Te Anau and Milford Sound

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After a stressful moment involving a forgotten banana at Queenstown airport, we were soon on our way in glorious sunshine to Fjordland, described as NZ's largest and most impenetrable wilderness. But the journey by road to Te Anau was very smooth and yesterday we also made it easily to Milford for a wonderful cruise down the sound (technically a fjord) to the Tasman Sea. We were lucky to have one of the few dry days in the year - Milford is the wettest inhabited place in NZ and apparently one of the wettest in the world!

This morning we used the hotel's bikes to cycle along part of the lakeside and visited a wildlife centre to see some of the native bird species that are difficult to find in the wild including the takahe. Sorry, no photos here - they are all on the real camera... Also no photos of the glowworms we went to see this afternoon because cameras were not allowed. The caves where the glowworms are found are on the other side of the lake, accessible by boat. At 'only' 12,000 years old, the caves are too young to have any stalactites and stalagmites but the 250m of the 6.7km system that we could visit was an amazing experience of fast flowing swirling water and pitch black darkness with the tiny glowing worm tails.

Quiet Te Anau has suited us well for our first stop in NZ. Tomorrow we will head back to Queenstown.

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Photos

NZ mountains
First glimpse

NZ
...so excited!

NZ
lake or fjord?

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound
Classic image!

Bikes and coffee in Te Anau
Feeling very much at home!

Comments

[Diane Brierley]

Looks amazing!
Hi both. Your pics look fantastic. Glad you're enjoying your trip and the weather is being kind to you. Looks like everything is going to plan. Hope the next stage of your trip is great and you keep having lots of fun. We're at Heathrow and fly later so looking forward to exploring. Take care and look forward to your next instalment ?. Di xx

[Sue]

Awesome!
Oh goodness you two,your trip sounds absolutely amazing already and how lovely that you've been blessed with such lovely weather? We have enjoyed reminiscing over some of your blog and loving the photos! Keep it coming ? Sending love, Sue and Tom xxxx

[Anita & Mark]

Hello from Mark & Anita
Wow, it all looks wonderful! Really enjoying your travelogue. I think any misgivings about the lenght of the trip Mark will be entirely forgotten and you will wish you could spend more time down under! I'm off tomorrow for 5 days skiing (poor Mark is now working full time!) in Meribel. Hoping for some snow in good condition and to return in one piece! Do hope you continue to make the most of your packed itinerary (all the hard work putting it all together turned out to be well worth it!) Love Anita & Mark