milford sound

As mentioned in the last post, one of the highlights of Fiordland National Park is Milford Sound, which is actually a fjord (a drowned glacial valley). To access Milford Sound, you get to drive a beautiful highway that weaves its way through the mountains. Just when you think the highway is going to end at the foot of towering cliffs, you pass through the Homer Tunnel, and then the highway descends into Milford. If you enjoy beautiful drives (and we do), the drive into Milford Sound is worth the trip on its own. But this road also rewards you with the stunning views of Milford Sound.

Highway between Te Anau and Milford

West side of Homer Tunnel, which is center left in the photo

Once in Milford, there is a nice ferry terminal where several tour operators run cruises through the fjord. We were very fortunate to meet up with friends for the tour. It made the 2 hour ferry ride more enjoyable to have some friends to enjoy it with. Plus, our friends were extremely helpful with Maya and Max, who wanted to explore the ferry boat more than they wanted to experience the beauty of Milford Sound. Thanks Jordan, Cecily, and Pam for the great time together!

Although we had overcast weather at Milford Sound (which is not uncommon considering rainfall is upwards of 7 metres a year, or over 20 feet), the cruise did not disappoint. Rather than try to describe how stunning it was, I'll just go with the photos.

The nose of the cruise boat went right up under this waterfall

New Zealand fur seals lounging on a rock

Many photos were taken on this trip