New Zealand Trip Report, Solar Daytime 11: Milford Sound, Solar Daytime 12: Glenorchy

Day 11, February 28, 2017, Tuesday:

The Māori named the sound Piopiotahi after the thrush-like piopio bird, at nowadays extinct. Māui their Hero died inwards the endeavour of trying to win immortality for mankind a piopio aeroplane flew hither inwards mourning.

The fjord was discovered yesteryear Europeans in.1812 as well as the Captain named it Milford Haven after his homeland inwards Wales.

Milford Sound Cruise:

Milford Sound is 307 km from Queenstown by road(about iv hours' drive), amongst tour buses to the audio departing from Queenstown early on morning.

We chose to remain at the smaller town of Te Anau, 121 km away... so a campaign of 2 to 2 1/2 hours if nosotros don't halt anywhere.

The campaign to Milford Sound itself passes through unspoiled mount landscapes earlier entering the 1.2 km Homer Tunnel which emerges into rain-forest-carpeted canyons that descend to the sound.

There are several scenic spots on the agency where i tin hike... nosotros chose to campaign right away to the sound, convey our cruise inwards relative peace as well as produce the hikes on our campaign back, worked out GREAT!

FJORD VS SOUND:

Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is the most visited NZ attraction.

Now what is the divergence betwixt a fjord as well as a sound?

A fjord is a long, narrow H2O inlet amongst steep sides or cliffs, created yesteryear glacial erosion

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 audio is oftentimes formed yesteryear the sea flooding a river valley. So basically the divergence is the origin...

In experience, both are awesome every bit nosotros canvass inwards waters surrounded yesteryear high cliffs. We convey had a fantastic fourth dimension driving inwards Kingdom of Norway along Hardangerfjord, Lofoten islands as well as cruising inwards the famed Sognefjord.

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We were excited as well as create for our NZ cruise

THE DRIVE:

We filled upward gas earlier our campaign every bit is our common routine. Doubly of import hither every bit at that spot is no gas station after Te Anau. The gas station guy tried to sell cruise tickets maxim nosotros may hold out stranded without tickets if nosotros larn inwards at the audio without prior booking. We knew that was bunkum as well as refused politely.

There are many operators plying boats of all sizes as well as at that spot are multiple cruises every day. When nosotros larn inwards early, no gamble of existence stranded without ticket... no prebooking essential!

We had opted for the smaller boat Mitre peak cruises... a picayune to a greater extent than expensive than the bigger boats exactly lesser publish of people. We arrived at the parking earlier nine am... surprised to reckon it total of cars... likely overnight cruisers... many many camper vans as well as people walking around amongst their toothbrushes!

We knew nosotros had to become to the docks where at that spot is a edifice amongst all boat fellowship counters. We were confused yesteryear lack of signs... idea we'll become to the visitor oculus where nosotros saw a board info/tickets. Just started going downwards a passage call for a lady if this led to the identify to purchase tickets. She said yes... nosotros were really bully to brand the early on cruises every bit later on the tour buses volition descend amongst crowds.

Thankfully the passage led to the edifice amongst counters, We were at that spot yesteryear 9.15, bought our tickets for the 9.45am cruise!

Breathed a sigh of relief!!

Milford Sound runs xv kilometers inland from the Tasman Sea at Dale Point (also named after a place unopen to Milford Haven inwards Wales) - the rima oris of the fjord - as well as is surrounded yesteryear sheer stone faces that ascent 1,200 one thousand (3,900 ft) or to a greater extent than on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 1,517 metres (4,977 ft), resembling an elephant's head,and The Lion, 1,302 one thousand (4,272 ft), inwards the shape of a crouching lion.

The docks convey a dense infestation of sandflies...it was pretty scenic though...

We boarded create down as well as ran to the upperdeck... felt it'll convey the best views

Then nosotros felt the opened upward deck downstairs is improve as well as nosotros went at that spot as well as stayed for the whole cruise

Milford Sound sports 2 permanent waterfalls all yr round, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. After heavy pelting many temporary waterfalls run downwards the steep sided stone faces that business the fjord.

We were good layered so did non experience the cold...

