Day 6 - Milford Sound, then Fiordland National Park

We’ve finally arrived in New Zealand! The anticipation around the ship to the prospect of a clear morning as we “discover” the grandeur of Milford Sound was really obvious last night. This morning we were joined by at least a third of the passengers out on the upper and forward decks at first light as we picked up the pilot and passed the lighthouse on our way into the 15 km long narrow gorge.

So the miracle continues – another fine day (and Milford Sound, we were told, has a reputation for rain!) The average January rainfall in Milford Sound is 717mm - that's about 25mm every day! So we were prepared for rain and dozens spectacular waterfalls plunging hundreds of metres that follow the rain. Instead we got clear skies and only a couple of waterfalls (well you can’t have everything . . . . .). Whilst we were inside Milford Sound the skies were so clear that we could see the tops of every peak (extremely rare)

Milford Sound is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres or more on either side. The sight of snow covered peaks in the middle of summer was yet another reminder that we’re experiencing the sights of a country much further south than Oz. (the cold early morning wind was also a reminder – we lasted two hours before escaping back inside for breakfast )

Considered by Rudyard Kipling as the 8th wonder of the world, Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous and most-visited tourist destination. Milford Sound is the northern most of 14 fiords (according ot the expert commentary they’re not actually fiords) that make up the spectacular coastline of Fiordland National Park.

The highlight of the morning was the 15 minutes we paused at first of the permanent waterfalls. With no wind and the water depth of 300 metres right to the cliff face, the captain took the ship within about 10 metres of the rock face right under the waterfall. A lot of people including us were very amazed and impressed.

After departing Milford Sound we headed for and cruised inside both Doubtful and Dusky Sounds. Unlike Milford Sound these other waterways are circular and the cruise ships enter and leave these waterways at different places along the south west coast of New Zealand’s south island. Dusky Sound we were told was discovered, visited twice and explored by James Cook on two separate occasions in both the Endeavour and Resolution however he never discovered the majesty of Milford Sound.

Headed for Dunedin in the late afternoon and passed between Bluff (near Invercargill) on the mainland and Stewart Island around dinner time. Still enjoying the miracle of fine weather and smooth seas as we pass through the Foveaux Strait and turn left along the east coast.

More tomorrow.