Many people say if you visit to New Zealand that’s not complete if you not go to the South Island. But there is another term, to the South Island is incomplete if you not see the Milford Sound.
What kind of "Sound" is that? Sound is a mountain valley due to the pressure of the galcier melting thousands years ago resulted in a rise in sea water and inundate the valley. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound is an example the result of this process, and the entire area was named in fiordland.
Milford Sound itself is already pretty amazing, but the route to get there was more spectacular. So you should try to drive a car alone to Milford Sound instead of using bus tour package.
If you noticed that the journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound takes 5 hours by car, you’ll imagine how tired drive a car so far. But you wrong because we can say this is one of the amazing street to drive in the world.
Generally the trip is split become two, Queenstown to Te Anau (3 hours) and the Te Anau to Milford Sound (2 hours). Most of tourists indeed base in Queenstown or Dunedin to Milford, however we can also stay in Te Anau which beautiful and quiet if you want to save time.
From Queenstown just follow the highway number 6 to Lumsden, then turn right take the highway number 94 to Te Anau. Don't be afraid to stray, all instructions and directions the way plastered very clear, even without GPS.
Once out of the city along Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown Road will be winding down the mountain, on the left side, and on the right side are the abyss, due to a very beautiful view of this we must drive slowly.
After Kingston, then switch views into the expanse of hills and sheep. Well, the sheep are remarkable. See photo below, each point is the white sheep (sheep) and the black dots is a cow.
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| Milford Sound |
What kind of "Sound" is that? Sound is a mountain valley due to the pressure of the galcier melting thousands years ago resulted in a rise in sea water and inundate the valley. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound is an example the result of this process, and the entire area was named in fiordland.
Milford Sound itself is already pretty amazing, but the route to get there was more spectacular. So you should try to drive a car alone to Milford Sound instead of using bus tour package.
If you noticed that the journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound takes 5 hours by car, you’ll imagine how tired drive a car so far. But you wrong because we can say this is one of the amazing street to drive in the world.
Generally the trip is split become two, Queenstown to Te Anau (3 hours) and the Te Anau to Milford Sound (2 hours). Most of tourists indeed base in Queenstown or Dunedin to Milford, however we can also stay in Te Anau which beautiful and quiet if you want to save time.
From Queenstown just follow the highway number 6 to Lumsden, then turn right take the highway number 94 to Te Anau. Don't be afraid to stray, all instructions and directions the way plastered very clear, even without GPS.
Once out of the city along Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown Road will be winding down the mountain, on the left side, and on the right side are the abyss, due to a very beautiful view of this we must drive slowly.
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| Lake Wakatipu |
After Kingston, then switch views into the expanse of hills and sheep. Well, the sheep are remarkable. See photo below, each point is the white sheep (sheep) and the black dots is a cow.
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| Sheeps Field, Milford Sound |
Once arriving in Te Anau, this is your time to fill gasoline and buy some drinking. Make sure the fuel is loaded enough to return Te Anau-Milford Sound, because no service station anymore on this route.
After you out of Te Anau prepare the camera and the battery to the breathtaking views towards Milford Sound. Milford Road along the 120 km is already recognized as a World Heritage Highway, so no need to use sms voting like the Komodo dragon. Views will be alternated from the land of snowy mountain backdrop with ramps (imagine the movie The Lord of The Ring), a beautiful forest (green or yellow depending on the season), as well as lakes and rivers.
A lot of scenery along this road that allows tourists to do trail walk, hiking or camping, which unfortunately didn't get me to do because we have limited time.
On the way, there is a small lake called Mirror Lake, which is in the morning or in the afternoon when the wind is not blowing, the water of the lake “become” a mirror over the mountains. Unfortunately when I arrive the wind blows pretty fast, but the surface water was still looks good.
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| Mirror Lake |
If the way we've started uphill and winding, this means we have closer to the Homer Tunnel. This is a small tunnel penetrating the mountain along the 1, 2 km. The car shall comply with the instructions of the lamp in front of the tunnel because only one direction for one period. So if the red light, it means that we have to wait (approx. 15 minutes) for alternating directions.
While waiting for this we can be pulled over and a short break while the Kea bird accompanied special seems to play at the mouth of the tunnel. Well, it should be noted this birds 'activity', because according to wikipedia this Kea bird eats rubber, especially here is the car rubber seal and the rubber of wiper. Also because it is perched on a car, the car's scratches risk could make the cost of rental swelled due to pay scratch damage.
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| Kea Bird |
The tunnel is nothing special. The road is quite dark and decreased steadily (if towards Milford), slippery when winter/spring (due to melting snow that drip), so it is definitely not to be speeding.
The Next was 19 km trip down the slopes of the mountain, winding model horseshoe will be flat when entering the Fiordland. At the end of this journey is Milford Sound. A definite view on the way at the beginning of this spring for me is truly amazing.
In fact we could only buy tickets online at Milford Sound cruise, sometimes there are discounts up to 50%, but of course we will be hunted down time while driving a car in order to arrive at a specified time. So be safe is to buy upon arrival only.
There are some operator cruise tour here that we can choose. There is a Real Discovery, Southern Band, Jucy and Cruise. There is an hour, forty five minutes cruise, there are two hours fifteen minutes, for the longer time usual there will be a detour to animal life and underwater observatory option. Ticket prices are more or less equally among operators, ranging from NZD 60-85 per person. The price is dependent departs (the peak time 11am-1pm is the most expensive) and there are overnight cruise.
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| Milford Sound Cruise |
The key of this cruise is the surround sound up to approach the mouth of the Tasman Sea and then turning back. The primary icon photo postcard is Mitre Peak, mount 1492m which resemble tall mitre (Bishop's hat). Then there are 2 waterfalls on the right side, Stirling Falls (146 m) and Bowen Falls (160 m). And you can also watching sea lion habitat basking in the sun.
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| Stirling Falls New Zealand |
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| Bowen Falls New Zealand |
The weather play a role to the comfort of the cruise, so be sure not to come if the weather forecast says rain or snow. That is sure a cool breeze (though it's been spring) will hit us in the face, make your hands and feet be frozen. Be sure to bring a jacket and gloves here and we can get some coffee or tea arrangements provided in the ship.
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