Milford Sound, Monday 7 February

















1) Humbolt Falls

2) Rainforest Path

3) Milford Sound, Mitre Peak in the centre

4) Milford Sound

5) Milford Sound

6) Milford Sound




We stayed 2 nights in Te Anau and to make it feasible to do the 80 mile each way trip to Milford Sound a trip was booked on the Internet before we left with local Tour Operator Trips and Tramps. Most Coach trips to Milford Sound start from Queenstown 100 miles further away and are more rushed as a result. Also our operator kept to minibuses and 10 person groups.

Our driver and Guide Chrissy was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the area.

The route took us north alongside Lake Te Anau with superb views across to mountains partly shrouded in cloud.

On the route we took a diversion up the Hollingford Valley and a short walk up through rainforest to the Humbolt Falls. By this time it was raining quite heavily, our first in over a month of touring and the top of the 150ft falls was invisible in low cloud.

After traversing a mile long tunnel we headed down to Milford Sound and a 2 hour trip around the Fjord.

Although a clear bright day would have been preferable a rainy misty day had its advantages. One of the most dramatic features of Milford Sound is the enormous waterfalls many of which dry up a few hours after it stops raining. Further the dramatic effect of low misty clouds adds great drama to the views. See the pictures above.