Current Job Opportunties

CURRENT VACANCIES AT MILFORD SOUND LODGE

 

DUTY MANAGER

Are you a hospitality legend with a passion for creating exceptional experiences and a love for laughter at work? We're waiting for you!

Milford Lodge has one full-time, permanent, long-term position available in our management team, starting September 2025. 

You'll need to be permitted to work in New Zealand long-term.

Our onsite management team includes a Head Chef, Sous Chef, 3 Duty Managers, an Asset Manager, and an Operations Manager. We collaborate closely to ensure our team (the "lodgies") and guests have an unforgettable Milford experience.

This role is diverse, fun, challenging, and rewarding. We strongly believe in work-life balance, working hard, playing hard, personal growth, and supporting each other to be our best. The perks are fantastic, including:

* An 8-days-on, 6-days-off roster, essentially a holiday every fortnight.

* An ensuite room in the managers' house, boasting what might be the best deck and view in the world.

* Training and support from New Zealand's hospitality guru, James O'Connell.

* Change-of-season team mini-breaks.

* A generous fun budget.

* Merino uniform.

* Very affordable rent, including all bills and excellent food (we shop, you cook!).

* Access to a pool table, ping pong table, and a gym.

* Social Sundays and Wellbeing Wednesdays.

* 6+ weeks of annual leave or leave without pay.

* A competitive salary.

The list goes on! We have a reputation among thousands of "lodgies" worldwide as providing the best employment experiences of their careers, and our guests adore us. No one leaves Milford without a piece of their heart touched, whether they've been here for a night or ten years.

ABOUT MILFORD SOUND LODGE With the capacity to host up to 100 guests nightly, our accommodations include iconic chalets to rainforest campervan sites. Alongside top-tier guest services and booking support, we provide an excellent food and beverage experience through our bustling Pio Pio Restaurant. Our international team thrives in this remote, fast-paced environment where we handle every challenge together with positivity, camaraderie, and a commitment to creating exceptional experiences for guests and our team.

WHO WE ARE Our guests hail from around the globe, visiting the 8th wonder of the world to check off a bucket list destination. Our team, comprising over 30 enthusiastic customer service professionals from diverse backgrounds, is here to fully immerse themselves in this renowned natural attraction. Together, we manage Reception (reservations, information services, activity bookings, and sales, nature guides), Housekeeping (servicing and maintaining 24 guest rooms and facilities), and Pio Pio (front of house and chefs delivering top-quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Our current kitchen team consists of 7 international professionals, each bringing unique talents and creativity, all united by their passion for this incredible location and teamwork.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

  • You’re a positive, adaptable, and enthusiastic individual with a "let’s-go" attitude.
  • You enjoy the thrill of unique environments and are a natural problem-solver who tackles challenges head-on.
  • You thrive in a team setting and bring a sense of fun to your work.
  • Nature, adventure, and people are your passions.
  • You have no room for drama; instead, you’re committed to making every day exceptional for both guests and teammates.

While experience in hospitality and tourism, team leadership, or remote living is ideal, your attitude is what matters most. If you’re up for the challenge and excited to learn, we’re ready to train you! A Duty Manager’s certificate, first aid certificate, and a driver’s license are helpful but not required.

LIVING THE LODGIE LIFE Onsite Living: Experience the magic of Milford Sound, the 8th wonder of the world, by living onsite with a fun, like-minded group. We laugh a lot, and you won’t need to worry about finding accommodation—it's incredibly affordable.

Flexible Rosters: Travel and work on your terms. Our team creates rosters that suit their plans, with the Duty Managers having 6 days off in a row every fortnight. You can explore the entire country over a season at the lodge while having a home, family, and paycheck to return to.

Happy Guests: Our guests love their experience here. Come see why—Milford is spectacular, the Lodge is beautiful, and we care deeply about both Lodgie and guest satisfaction.

Culture and Fun: We value culture and fun. Our weekly team calendar includes activities like Social Sundays, family dinners, Lodgie bake-offs, and ping pong competitions.

Meals Included: Your rent includes access to fully stocked fridges with quality food—you get to place the order! Plus, with our shared cooking rotations, 90% of the time, dinner is made for you. Our international team brings exciting, diverse meals to the table, accommodating all dietary needs.

Adventure on Your Doorstep: Milford Sound is a world-renowned playground, offering boat tours, kayaking, climbing, hiking, fishing, and hunting—all right at your doorstep.

Unforgettable Experience: Previous lodgies describe their time here as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, filled with cherished memories and lifelong friendships. Check out a sneak peek of lodgie life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GLduaVhHLg

We would love to hear from you, please send your CV to Emma France, Operations Manager.

Please only apply if

  • you have a minimum 2 years work visa or are a kiwi resident
  • have 2 years hospitality leadership experience
  • have lived remotely and in a communal living environment

Please note we are unlikely to apply to all applications that do not meet the above criteria due to the volume of applications.

