Milford Sound is the kind of place you can’t describe with words – but we are gonna give it a shot.
After tearing around New Zealand and sleeping in our car for the better half of a month, we were getting a little weary of our extended road trips filled rainy days, cold weather and cold meals. For a fraction of a second we almost put off going to Milford – good thing we didn’t.
The Sun Breaking Through the Clouds at Milford Sound
Half the fun in Milford is getting to the site itself, the road careens through some awesome mountain scenery and there are some wicked campsites around the area. We ended up pulling into a site in a torrential downpour, 160mm overnight, and froze our asses off. We hoped the insane amount of rain would let up by morning but our luck up to this point in time had not been stellar.
Around 5:00AM the constant pummelling of our station wagon roof stopped, and we awoke to a no rain morning – a rarity for us on the South Island. We cruised out early as our boat left at 8:00, early bird saves ya some cash. By the way, if you are headed to Milford you MUST pay to get on a boat, otherwise you will be able to see 1/100 of the landscape, suck it up and drop the coin you won’t regret it.
After boarding the boat, the first thing you see when you leave the harbour is a colossal waterfall that makes you feel like a gnat on an elephant. I was absolutely floored by the scale of the waterfall, and as you look around and see Mitre Peak and the mountain walls meeting the ocean you know you are in an a gnarly place.
One of Milford Sound's Amazing Waterfalls - Bowen Falls
Our cruise continued for another hour and a half, and the weather changed so many times! At some points in time it was pouring rain and five minutes later the sun was shining. Apparently, Milford is best seen in the pouring rain – or after a torrential downpour. Holy shit, we were FINALLY in luck! Everywhere you look you see chutes of white water crashing into the ocean, after 5 minutes on the boat you have sensory overload…Look a waterfall! Some wildlife! A sheer cliff face! Lush vegetation! Another waterfall! ANOTHER waterfall! And ANOTHER WATERFALL!
Milford was the scenic highlight in a land of scenic highlights, without a doubt a must see and a must do. Coming from Canada you see a lot of familiar territory in New Zealand – but Milford Sound was like nothing Jackie or I had ever seen before. The trip out was a little hectic and we were getting sick of living in our car but after two seconds in Milford you forget all of that and realize how awesome being on the road really is.
Milford Sound's Awesome Mountain Walls
There is no way to explain it so check out the pictures here and stay tuned for some footage in Episode 4 which is in the works!
Wow! That is some breathtaking scenery. Great pictures guys.