Day 26- Most Fabulous Trip to Milford Sound

We are currently on Day 37, and I have to say that Day 26 was my favorite day. As we had not scheduled to go on the Doubtful Sound Cruise the next day, due to the expense, we took a trip to Milford Sound, which Scott said was just as pretty as Doubtful Sound. 

Waking up to an unusual sunny day, we were very pleased. 

Morning from our room

Geoff and Sue prepping with sun tan lotion

Michael and Dave

Starting out

The usual construction zone

The drive to Milford Sound started out being nothing unusual from what we had seen on our trip to Te Anau, but eventually it started becoming more beautiful. 

Becoming much nicer

The road was full of traffic and tour buses heading for Milford Sound.  We had been warned of this traffic, but several of the people with us were not staying for the boat ride at 3:30 PM, so we headed out with them with trepidation. And we got further and further behind the group, finally catching up with them at this stop.

Caught up with the group

Patsy and Maggie had not come along on the trip, so Michael had an opportunity to ride in Dave's Morgan on today's outing. 

Michael at the first scenic stop

In fact, it became more and more like the road to Yosemite, our favorite place and near to our home in Groveland. This was especially true after we went through the very long tunnel built in the 1930's. The tunnel was very steep downhill and quite rustic.

Into the tunnel

Coming out the tunnel

Doesn't this look like Yosemite Valley? It isn't.

Approaching Milford Sound 

Milford Sound at low tide

Lyle, Dave and Scott

While walking around the shore, we heard the cicada's making a racket. A man told us they were on the FLAX, on the dead part. So we searched until we found a cicada. 

Cicada 

As it was now lunchtime, we had a quick bite to eat, and then walked out to the Tour Terminal, about a 15 minute walk. 

Michael looking so handsome

With our bug jackets on. 

Michael has a photo of us all bundled up in our jackets, but I can't find it to post. 

Susan enjoying the sun 

Richard and Sue at the terminal

We had been advised not to take earlier boats as they were filled with people on tours/buses.
We watched them unload…. hundreds of them….

Unloading from the big boat

After those who were not going on the boat cruise of Milford Sound left, we walked the 15 minutes back to parking and Cafe and had an ice cream and coke while we waited for our 3:45 PM cruise. 
Around 3:15, we headed back again to the terminal (another 15 minute walk). in preparation for our Milford Sound Cruise. 

Milford Sound From The Walkway

Alan and Pam and Christine and John were returning from an earlier cruise, and Philip and I and Geoff and Sue were going on the 3:45 PM Cruise. So a kind person took our photo. 

Cruisers

Our group was first in line to get on the boat, so we took the back of the boat. There were no more than 20  people on our boat- ideal!

Our Boat

Phil and Geoff

Sue

Me enjoying the breeze. 

Waterfall that provides all the power & water for Milford Sound 

Leaving the dock

Continuing out the Sound

Here we are.

Farther from the dock

As this was the Nature Cruise, we got up close to the fur seals on the rocks.

Fur Seals

Fur Seals Up Close Sleeping

Fur Seal

We watched the kayakers in the Sound

Clouds Drifted By

Continuing out toward the Tasman Sea 

Returning from the Tasman Sea

Returning home

On the way back "home", the captain steered the boat under a "freezing cold" waterfall, so those on the front deck of the boat had a shower. The song "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", was played for them. Those people were very brave. I watched from inside the boat. 

Through the window 

When we arrived back at the terminal at 6 PM, everything was closed. The bus parking lot was almost empty and few people were around.

The 28 bus parking places almost empty

Walking back to the parking lot

We followed Geoff and Sue back to the hotel with basically no one else on the road. It was a beautiful long run.

Following Geoff

We stopped at Mirror Lake at the PERFECT time of day with the sun going down over the hill, reflecting on the lake.

We stopped at Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake

After arriving back at our Te Anau hotel, we went to Chinese dinner with Geoff and Sue. It was a very long, wonderful day.

Day 25- Dunedin to TeAnau

Finally it was a clear, beautiful day for our drive, almost across the country again, to the Southern Alps and the Fjordland National Park. 

Some people had decided to take the Southern Scenic Highway, but since we had plans to drive down to Invercargill on the day they went on the Doubtful Sound Cruise, we elected to take the "fast" route- 181 miles. I have no photos of their day. Until Michael became frustrated with our driving, we traveled along together. 

As the hotel in Dunedin was in the middle of the city and the cars had to be parked up the street, rather than under the hotel, it was quite an ordeal to get packed up. As usual, we attracted sightseers who asked if they could photograph the cars. 

Dave taking a photo of the Asian taking a photo of the Morgan

Elaine taking photos of all of them taking photos 

There were sheep ranches

Michael far ahead

More of the same rolling hills with ranches

Hay bales

Continuing on

Caught this Church as we drove by. 

Lunch was at McDonald's in Gore. 

Arriving in Te Anau

Once we had arrived in TeAnau, we headed out with Michael and Patsy to the "shops", where Patsy was looking for a warm coat. We eventually found an adorable one for her, to be seen in later photos. 

A large group of us had dinner at the Cafe La Dolce Vita, then walked back to the hotel.

Italian Dinner

View from our room in Te Anau

At sunset from our room

I understand why people get so tired on this trip- they just keep going and going and going.