Majesty at Milford Sound

We left Wanaka and started towards Milford Sound via the Crown Pass. We were slightly apprehensive about heading over the pass due to the fact that it had snowed overnight and it would be our first real test of the van on NZ roads. It was slow going but, other than squeaky windscreen wipers battling with a shower of snow, we made it without any dramas. We had a celebratory stop at the top of the pass to take in the amazing view down the valley towards Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown.

The view from the top of the Crown Pass on the way to Milford Sound via Queenstown.

Relief that the van made it across the Crown Pass!

Snow at the top of the Crown Pass.

We continued through Queenstown on Highway 6 via the lakeside town of Te Anau and deep into the Fiordland National Park. The final stage of the journey was along The Milford Road a spectacular drive with some exciting hairpin bends and the 1.2km long Homer Tunnel. Around every corner and through every pass the scenery became more and more stunning with terminal moraines and scree-slopes to U shaped and hanging valleys, waterfalls and snow-peaked mountains. It was a glacial geographer’s delight!

Milford Sound

Sunshine on Milford Sound.

We arrived at the beautifully appointed Milford Sound Lodge at about 4pm. The lodge is nestled on the banks of the Cleddau River and overlooked by rainforests and mountains. Keas, a curious, persistent and large species of parrot wandered around the carpark and campsites trying to steal food from unsuspecting guests. We had a great pitch for the campervan surrounded by beautiful trees and ferns and with a view up to the mountain peaks. The only downside were the sandflies – pesky little things that deliver very itchy little bites.

http://www.milfordlodge.com/

‘Crunchy’ the van at Milford Sound Lodge.

Milford Sound Lodge.

We headed off for a bit of a wander and to check out where we were getting our boat trip from the next morning. The weather was glorious, hot and sunny with clear skies and due to stay fair for the duration of our stay. This was great news, Milford Sound receives more rain annually than the Amazon, about 7m and on average rains every 3 days! Another interesting fact, Milford Sound isn’t actually a sound but a fjord. The difference being a fjord is created by the actions of glaciers whereas a sound is a larger and wider body of water. So now you know.

There are a number of cruise firms operating at Milford Sound and in all honesty there didn’t seem to be much difference between them from the reviews and advertising material. We chose Southern Discoveries cruises partly due to the timing of their morning cruise which left at 10:15am for 2 hours and 15mins.

The boat was busy but not so full that you couldn’t get a good view of the peaks, waterfalls, seals and vegetation as we cruised up to the mouth of the fjord and peaked out to the Tasman Sea. The resident ‘Nature Guide’ on board provided an interesting and pretty comprehensive commentary throughout the journey and we stopped fairly frequently to view particular geographic features or wildlife.

Seals at Milford Sound.

Getting up close with one of the Waterfalls at Milford Sound.

One of the temporary waterfalls at Milford Sound and a geographic fault in the mountain face.

It was a wonderful trip and a beautiful day. My descriptions and photos, however, won’t do justice to the truly awe inspiring majesty of the place that Rudyard Kipling called the eighth wonder of the World.