 

CHEFS + FOH

Amazing opportunity for the right candidates to join the team at Pio Pio, Milford Sounds’ only restaurant located right in the heart of Fiordland National Park.  Pio Pio offers high quality, locally sourced and Kiwi inspired a la carte breakfast, lunch and evening dining. Excellent people and culinary skills are a must to join our dedicated team and ensure our reputation of excellent dining and truly ‘hosting’ our guests is upheld.

WHAT IS PIO PIO?

Named after the Māori name for Milford Sound, Piopiotahi, Pio Pio is Milford Sound Lodge’s onsite restaurant, catering for our lodge guests and locals, approximately 100 diners each evening over the summer months.

WHO ARE OUR PEOPLE?

We welcome guests from all over the world and all walks of life, all here to visit the 8th wonder of the world and tick off a major bucket list destination. Likewise, our team is made up of 25+ motivated and enthusiastic customer service professionals from all over the world, here to truly experience our internationally renowned attraction. Together we look after the Reception (reservations, information service, activity bookings and sales, nature guides) Housekeeping (daily turnover and servicing of 24 guest rooms and facilities) Pio Pio (front of house and chefs running a busy restaurant serving quality breakfast, lunch and dinner). Our current chef team is made up of 5 international professionals with an array of excellent talents and a creative skillset and all passionate about being in this amazing place.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The successful Chef will…

  • Have previous experience
  • Be passionate about food, people, the mountains
  • Have the passion and skills to deliver high quality meals in a remote, fast paced and busy environment
  • Have the skills to think and act quickly, remote locations can lead to testing situations, forward planning and resourcefulness are essential
  • Have outstanding interpersonal skills, professionally working alongside team members and guests
  • Genuinely enjoy teamwork and motivating each other to get the best out of themselves
  • Be bright, energetic, motivated and enthusiastic
  • Be organised, well-structured, a dynamic thinker, responsible, reliable and professional
  • Be excited by remote locations, the mountains, wilderness, the outdoors. Being close to nature will be a big contributor to what makes this role so appealing.

FAQs

  • Candidates must be legal to work in New Zealand (work visa / resident)
  • Hourly rate to be discussed
  • Accommodation, board & food heavily subsidised so you can save for your adventures (accommodated in Milford Sound, onsite at the lodge)
  • 9 days on, 5 days off
  • Fixed term - full-time position

To apply, please send your CV to headchef@milfordlodge.com

LODGE HOSTS

Located in Fiordland National Park, surrounded by nature & wilderness the lodge hosts up to 200 guests each night in either our luxury chalets or our rainforest campervan park, we also offer local information about the nature and activities in the area, as well as act as a booking service for local operators. We have an onsite restaurant which offers excellent a la carte dining.

 

 Milford Sound Lodge Team

 

Our Team

Made up of 25+ motivated and enthusiastic customer service professionals who thrive on adventuring, working and socialising together amid the Fiordland Mountains. Come join us if you…

  • Are people focused and passionate about working with people, exceptional customer service skills are priority!
  • Ideally have previous hospitality and tourism experience but for the right people we can offer on-site training and upskilling
  • Are hands-on, self-motivated, see what needs to be done and do it
  • Have an eye for detail
  • Are bright, energetic, motivated and enthusiastic
  • Are organised, well-structured, a dynamic thinker, responsible, reliable and professional
  • Think ‘Green’, Think ‘Nature’
  • Love adventures with likeminded people
  • Thrive in remote environments (and know this from experience)
  • Thrive sharing your home (and lives) with others, communal living can be very exciting

A Lodge Host may include the following roles:

Reception Team

Trusted with our guests First Impressions and for facilitating guest connections with our incredible wilderness environment.

MUST be excellent with PEOPLE

Front of House Professionals

Famous ‘kiwi’ hospitality in our onsite restaurant. From morning to evening service, beautifully presented and deliciously tasty a la carte menus paired with a local wine list and craft beer menu, all served in style with a genuine smile.

MUST know F+B or willing to learn

Housekeepers

Luxury, remote wilderness lodges come with high expectations, excel at ensuring every detail is perfect.

MUST care about the little things

The Details

  • Applicants must legally work in NZ (sponsorships not offered)
  • Min 30 hours per week, max 60 hours per week
  • Applicants must have 1 year experience as a Lodge Host, 1 year remote living experience and 1 year communal living experience
  • Accommodated in Milford Sound, onsite at the lodge in a couples private room with shared facilities Heavily subsidised accommodation which allows you to save hard for your next adventure
  • Roster that allows for adventures…. 9 days on, 5 days off
  • Hourly rate and heavily subsidised living expenses
  • Fixed term and permanent options available
  • Pay $24-$27 per hour depending on experience

To apply, please send your CV to manager@milfordlodge.com