Day 19,20 :: Cruising in Milford Sound

Day 19,20 - Overnight Cruise in Milford Sound

(Even more photos waiting to be uploaded.)"Ploop!" That was the sound of my $75 polarizer filter (like sunglasses for your camera) as it plopped into Milford Sound. Somehow it managed to unsecure itself from my camera lens and jettison into the dark, deep glacial waters of Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. Like a naval serviceman's burial at see, my polarizer had served me very well on this trip before an accident had claimed its life in this world. Perhaps one day, it will make its way out of the abyss and into some archaeoligist in the distant future. But how did my lens get all the way out here, you ask?

It all started from a 4 hour drive from Queenstown. Thought Milford sound is only maybe 50 or so kilometers from Queenstown as the crow flies, kiwis (as usual) make roads the hard way. Instead of a straight line of bridges, tunnels and other engineering marvels that would make the drive a mere 45 minutes, one must drive east then far-far-far south to Te Anau, before circling back up north to Milford Sound. This makes for a long haul (5 hours for slower drivers) to get to a place that is otherwise out in no where. But I suppose this does protect and preserve the untouched beauty that lies between Queenstown and Milford Sound.

The way to Milford Sound covers alpine terrain, then pastoral land, before heading into temperate rainforest and finally rugged glacial mountains that - when it rains - is veined with thousands of waterfalls flowing from the snowcapped peaks. These are the Cascade Ranges that guard the way to Milford Sound. Milford Sound itself is a misnomer, as a "sound" is a valley carved by a river into the sea. What is should be called is a "fjord" - one carved by glaciers. Anyhoo, it's really an amazing place that remains me of a cross between Peru and Alaska. It's full of life - fat crested penguins, New Zealand fur seals, and dolphins.

Since most of the sights can only be seen either from air or by sea, I opted for the overnight cruise. The MV Friendship was a small vessel that held the 2 crew members and 11 other passengers. We slept in cramped bunks and enjoyed a wholesome barbecue dinner, a dessert as well as breakfast in the morning. The small quarters and limit on annoying tourists made for a very intimate and nautical feel. The cruise was made perfect by a 7-hour break in the rainstorm that allowed us to really enjoy the scenery.

The next morning it rained some more (as usual) and I drove back to Queenstown. From now on, I'm taking it easy on the driving and making Queenstown homebase. My true adrenalin adventures (e.g. bungee and canyon swinging) are to begin and I have 4 days left to prep myself before I fly back.