Milford Sounds

From Glenochy we continued to Te Anau via Lumsden - the gateway to Milford Sounds.

Since we are budget travelers, we booked a cruise for Milford Sounds at 9 o'clock in the morning. However, it was still over 120 km to drive from Te Anau, so we had to get up early.

Usually known for its rain and fog, Milford Sounds greeted us with beautiful sunshine and hardly a cloud in the sky in the morning.

The journey there alone was a real highlight, as we were mostly surrounded by high, partly snow-covered mountains. The rising sun (we were up so early) had turned the white peaks into gold.

But it was also a little adventure to get there, as shortly before Milford Sound there was a tunnel that looked anything but trustworthy. The tunnel looked more like an old mine with no light, and water constantly dripped from the ceiling. Still, we made it through!!!

During the cruise, we saw a lot of seals and waterfalls, but unfortunately no dolphins.

Afterwards, we hiked for another 3 hours to a mountain lake. Here, too, the path was a real adventure, and we were busy taking breaks and catching our breath. But it was definitely worth it!!

So far, the day in Fjordland has been our absolute highlight here!!!