Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, Southland, New Zealand**Drive Te Anau to Milford Sound
Left at 7:15 am on a foggy morning for the scenic drive, which is about two hours.
Many amazing photo stops; some of them conveniently marked with road signs:
Along Lake Te Anau; Eglinton River; Eglinton Viewpoint--mountains and mist.
All kinds of waterfalls coming down the mountain right before the Homer Tunnel.
About a 15-min wait to go through the tunnel.
Kia Parrots, native to this area, kept coming on the cars. They like to peck at the rubber and we had to keep shooing them off the rv.
What a view of the valley with the entire floor covered in mist.
After the tunnel, the road had a sharp hairpin turn and some one-way bridges.
Left at 7:15 am on a foggy morning for the scenic drive, which is about two hours.
Many amazing photo stops; some of them conveniently marked with road signs:
Along Lake Te Anau; Eglinton River; Eglinton Viewpoint--mountains and mist.
All kinds of waterfalls coming down the mountain right before the Homer Tunnel.
About a 15-min wait to go through the tunnel.
Kia Parrots, native to this area, kept coming on the cars. They like to peck at the rubber and we had to keep shooing them off the rv.
What a view of the valley with the entire floor covered in mist.
After the tunnel, the road had a sharp hairpin turn and some one-way bridges.
Chasm Walk: Series of gushing waterfalls just a short walk from the carpark through tranquil native forest. Two foot bridges over the Cleddau River with dramatic views of a series of powerful waterfalls.
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MILFORD SOUND
"Grand, brooding, serene, wild," the fjord is known for towering Mitre Peak, lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, seal colonies, penguins and dolphins, and rare black coral.
Boat Cruise on the Milford Wanderer. Good thing it was in afternoon. Clouds just started to disappear. Very windy; glad to have on a turtleneck and winter jacket.
Stunning scenery cruising through the fjord.
Came to Bowen Falls right away; Milford's highest waterfall (531 ft), which is the township's source of power and water.
Iconic Mitre Peak quite the sight majestically dominating the skyline.
Magnificent Stirling Falls (508 ft) dropping dramatically over the cliff. On the way back, the boat went close enough for people to be under the water. Legend says the waterfall's water makes people younger--too chilly to get wet, even for this. This is the famous waterfall Hugh Jackman ‘jumped off’ in the movie Wolverine.
Mt Pembroke's glacier gleaming in the perfect sunshine.
Put the sail up when we got to Tasman Sea. Lobster traps in Anita Bay (where Maori people get greenstone). Turned around at St. Anne's Point Lighthouse, the entrance from the Tasman Sea to Milford Sound. Baby male seals on Seal Rock.
Underwater Observatory interesting--not sure it was worth the extra cost. Black coral, red coral, fish (the one that the male turned black to fertilize the female). Snake Star wrapped around the black coral.
"Grand, brooding, serene, wild," the fjord is known for towering Mitre Peak, lush rainforests, stunning waterfalls, seal colonies, penguins and dolphins, and rare black coral.
Boat Cruise on the Milford Wanderer. Good thing it was in afternoon. Clouds just started to disappear. Very windy; glad to have on a turtleneck and winter jacket.
Stunning scenery cruising through the fjord.
Came to Bowen Falls right away; Milford's highest waterfall (531 ft), which is the township's source of power and water.
Iconic Mitre Peak quite the sight majestically dominating the skyline.
Magnificent Stirling Falls (508 ft) dropping dramatically over the cliff. On the way back, the boat went close enough for people to be under the water. Legend says the waterfall's water makes people younger--too chilly to get wet, even for this. This is the famous waterfall Hugh Jackman ‘jumped off’ in the movie Wolverine.
Mt Pembroke's glacier gleaming in the perfect sunshine.
Put the sail up when we got to Tasman Sea. Lobster traps in Anita Bay (where Maori people get greenstone). Turned around at St. Anne's Point Lighthouse, the entrance from the Tasman Sea to Milford Sound. Baby male seals on Seal Rock.
Underwater Observatory interesting--not sure it was worth the extra cost. Black coral, red coral, fish (the one that the male turned black to fertilize the female). Snake Star wrapped around the black coral.
Back to the Boat Harbor.
Milford Sound was a Must See in New Zealand.
Even more incredible than all its descriptions.
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Lake Marian Track: Weather cleared up and this is supposed to be one of the best walks. Great way to end a scenic day with a beautiful walk. Across a swinging bridge suspension bridge over the Hollyford River through the forest.
Boardwalk right along Marian Creek with a series of mini waterfalls cascading down to the river.
Then the trail starts climbing uphill through lush jungle, which was quite steep and slippery.
Getting late in the day and being in the dense forest made it a bit dark. Turned around before we got to the lake. What we did was fabulous!
Boardwalk right along Marian Creek with a series of mini waterfalls cascading down to the river.
Then the trail starts climbing uphill through lush jungle, which was quite steep and slippery.
Getting late in the day and being in the dense forest made it a bit dark. Turned around before we got to the lake. What we did was fabulous!
Great way to end a scenic day with a beautiful walk.
2025-05-22