Time to get up early to prepare our lunch for the trip. We should be picked up by a bus at 9am to get to Milford in time to catch the cruise which goes along the sound and all the way to its end to get a glimpse of the Tasman sea. As the last couple of days have been cloudy we are very happy to see the sun coming out on our way to Milford. The sky is clearing up and it seems that the weather is going to be great, so the excitement is at its top! The bus ride itself is rather amazing, getting into some thick forest reflecting in the cold lakes. The mountains around here are really stunning this time of the year: a deep green at the feet and white tops. Even if it’s winter down here there isn’t much snow, but the temperature in some parts of this valley goes below zero, so the road gets covered in frost.
A couple of stops along the way and we are at the bus/boat terminal, where we board the cruise boat. The weather has improved so much that it’s actually hard to see…it’s really very bright, so that most of the pictures will actually look completely burnt! Cruising along the sound was amazing, it’s very narrow and the mountains around are incredibly steep, both above and below the water. Along the edges there are some tall waterfalls as well.
When looking at the picture or postcard of Milford it sure looked an amazing place, with a great landscape, but there is so much more to it when you are there. The water gently flowing, the sounds of the waterfalls on the rocks, the absolute peaceful feeling of an immense place which you can see from so close. It’s a great experience, worth every dollar!
After all the excitement of a great day we head head back to the bus and on our way to the last city we’ll be visiting in New Zealand: Queenstown. The city is known (at least for Kiwis and Aussies) as the snow town. Nearby there are several ski resorts and skiing facilities. The season doesn’t look it has started yet, but it’s rather chilly…The backpacker hostel we are staying at (The black sheep) has given us a nice room, but the chambermaid has apparently left all the windows open after preparing the room, so the temperature inside is about as cold as it is outside and it will take a while to warm up.
Dinner at the Irish pub never lets you down! Lamb shank, two for the price of one. Then back to the black sheep for some good sleep.