Another early start, with a 6.45 pick up – alas I was stood like a lemon and there was a miscommunication with the pickup so I power walked to the bus. Alas, on reflection that would’ve been the better option as it was only a 5 minute walk 🙄🙄.
The journey started by winding our way around Lake Wakatipu to a town called Te Anau which is a very small town and the last one prior to Milford Sound. It’s also home to the second largest lake in New Zealand behind Lake Taupo. Here we stopped for a coffee and a breakfast wrap ✅ I’ve missed my breakfast wraps so this was a bonus😂.
From Te Anau we headed along the 120km dead end road to Milford Sound stopping at some viewing points along the way. This area is part of the Fiordland National Park. The first one Mirror Lake, showing the reflection of Mount Eglinton in the water, now as the sun was shining the reflection was perfect. The next stop was Lake Gunn which was discovered by George Gunn in 1861 ✅. We had another stop at Monkey Creek and the final one just after the Homer tunnel looking down the valley towards Milford Sound.
The road itself took 30 years to build and I can see why, it was full of hairpin bends, steep drops and a tunnel 1.3km in length, the Homer tunnel, which first started being built in 1935 and ended in 1954 has a 1in10 gradient. Initially, the government sent 5 men with picks and shovels, alas they were faced with solid granite rock so didn’t get very far 😂😂.
Upon arrival at the terminal I was greeted with a landscape which is hard to describe. I’ve never seen anything like it other than on google. It was stunning, the weather once again came through – although rain would’ve been a bit better as there would’ve been more waterfalls – this area gets on average 7-9 metres of rainfall a year, and rains for more than half the year. But anyway I agree with Rudyard Kipling it is the eighth wonder of the world.
The 1.5 hour boat trip took us out down the south side of the Fiord to the Tasman Sea then back up the North side. If the captain had decided to continue in a straight line the next bit of land would’ve been Argentina. That’s how south we are – coincidentally we crossed the 45 degrees south line – which means we were halfway between the Equator and South Pole. Whilst on the trip we saw penguins, a seal (I thought initially the captain was getting excited about seagulls and there was me being like they are hell on earth, as mentioned in a previous blog. Alas, there as a guy just chilling on a rock), we also saw a couple of dolphins. So pretty cool. Photo below of seal if you can spot it.
So Milford Sound was truly amazing. I think I’m actually a bit lost for words. Mental I know. It was a slog of a journey back, in total we travelled 600km. Massive shout out to Stan the bus driver and guide for the day!
Upon arrival back into Queenstown I decided to treat myself to a New Zealand you’ve completed it meal at Sunfire (thank god for credit cards, if anyone needs a kidney, actually mine could be useless, MRI scan pending, that’s a story for another day. But in all seriousness I’m available for tutoring 7 days a week come September 😂😂😂).
A starter of prawns, a main of steak and a desert of Brie, along with 2 glasses of Pinot Noir finished off what has been an incredible 2 weeks – I’ve seen and done so much. I’m exhausted but this country is insane. I definitely will be back ✅✅.
Next stop Melbourne 😍😍😍😍
Flying Solo 