Milford Sound
On the last full day of our voyage around New Zealand, we experienced one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Using words to describe Milford Sound is very difficult, but first expressions help. “Wow.” “Stunning.” “Gorgeous.” “What a view.” These are usually some of the first. Add to this that laughter and joy brought by some of the wildlife, and you begin to realize what a spot this is.
Today we had nearly perfect conditions for Milford Sound. After last night’s heavy rain, we didn’t know what to expect. What we got were blue skies, with a few patchy clouds. What the past rain brings is waterfalls. There are only two permanent falls in Milford, but today there were a few hundred. Some plunge directly into the sea, and the ship can nose right up close, even dunking the bow into a few.
Lush, virgin forests choke the hillsides, and even from the ship, birdsong is prevalent. Fur seals lounge on many rocks while shags fly around. A true highlight for many though, was on the outskirts of the sound, the Kea. The Kea is one of the only alpine parrots in the world, and one regularly described as “cheeky.” These parrots are fun to watch, and quite beautiful with their red underwings.
But the star of the day was the spectacular scenery. Milford is really a fjord, as it is carved by glacier action. Pointy peaks stick straight out of the sea, some rising nearly a mile to the clouds. Remnant patches of snow and a bit of a glacier lead to two spectacular permanent waterfalls. Every direction has a different view, each as gorgeous as the previous.
The perfect place to have a fantastic end to a wonderful voyage.
