Milford

Day 6

Todays trip is to Milford Sound. On the way there is plenty of opportunities to enjoy the georgeous landscape and do short and long walks. The trip begins in Te Anau heading north along Lake Te Anau to Te Anau Downs and further.
First destination are the Mirror Lakes which reflect the opposite mountains if there is little air movement.

The weather neither sunny nor rainy but clowds are low, hiding the dense rain forest in higher altitudes. This fading reality looks somehow mystical for me, like in a fairytale.

Next stop is the devide, the pass which the beginning of one of the Great Walks: the Routeburn Track.

You can spend up to three days in the dense green, but one should get lost as the track is well marked and prepared.

After passing Lake Gunn we arrived the Divide just below the Key Summit. It is not spetacular but a view down the mountains is worth it.

We drive on to the Hollyford Valley where the Hollywood Track starts. After following the track leading to Lake Marian we can cast a pleasant view to the rapids.

Just before arriving the Homer Tunnel through the Homer Saddle, there is a typical temporaly waterfall coming from high above. The tunnel is rough-yewning and was finished in 1953 after 18 years of work ...

... providing relief for unemployed people during the Depression. The road on the Cleddau Canyon side of the tunnel ...

... is well-known for it's cheeky kea population.

Last stop before arriving Milford is the The chasm, a big waterfall which has formed sculpture-like rocks through the millenia.

Milford is the start point for all the cruises on the sound and the gathering for those intending to do the Milford Track.

On the beginning of our cruise we pass the Bowen Falls right behind the wharf, which comes down from the Darren Range 160m above.

The view out of the sound shows the steep mountain faces and Stirling Falls, which is one of the few permanent waterfalls in this area.

With 1.692m the Mitre Peak is one of the tallest mountains in the world which raises direktly from the seaground. The name derives from the hat of bishops, the 'mitra'.

To our surprise a big cruising ship is entering the sound and going deep into its inner part.

Seal Point is one of the few places in the sound where sea lions could climb the rocks. The live here all around the year.

On the way back into the sound we can cast a closer look on the Stirling Falls, which is 146m high and named after the sailor and Captain Stirling.

Breathtaking is the view up the steep stone wall which actually hangs over in its top parts!

The Harrison Cove is home to Milford Deep. The Underwater Observatory, a privatly run company, gives an insight in the natural habitat of many plants and animals living in the sound.

The uniqueness results from the special environment in the sound (it features condinitions normally found in much higher depth) and the construction itself give freedom to all subjects of observation.

After an impressive day in nature we took a final look over Lake Te Anau to the Franklin and Stuart Mountains.
you can use them in either direction of the train - always pointing forward!