Long before the idea of visiting NZ came to mind, I had no inking of what Milford Sound is all about. I would think of it as something to do with music rather than a location at some corners of the earth.
Milford Sound, a declared world heritage site is said to be the most famous tourist site of NZ. Almost everyone who visits NZ would include Milford Sound into the itinerary.
Milford Sound, a declared world heritage site is said to be the most famous tourist site of NZ. Almost everyone who visits NZ would include Milford Sound into the itinerary.
Milford Sound is a fiord at the southwest of NZ's South Island. It runs 15 Km inland from the mouth of the fiord at the Tasman Sea. Sheer rock faces rise to height of 1,200m and higher along both sides of the fiord.
We spent a night in the cruise boat called Milford Wanderer. We decided for an over-night stay in a cruise boat to enjoy the full beauty of Milford Sound rather than a day trip. Other than the afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast and a 1.5 hours of jungle hiking offered in the cruise, the obvious difference was the chance to see the sunrise in the case of an over-night stay. But then, what one actually sees is very much dependent on the weather at the time of the visit. The waterfalls at the cliffs may look mild after fairly prolonged dry spell. Some however prefer to tour the fiord after heavy downpour simply because of the countless of spectacular waterfalls pouring down almost throughout the cliff faces all round!
Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world with an annual rainfall of 7,000mm. By comparison, Kota Kinabalu has an annual rainfall of just 2,600mm! It rains almost 200 days a year in Milford Sound. We were fortunate to enjoy the spectacular views because of clear sunny weather at the time of our visit. February is reckoned to be the driest month of the year.
We spent a night in the cruise boat called Milford Wanderer. We decided for an over-night stay in a cruise boat to enjoy the full beauty of Milford Sound rather than a day trip. Other than the afternoon tea, dinner and breakfast and a 1.5 hours of jungle hiking offered in the cruise, the obvious difference was the chance to see the sunrise in the case of an over-night stay. But then, what one actually sees is very much dependent on the weather at the time of the visit. The waterfalls at the cliffs may look mild after fairly prolonged dry spell. Some however prefer to tour the fiord after heavy downpour simply because of the countless of spectacular waterfalls pouring down almost throughout the cliff faces all round!
Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world with an annual rainfall of 7,000mm. By comparison, Kota Kinabalu has an annual rainfall of just 2,600mm! It rains almost 200 days a year in Milford Sound. We were fortunate to enjoy the spectacular views because of clear sunny weather at the time of our visit. February is reckoned to be the driest month of the year.
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| Stirling Falls |
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| Stirling Falls |
The splash and sound of Stirling Falls can only be experienced by being at IT.
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| Lady Bowen Falls |
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| Seal Rock |
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| Sunrise in Milford Sound |
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The only out-of-boat activity was hiking at the widely known Milford Track immediately after the afternoon tea. We were taken to a 1.5-hour hiking along part of the "Milford Track". Milford Track which is 33.5 miles (53.5 Km) long starts at Glade Wharf at Lake Te Anau and ends at Milford Sound. NZ really looks after their forests seriously. Before we set foot on land to do the hiking, all our shoes had to be disinfected.
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| In a motor boat from the Cruise boat to jungle tracking of Milford Track. |
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| Milford Wanderer |
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| Afternoon Tea |
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| Main Course for Dinner |
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| Dessert |
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