Milford Sound

Milford Sound was magical! Our day started nice and slow with the hotel bringing us brekkie at 7:15. We opened the shades and enjoyed a lovely breakfast with great views of the mountains. There were 3 waterfalls right outside our room that were fun to watch. While we were eating, a Weka stopped by our room. Eric grabbed his camera and went to the door, and the Weka stared him down as though they would come inside the room as soon as he opened the door. He wanted it to move on and opened the door to get photos of the cheeky bird. 

brekkie

Weka

The waterfalls on the cliffside outside our room

After breakfast, we decided to walk to our first activity of the day - A Milford Sound cruise. The dock was ~30 minutes from our chalet. It was a beautiful walk down by the river and we were so enthralled with the walk that we missed our turn and added ~15 minutes to our walk. Fortunately, we had given ourselves a buffer and arrived right on time. 

It was a beautiful clear day at Milford Sound. The weather could not have been more ideal. We were also slightly delayed because I had to stop a few times to take pictures, but I couldn't help it - Milford Sound is an incredible place. 

We did arrive just in time to board the boat. We were about the last people to board. Most people had staked out a spot, but for whatever reason the front of the boat was empty (the back was very popular). We found a spot near the front and once we were underway everyone realized that was where they wanted to be, but since we got there late and it was our only option we got the best spot right at the front of the bow. We went out with Cruise Milford, which is one of the smaller operations and that is why Alison chose it because they have a smaller boat and fewer people on the cruise. We were really impressed with Cruise Milford, they were friendly and knowledgeable. 

Milford Sound was unbelievably beautiful. Pictures cannot do justice to the size and scope of this place. This glacier-carved fiord is a wonder to behold. Cliffs tower more than a mile above on both sides and countless waterfalls cut through the dense rainforest. The most famous landmarks are Mitre Peak and Sinbad Gully, but there is plenty more to be seen. 

Our boat tour took us through the fiord out to the Tasman Sea and then back through the fiord to the dock. Along the way, we saw countless waterfalls, including two where the sun turned the falls into a rainbow. We stopped by Seal Rock where we did in fact see a couple of young seals frolicking and rolling in the water. We also nearly got soaked at Sterling Falls. Our guide warned everyone at the front of the boat that we could get soaked if we stayed up there as he moved the boat right up to the falls. I thought he was bluffing and I stayed there until I could really feel the mist and the guide gave one final warning (Alison had retreated at the first warning). I did finally retreat indoors and he was not kidding I would have been drenched. All in all the boat tour was a pretty amazing way to see Milford Sound. 

After our boat tour, we had lots of time to spend exploring this beautiful place. We walked along the breakwater walkway and enjoyed spectacular views of Mitre Peak. We also went on the nearby nature walk down to the beach. 

Variable oystercatcher | Tōrea pango

We spent a while marveling at Bowen Falls - it is a very impressive waterfall. 

We also hiked to a nearby viewpoint. This is when staying a couple of nights at Milford Sound came in clutch. It was getting late in the afternoon and people were leaving en mass. Most people day trip to Milford Sound, but the nearest accommodations are ~2 hours away. They come to go on a cruise, walk around, and head out. By late afternoon we had this incredible place to ourselves. 

We stopped by the information center to see what other activities they suggested. One of the things we had not done was visit the log swing so we headed back out to the beach and we had a lot of fun with the swing. 

Someone lost their hat to the wind

We went out on the breakwater walkway for some last views of Milford Sound before walking back to the lodge for the evening. Alison was sad to leave not knowing if we would ever make it back here again. We might not, but we had one really spectacular day enjoying all of the awe and wonder that Milford Sound has to offer. 

A small plane approaching to land at Milford Sound