Fiordland - 8th Wonder of the World!
After decades of neglecting this phenomenal part of NZ, I was back. Why had I left it so long to visit an area of NZ which has so many superlatives describing its total area, depth and volume of lakes, waterfalls, rainfall, plus much more?
As, thanks to dire weather forecasts, I was expecting rain for most of my stay, I was pleasantly surprised to arrive to a cloudy, but dry Te Anau. To be honest, the clouds really enhance the mood and atmosphere of Fiordland
I chose two tours for my 3-night stay, and I was thrilled with my choice.
First day was Doubtful Sound, a trip I did about thirty years ago in perfect weather, this time really enjoying seeing how it normally looks 200 days a year! It was fantastic. I loved the silhouettes of the mountains overlooking Lake Manapouri, cloaked in cloud, the different shades of grey stunning.
Lush vegetation filled every available space along the shoreline
and clung to the bare rock and sheer slopes of the cliffs.
Lush vegetation filled every available space along the shoreline
and clung to the bare rock and sheer slopes of the cliffs.
After a short bus trip over the Wilmot Pass, built when the Manapouri hydro plant was being built, our bus descended through thick fog to Doubtful Sound, in Maori Patea meaning, most appropriately, 'Place of Silence'.This awesome Sound is an incredible 40 kilometres long from the head to the Tasman Sea. It is also the deepest of NZ's fiords/sounds. What a mystical, magical place it was, shrouded in low cloud.
Thanks to occasional downpours, more and more waterfalls appeared during the day., cascading down the dramatic sheer cliffs of the Sound. These temporary falls disappear within hours of the rain stopping, so we were super lucky!
Crooked Arm was to me the most beautiful arm of Doubtful Sound. We had the good fortune to have the best weather of the day there, as we floated into it , enjoying its stunning reflections and serenity.
I loved every aspect of the Doubtful Sound trip - the 50 minute return trip across the lovely Lake Manapouri, the bus trip over the Wilmot Pass in the mist and three heavenly hours in the incredibly remote Doubtful Sound, accessible only for tours and workers.
Thanks to occasional downpours, more and more waterfalls appeared during the day., cascading down the dramatic sheer cliffs of the Sound. These temporary falls disappear within hours of the rain stopping, so we were super lucky!
Crooked Arm was to me the most beautiful arm of Doubtful Sound. We had the good fortune to have the best weather of the day there, as we floated into it , enjoying its stunning reflections and serenity.
I loved every aspect of the Doubtful Sound trip - the 50 minute return trip across the lovely Lake Manapouri, the bus trip over the Wilmot Pass in the mist and three heavenly hours in the incredibly remote Doubtful Sound, accessible only for tours and workers.
Next day I set off on a small bus tour to one of the most visited tourist spots in New Zealand, Piopiotahi, better known as Milford Sound. I am so pleased I did not drive the two hours there and back as the road is pretty winding and the magnificent scenery very distracting. Fortunately, we stopped a great deal, so I didn't feel I missed anything.
First stop was the lovely Eglinton Valley with its stunning golden tussock and expansive views of the mountains.
Lake Gunn was glorious, as was the lichen draped over the branches of the beech trees.
As we exited the Homer tunnel, the view down the U-shaped valley to Milford was just breathtaking. It was such a treat to do such trips with so few others! In summer when borders were open, there could be up to 200 buses in Milford. Today there were 12, mostly small! We are so privileged to have this opportunity when others cannot. Sadly, I fear that before we know it, the crowds will return, threatening to damage this pristine part of the world. The Fiordland National Park comprises 1.2 million hectares of land, most of which has never been visited by mankind. Amazing!
There are two noticeable changes to Milford since my last visit decades ago, the first of course being the lack of tour buses, but the best thing is that it seems that the sandfly population has vastly diminished since lockdowm! Nobody to bite I guess!
Lake Gunn was glorious, as was the lichen draped over the branches of the beech trees.
As we exited the Homer tunnel, the view down the U-shaped valley to Milford was just breathtaking. It was such a treat to do such trips with so few others! In summer when borders were open, there could be up to 200 buses in Milford. Today there were 12, mostly small! We are so privileged to have this opportunity when others cannot. Sadly, I fear that before we know it, the crowds will return, threatening to damage this pristine part of the world. The Fiordland National Park comprises 1.2 million hectares of land, most of which has never been visited by mankind. Amazing!
There are two noticeable changes to Milford since my last visit decades ago, the first of course being the lack of tour buses, but the best thing is that it seems that the sandfly population has vastly diminished since lockdowm! Nobody to bite I guess!
This is the view we had as we left Milford. Spectacular, dramatic, mesmorising, awesome, breathtaking - one word alone just cannot describe it.
Thanks to some precipitation, light and then heavier, we had the joy of seeing temporary waterfalls tumbling gracefully down many of the immense cliffs faces.
,, 
These final shots of Mitre Peak sum up this marvelous day in this absolutely spectacular area.
As I arrived back at Te Anau, there was a break in the rain, and I had a fabulous visit to the bird sanctuary, where I was lucky enough to get really close to all 4 of the very rare Takahe they have there. There are only about 400 left in the world, sadly!
Thanks to some precipitation, light and then heavier, we had the joy of seeing temporary waterfalls tumbling gracefully down many of the immense cliffs faces.
,, These final shots of Mitre Peak sum up this marvelous day in this absolutely spectacular area.
As I arrived back at Te Anau, there was a break in the rain, and I had a fabulous visit to the bird sanctuary, where I was lucky enough to get really close to all 4 of the very rare Takahe they have there. There are only about 400 left in the world, sadly!
Just after watching these beautiful yet very heavy, flightless birds, the sun came out and lit up the Toi toi along the shoreline. It was fantastic.
What a fitting end to two brilliant days.
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