Sounds Amazing
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2005
1
17
36
Trip End
Nov 29, 2005
Milford Sound,
New Zealand
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Got the bus to Milford Sound. It was a long drive but by far the best scenery we've seen so far (even better than Trans Alpine). Heard so many stories about the land and the people from the bus driver (Paul - sound guy). Took some really good photos so we hope to share them with you.
This region also has the world only alpine Parrot - the Kea - and this things aren't shy at all!
Checked into the Milford Sound Lodge (was recommended to us). Kitchen let it down but everywhere else was lovely. Only other downside is the sand flies. We're just getting over our bites from Fiji and there are hundreds of these bloody things. Watch out Rivkah
Fish at the observatory
! We went for a dander into the town (by town we mean a Cafe/Bar (The Blue Duck) and a wharf). Very remote but very beautiful. Took it easy that night.The next day we headed out to the Deep Water Basin and fished for a few hours. Apparently Milford Sound is one of the wettest places on Earth getting up to 7 metres of rain a year (the Amazon only gets half that). But this day was glorious. Didn't catch anything but would swear blind the fish knew the craic. Left after having lunch and headed up to the wharf to catch the cruise around the sound. We keep saying sound but it's actually a fjord - the difference being a sound is a river carved valley whereas a fjord is glacier carved. Words or pictures can't describe how stunning this place is - but we're going to try just for you guys: it was stunning. There. Done.
Going along in the boat we stopped at Sterling Falls and the captain drove us straight into it - soaked. We then stopped a bit further up to watch some NZ fur seals - they were really cute.
As part of the cruise we also took the option of going to the underwater observatory (9 meters underwater). This place was class...saw some cool fish and black coral (apparently very rare).
Finished up by having dinner and a few pints in the cafe/bar and had an early(ish) night - knackered.
Tracy & JP
