Distance travelled today: 292Kms. A crisp, blue sky day dawned. It was chilly overnight and the van was a little on the cool side when we woke. So, instead of getting up, I put the webasto heating on, put the kettle on and retreated back under the duvet. The resident ducks were already awake, having been so since around 6am quacking noisily to each other. Our plan today was simply to get to Milford Sound.
We set off at 10am and as is the norm, every hour and a half we stop for a rest, a cup of tea and a stretch. I had no idea quite how big Lake Wakatipu is. I was quite wrong thinking that Queenstown was at its southern end. We started off on the road to Mossburn and quickly realised the lake extended farther south than I had imagined. The small township of Kingston actually lies on the southern shores of the lake. This is a glacier specialists paradise. Hanging valleys are scattered everywhere. Evidence of old moraines are everywhere. The scenery flattens out as we head south into pasture lands. We then strike west towards the town of Te Anau and on the horizon lofty peaks rise with snow on their summits. The last time I was in that town was in 1980 but I have no memory of the place. Clearly it has grown significantly since then. It is only once you head north away from the town that the snow capped peaks ahead give you some clue as to what is coming. We stopped a few times to admire the view. The trouble is that around the next bend the view gets better and better. There are signs saying “Avalanche risk-no stopping” dotted along the road . A glance to each side shows evidence of past slips and avalanches which add to the wow factor of this road. Eventually you come to the Homer Tunnel which is enshrined in New Zealand lore. We are camped at the Milford Sound Lodge on the shores of the Sound. We are set among the native trees in a well set out space for camper vans. Native birds called Keas and Wekas so tame they approach within a few feet of us come to check us out. This is a magical place. The peaks tower all around us. It is a humbling landscape. It makes you feel rather insignificant in its magnificence. This was on my bucket list having heard so much about it. All the stories and tales have not done this place any justice at all. It simply leaves you speechless and my photos can only give you a flavour of the sheer majesty of the Sound. You simply need to come see for yourself. I have been into Milford Sound about a dozen times on cruise ships. The journey to the Sound by road beats it hands down ten fold. I will leave you with some images of the day but they don’t do the place any justice really. Tomorrow we will spend the day in Milford Sound and if the weather continues to be so good, we will take a boat trip and get a different perspective to the one I usually get.
Woodend Wanderer 