Our captain gave lovely commentary as well as drenched us inwards the spray of the H2O falls. LOVELY EXPERIENCE!

Seals, penguins, as well as southernmost population of bottlenose dolphins frequent the waters, saw all frolicking around...

Milford Sound is the wettest inhabited identify inwards New Zealand as well as i of the wettest inwards the world. Amazing that nosotros had the privilege of gorgeous clear conditions for our cruise..

The Milford Discovery Centre & Underwater Observatory is located inwards Harrisons Cove on the N side of the fjord. Situated inside the Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, the underwater observatory allows visitors to sentiment the marine environs at a depth of 10 m. Due to a natural phenomenon called 'deep H2O emergence,' deep-water animals such as black coral can hold out viewed inwards the shallow waters surrounding the observatory. We had initially considered including this exactly later on decided to skip it, what you'll larn to reckon is whichever creature chooses to exceed yesteryear the drinking glass at that specific time!

MIRROR LAKES, MITRE PEAK:

After the lovely cruise, nosotros disembarked... had a overnice fourth dimension at the Mirror lakes... Mitre peak was glimmering every bit a clear reflection inwards the even so waters on a crystal clear day! It resembles the mitre of a religious head, thence the name.

We had our picnic repast as well as started our campaign back, stopping at the scenic spots. This is the Chasm

Did non endeavour the commutation summit hike... nosotros had had our fill upward of top notch scenic views at the other spots amongst shorter walks.

In both the directions nosotros did non run across much oncoming traffic.... inwards the moring it had been also early on for people returning from the around every bit nosotros were driving early.... hardly anybody amongst us also inwards the same direction, every bit people prefer to a greater extent than comfy times to start...

When nosotros were Coming back, it would hold out a picayune slow to grab the cruises ... so no oncoming traffic to grapple on these windy narrow roads... it would convey been challenging to run across the large tour buses...

PERFECT TIMING ! We were really happy.

ZIPLINE, TE ANAU:

We played the zipline, swing etc inwards the costless Te Anau park... WOW, the zipline actually jerked me around at the finish... it mightiness easily hurt some one! I'll upload the video soon.

We enjoyed the lake, had a campaign around the lovely houses, so called it a day!

DAY 12, March 1, 2017:

DRIVE TO QUEENSTOWN:

We started off on the really scenic campaign to Queenstown inwards the morning,

Reached the lakeside YHA inwards QT. Tried to banking venture lucifer inwards at the YHA... it was a picayune also early. Used their kitchen, had our repast at the beautiful dining room amongst the sentiment of Lake Wakatipu.

Then nosotros realised nosotros were at the incorrect YHA... this i had no mortal rooms amongst attached bathrooms. We had booked a lake sentiment ensuite mortal room at the other YHA.

As nosotros were also early on to checkin, nosotros went off on a hateful solar daytime trip to Glenorchy.

This is Queenstown pier...

GLENORCHY:

TERRIFIC VIEWS ALL THE WAY!

LITTLE PARADISE LODGE & DREAM GARDEN:

This mortal garden was such a treat! $15 pp entry payable solely inwards cash... We doubled dorsum on seeing this interesting sign, parked the machine on the slope, a peak at what was visible convinced us to become in. The possessor lady came out, told us that it's her husband's function of 28 years!

AWESOME!!

This was likely the solely identify where nosotros needed cash, nosotros later on used upward all our cash at Lake Tekapo accommodation.

The garden has quirky statues... tiny picayune pebbles stuck on to concrete figures....

These arrows indicate yous how to navigate the garden...

There are lovely flowers, fruit laden trees as well as bushes amongst information on them every bit well..

Tiger lily here...

Seats are arts and crafts pieces too...

Humorous instructions....this board forbids vesture as well as advocates skinny dipping...

This is the feedback wall...

All this amazing fine art amongst this every bit the backdrop...

This was a highlight along amongst the loely campaign as well as nosotros drove dorsum to QT, really happy!

Our days thirteen as well as fourteen are covered here, amongst reports of Arrowtown, Queenstown skyline, gondola, luge rides, gardens, as well as our hikes at Aoraki national park:
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