driving to Milford Sound

Milford Sound is on a lot of New Zealand bucket lists, but it is one of the most remote places on the South Island. travelers can chose to arrive by plane or boat or even helicopter, but we opted to make the long drive from Queenstown by way of Te Anau.

the drive took much longer than anticipated. partly due to crazy winding mountain roads, but also the fact we had to keep stopping for photos because it was too damn gorgeous. [I've already shared photos from the Mirror Lakes area.] most of what you see in this post comes from the area before and after the Homer Tunnel.

we pulled off on the east end of the Homer Tunnel both going into and coming out of Milford Sound. going in - we were on a race against daylight. we needed to get down to our campsite and set up before dark. the sun was already low and the mountains cast enormous shadows along the valley. and maybe the coolest thing - a tiny cloud tried to follow us as we left.

on the way out of Milford Sound, we had to wait on the west end of the tunnel. cars are only allowed through in one direction at a time, and the timer had maybe 10 minutes left. I decided [not surprisingly] that I wanted to take some pictures. I opened the car door and stood on the step, turning away from the open door to look over the roof of our car. what I did not factor into this plan, is that the road was on an angle. shortly after I turned around, the car door tried to close [thanks, gravity] and slammed into my back. this of course shoved my gut into the doorframe along the top edge of the car. while I curled up in a ball for a few minutes, everyone, including the guys in the car behind us who had seen the whole thing, had a great laugh at my expense.

thankfully I had recovered by the time we made it through the tunnel. it was cold out but we still wanted to explore the area. there were plenty of rocks to climb and waterfalls to gape at, thanks to the heavy rains that had soaked our tent the night before. but the morning sun was bright [then again, the sun is always crazy bright in New Zealand.] Husband climbed on a rock and did some Gollum impressions. when in Middle Earth...

the roads might be icy in winter, but if you're visiting New Zealand in summer I would recommend taking the drive out to Milford Sound. obviously the sound itself is a huge attraction, but there's a lot of beauty along the way you won't want to miss either.

a reflection on the Mirror Lakes

let me tell you an honest story about our journey to Mirror Lakes.

our road trip through New Zealand had been going for over a week, and the strain of moving locations every few days was starting to show. we had been driving from Queenstown since early morning, stopped for an afternoon boat tour and an extremely disappointing lunch in Te Anau. I was tired of being jammed in a car for hours, feeling nauseous on the winding roads, without cell service, wondering if we had enough gas to make it back, and trying to determine just how hangry I should let myself get before busting into my limited snack supply. there were moments I even wondered whether making the trip out to Millford Sound was going to be worth it

by the time we reached the first scenic stop on the Milford Road, I was about ready to scream. but instead I stepped out of the car and took a deep breath. looked around. and realized that a little carsickness and 7 hours of driving was a small price to pay for the beauty of the fiordlands.

from there on out it was a face full of smiles, a hand full of cameras, and a heart full of wonder.

I don't think it's necessary for me to explain why this area along the road to Milford Sound is named the Mirror Lakes. nor for me to tell you how calm and peaceful this area was, how gorgeous the late afternoon sun peeking over the mountains was. how I didn't really mind being blinded by the reflections off the water, or that my camera settings went completely whacked.

driving into the fiordlands of southern New Zealand, you'll encounter more stunning views than it seems right for any corner of the world to hold. I admit it's a long journey to get there. few ever do.

but it was worth it for me at least - this was the point in our trip where I learned to stop caring that it took twice as long to get where we were going, and just enjoy the ride.

linking up for Travel Tuesday with Bonnie, Lauren and Courtney

cruising Milford Sound: part 2

we've already discussed how beautiful and remote Milford Sound is. and why you should definitely take yourself on a cruise through this magical bit of New Zealand's fiordlands.

but I have more. because Milford Sound is too much for just one post. or even two.

while we sailed back into the sound from the ocean, we crossed paths with an overnight cruise ship and another colony of seals. we didn't get quite as close to this group, because we were en route to a specific spot of the sound to explore...

while there were plenty of waterfalls visible around the sound thanks to recent rains, Stirling Waterfall is one of 2 permanent falls in Milford Sound. our boat pulled up just as a group of sea kayakers were finishing in the area - you can see them in their yellow kayaks above.

most of us rushed out onto the front deck of the boat to see the falls up close. but when I realized the boat was heading right into this waterfall, I made a mad dash for the inside to protect my camera. everyone who stayed out [my Husband included] got soaked. all part of the fun... except when there's photography gear involved!

as we made our way back to the dock, the low clouds cleared around Mitre Peak for just a brief moment. it wasn't the greatest of views... but we almost didn't get to see it at all. our tour was definitely more on the misty and moody side of things.

I would have loved to cruise Milford Sound on a clear day - though I think no matter the weather, the sound puts on a good show. I'm still glad we are able to go, and it was a fantastic way to spend the morning. [besides... I managed some shots of Mitre Peak when we came back down that afternoon.]

linking up with Bonnie, Amanda, Caity, Michelle, and Marcella for travel tuesday