After stomping about the glaciers and our photo frenzy around Lake Matherson - we set off to Queenstown. Now, the original plan was to drive to Milford Sound (some 700km - off my head) overnight - as we did not have accommodation booked. But reports that the roads were iced over dampened our resolve to drive through the night. Instead we decided to head on to Queenstown ala 'Activities Capital' - find accommodation there and follow a tour to Milford Sound - let someone else do the treacherous driving.
In typical fashion - everywhere was completely booked out - no surprise being peak season for skiing. We did indeed sleep (or tried) in the car - unaided at all by the occasional drunk dude stammering away in the night and the -1 degree temperature outside (and almost definitely inside the car).
The risk avoiding behavior (saving it for the bungee jump - yeah right!!) turned out to be a great decision. I was secretly glad that I did not have to drive the 800km return trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound and took the opportunity to catch up on much needed sleep. Plus the roads were REALLY iced up. There were accidents that day and at least one tour company canceled their program because their buses were not equipped to deal with the black ice.
From the trip:
Frozen Bush - photographed by the road side during a break on our 5 hour ride to MS.
Valley to Milford Sound - Mid Morning
Milford Sound is a fjord i.e. a valley submerged by sea as a result of glacier eroding the valley floor to below todays sea level.
Milford Sound
Mountain by Milford Sound
Milford Sound by Cruise
Rock Formations - Look hard and you will notice seals. There were dolphins too (not pictured).
Waterfall - Mountain to Sea
Waterfall - Close up.
Milford Sound may be 5 hours to nowhere from Queenstown - but an absolute must if you haven't been!
