, Milford Sound Luxe Tours owner.
Seating Arrangements
We configure seating arrangements daily, and we frequently receive requests from travellers who prefer to sit up front with the driver, as being able to watch the road ahead often helps reduce symptoms.
We gladly accommodate these front seat requests. When multiple guests need this option, we can often arrange seating between different vehicles.
Additionally, our vans feature large windscreens that are visible throughout the vehicle, allowing passengers to maintain a clear view of the road ahead and the horizon.
Vehicle Features
Modern tour vehicles should come equipped with:
Effective air conditioning to prevent overheating
Complimentary filled water bottles
Travel sickness bags (just in case)
Large windows throughout
Comfortable, spacious seating
Travel Sickness Tips
Natural Remedies
Ginger root tablets can be highly effective and are found at most pharmacies
Peppermint candy or gum can be effective for some people
Staying hydrated throughout the journey with small sips of water can reduce symptoms
Nibbling on a light snack, like salted crips or crackers, can help ease nausea
Avoid foods that are heavy, greasy, or acidic - these are slower to digest and can aggravate symptoms
Medication Options
Travel sickness medications, like Sea-Legs tablets, are effective but may cause drowsiness
If taking medication like Sea-Legs tablets, consider timing it for the return journey when you can nap in the van
Best Practices
Focus on the horizon or road ahead
Avoid looking at phones or reading materials
Let your guide know if you start feeling unwell
The Cruise Experience
The Milford Sound cruise portion of your trip is typically very comfortable, even for those prone to travel sickness.
The fiord is generally calm with minimal swells, but there are still ways to ensure maximum comfort:
On the Boat
The upper deck offers the most stability
Staying in the fresh air on the outdoor decks helps reduce symptoms
Keep your eyes on the horizon or a distant landmark
A tip from Murray, a Luxe Tours guide: If you’re using medications, like Sea-Legs tablets, that may cause drowsiness, take them when you get to Milford Sound, just before the cruise begins. While they might make you drowsy, you're likely to stay alert during the cruise because you’ll be moving around the decks in the fresh air most of the time and taking lots of photos. Any drowsiness usually kicks in during the return journey, when you can comfortably doze in the vehicle after having completed all the major photo stops on the way to Milford Sound.
While the journey to Milford Sound involves winding roads and changing terrain, most visitors find their travel sickness symptoms are minimal. Whether through natural remedies, careful planning, or the structured comfort of a guided tour, there are multiple ways to ensure you can have the most comfortable and relaxing journey possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a front seat on a tour?
Absolutely. You can request a front seat at your time of booking. We at Milford Sound Luxe Tours receive an average of one front seat request per day and do our best to arrange this for guests who need it.
If there are multiple front seat requests, we can usually arrange seating across different vehicles to accommodate everyone's needs.
What happens if I start feeling unwell during a tour?
Our guides are experienced in managing travel sickness. We make frequent stops, have supplies on hand, and can adjust plans if needed.
Should I skip breakfast before the journey to Milford Sound?
Actually, having a light breakfast can help. An empty stomach can make travel sickness worse, but avoid heavy or greasy foods. Light, easily digestible foods like toast or crackers are ideal.
What if I'm travelling with children who get motion sick?
Children are often more susceptible to travel sickness. All our tips apply to children too, and our guides are experienced in helping families manage this. The frequent stops particularly help young travellers.
How rough is the Milford Sound cruise?
The fiord is typically very calm, even in windy weather. Most visitors find the cruise portion of their trip very comfortable, even if they're prone to travel sickness.
The most movement during the cruise occurs when the boat meets the Tasman Sea and turns around to head back up the fiord. This part doesn’t take long, and if you stay out on the decks and focus on a stable landmark, you can usually keep travel sickness symptoms minimal.
Being on one of the larger cruise boats is also an advantage for those prone to travel sickness, as the larger vessels provide the most stable cruise experience.