Drive to Milford Sound

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We ended our wonderful time in Queenstown and headed out for Milford Sound for an overnight cruise. The space in between was just breathtaking. I never knew there could be so many spectacular views, totally view of anything manmade as far as the eye can see. Sitting on the ground and closing my eyes I could hear the wind, birds singing, and leaves rustling, but no planes or cars - it was like sitting there a million years ago. We took lots of little 30 minute hikes to break up our 5 hour drive. My favorite was a walk around Mirror lake, so named because its location amidst mountains protects it from wind and it is as smooth as a mirror - of course it also captures mesmerizing reflections of the surrounding terrain.

What an otherworldly country NZ is - idyllic streams are so numerous that some just have names like "Creek No. 168". The food has been unforgettable as well - all the animals are free range and everything is slaughtered locally making for some fantastically tasty salmon, lamb, and beef. We have met many, many people who came here as tourists and stayed to live as waitstaff, farm help, and adventure guides - and I can see why they felt unable to leave the charms of this stunning country behind.

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