Milford Sound and Goodbye

Sunday the 12th til Tuesday the 14th of January: The weather on Sunday first looked better then the forecast had promised. Our drive to Milford Sound was beautiful with rainbows and wild skies. When we arrived at Milford, the rain intensified though and we were a bit worried about how much we would actually see of the high peaks of the fjord during our cruise. First the low clouds kept the mountains hidden, but the sights were still very impressive, even mystical. But then the clouds started to lighten and part. It was so stunning how the flanks and peaks of the hills emerged out of the fog and how the colors of the water changed. Hundreds of waterfalls run down the slopes. It was one of the most awe-inspiring sights I have ever seen. The pictures can't really reflect it. So again, we were incredibly lucky with the weather. Without the rain, there would have only been two waterfalls. We had hundreds 😁. On Monday we had to drive to Dunedin, so I could get my flight to Auckland, from there to Singapore and on to Hanoi. So it meant goodbye for Claudia and me. We are both pretty pragmatic so the farewells were quick. But I want to thank her for the amazing time and good talks we had. All the best for your journey, wherever it might take you ❤️. New Zealand was so far my favourite country. It's nature is unique, you really get everything: tropical beaches, lush green hills, rain forests, harsh vulcanic landscapes, mountains and rough coastlines. I think the only thing they don't have is a sandy desert. And the climate changes as quickly as the landscapes. I definitely want to come back and take a bit more time exploring these two beautiful islands.