Milford Sound - Rain, Shine and Boat Tour

I was really looking forward to Milford again, I'm excited to see what it's like once we're through the one-lane Homer Tunnel. It's raining a bit today, but in Milford it's supposed to be nice and that's part of it. We've also had little to no rain on the South Island so far, luckily the weather forecast was wrong. But we can't check here anymore because there is absolutely no reception.

Our drive in the rain to Milford Sound was really mystical with the mist-shrouded mountains and waterfalls running down everywhere. After a short wait at the tunnel, which really deserved the name because it was pitch black and we were surrounded by stones and rocks.

After that there were no more big stops, just 'the Chasm', where the bridge had fallen away and you couldn't really see the gorge. And then we were in Milford. We walked to the water in the rain (luckily, because there were already a lot of sandflies there). Unfortunately, E didn't like it at all, she was really tired but didn't want to be in the carrier. Well, we went to the campsite and put her to sleep there. A quiet afternoon with fresh showers for us after freedom camping yesterday is also nice.

In the evening it rained like hell, but we were spared the sandflies (this is where they should be the worst). The view from the lodge of the surrounding mega-high mountains from which water flows is truly indescribable. Water comes down everywhere. I tried to take pictures but they can't capture it. Tomorrow we're going on the ship.

We've been on the road for 5 weeks already, we can't believe it.

On the way to the docks there was a really nice reflection of the mountains (especially Miter Peak) in the fjord. The boat tour with Cruise Milford in the morning was really perfect, no crowding for the best spot, you could always see everything. There were waterfalls, high cliffs and even sea lions during the tour through the fjord to the opening of the sea. Anyone who didn't stay inside at Stirling Falls got a shower, that's how close we got. And man, are these mountains high and impressive.

We had the best of both worlds in Milford. The mountains and all the water were incredible in the rain and also in the sunshine because only then could you see the correct size. But if I hadn't seen the thousands of waterfalls the evening before, I wouldn't have been able to imagine it. On the way back to the bus I got my Milford Swing picture - yay.

Then we drove on without further ado, goodbye beautiful Milford. We found a nice Freedom Carpark, even with a playground and sink, really well equipped.