Blogs from Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Geo: -44.6698, 167.928Milford Sound was labelled by Rudyard Kipling as the "eighth natural wonder of the world". Sheer granite cliffs rise out of the inky blue waters while waterfalls cascade down from high above.We had a great time, once again. The weather was beautiful. We met a young German couple on our nature hike, and eat and drank with them until late into the night. We were the last ones to retire to our staterooms for the evening!... read more

Finally a New Zealander greets me with 'Sweet arse!' translating to 'sweet as' or 'great'. It's 7.30am as we set off towards Milford Sound and there's a gorgeous pink sky over Queenstown and the lake. Guess that's a 'shepherd's warning' which doesn't bode well for our boat trip in Milford Sound. Fingers crossed. As we drive out of the town I can't get over what a stunning setting Queenstown is in. Everywhere you look are craggy, towering folds of rocky mountains. Mum would have hated it, finding it oppressive and closing in on her. That's how she felt about the Yorkshire hills and moors never mind big mountains. It's why she loved flat, open, big skies Norfolk so much. A total contrast, but I'm the opposite and absolutely love it. Our tour guide for the day ... read more

Geo: -44.6698, 167.928Here I am in the most picturesque, scenic cabin after the most breathtaking, awe inspiring drive I have ever experienced. The Te Anau - Milford Highway is an experience in its own right. We arrived at Te Anau around 10, after departing Queenstown at 8.15. Its a pretty place by a lake for a stroll, to top up fuel, gather supplies and information before heading North towards Milford. We grabbed a pepper steak pie from here which lived up to its hype. Heading north is a journey into the heart of the Fjordland National Park. Its basically a sole 120km highway all the way to Milford with the exception of a 30km unpaved turnoff, Hollyford Road which finishes at Humboldt Falls. Along the way, dozens of short and long walks, lakes, tracks, pools, waterfalls ... read more

Wow, so last night I had the weirdest dream that Jackie Earle Haley was trying to sexually molest me (maybe it's time to stop playing sex offenders in your films JEH?) and when I woke up I couldn't quite seem to convince myself that Jackie Earle Haley was not currently in my room at the backpackers and waiting to do nasty nasty things to me... eventually I fell asleep again and had a much nicer dream that I don't remember (something about cooking and eating I think). Up bright and early to go on a trip to Milford Sound, the laptop guy is still asleep by the time i've showered, dressed, eaten a few things out of my boot... the boot of my car, it's where i was storing my supplies, don't judge me... so yeah ... read more

Awesome day!! Started out in Milford Sound - full of clouds and gray overhead, but gorgeous high mountains and SNOW! We were all bundled up on deck, but got some beautiful pics. We offloaded over 90 passengers who are doing an overnight land trip to our next port of call. We pick them up tomorrow in Dunedin. We continued cruising in two more Sounds - Doubtful Sound (because the first boat captain thought it was doubtful that his ship could make it - thought it was too shallow!) and here's the Oosterdam sailing through, up to almost the end and then we turned around and sailed back out. The last one was called Dusty Sound and it was more of a circular sound where we sailed through the entire Sound. These are all glacier-carved valleys - ... read more