Milford Sound

Posted byrkrontheroadPosted inAustralia/New Zealand, Photography, South Island, TravelTags:, , ,

Milford Sound lies in Fiordland National Park and is one of the more accessible and dramatic openings to the Tasman Sea. The land along its coast is host to the famous four-day hiking route in New Zealand, the Milford Track. It was named by an early European settler after Milford Haven, an inlet along the Welsh coast.

The boat pushed off at around 4pm, gliding between sheer silver cliffs, some with narrow, incredibly tall waterfalls. The cliffs stand around you like a sheltering crowd, like a trail through a high forest or a trek through a canyon.

Milford Wanderer

A naturalist took a group on a ride around in a small craft, learning about the flora and fauna. We rounded Post Office Rock in serene Anita Bay to find a few seals playing in the rocks, birds overhead, little other wildlife visible but ruggedly beautiful. Others kayaked and a few swam in the chilly waters.

Post Office Rock

Night seemed to arrive early in the canyon. We anchored in another hidden bay; the cliffs towered around the cruiser creating a sense of mystery.

Dusk
Blue scape

In the morning the tops of the cliffs had disappeared into cloud, but light filtered through to slowly bring morning to the fjord. An amazing phenomenon: Sterling Falls started high, thin and narrow, then spread out like a bridal veil, and when it hit the water, it created neon-like flashing radial patterns in the water below, as mesmerizing as disco lights. Unforgettable! It is said that a woman who feels the spray of Sterling Falls on her face will be as ten years younger. I’m hoping it’s true.

Morning light
Sterling Falls
Magical! (Photo not altered)

Back to port, and farewell to the crew.

New Zealand
North Island: Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton, Wellington
South Island: Abel Tasman National Park, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dunedin, Otago, Oamaru, Moeraki

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Published by rkrontheroad

Writer, photographer, traveler

46 thoughts on “Milford Sound”

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  11. What a magical journey. So atmospheric, while “picturesque” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Incredible colour and shades of light throughout, your “unaltered” shot probably being the pick of the bunch. I’m curious as to how the Post Office rock got its name?

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    1. Thanks, Leighton. I have seen that name, Post Office, in many places. At one of the islands in Galapagos it was explained as the place where people left letters and took letters and postcards to deliver in places they were headed. I took a few then and delivered them in far places! There must have been a hole or construction on that rock to leave letters back in the day.

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  18. Wow, your photos are so beautiful and so is the Milford Sound. There is no denying that Milford Sound should make it onto anyone’s New Zealand road trip itinerary. Although at times it can be overrun with tourists, it’s obvious to see why! The views over this spectacular Fjord can certainly take your breath away. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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  20. Such an exotic locale, Ruth. What strikes me is how the dense growth tumbles all the way down to the water. And that third-to-last photo is magical indeed. What a wonderful adventure, especially spending a night on the ship. Looks like you were rocked to sleep!

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      1. My home’s in Vancouver, Canada, though I go back to Oz, where I’m from, fairly frequently. I’ve been to Milford twice, once in 1974, and again with Don in 2015, both times lucky enough to get bright sunny days!

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