Day 20 Te Anau to Milford Sound

Today we went to Milford Sound.  Not for a boat ride, but rather have a surprise for Terry (a belated birthday present for him)  Luckily we had a picture perfect day, so the planned Milford Helicopter ride could go ahead.  Of course, the last minute I changed my mind and decided I just had to go with him.  Wow…what an experience and both of us are still on an absolute high.  After all, it is not every day that we could fly to the highest peak in the Fiordland in New Zealand.  Mt Tutoko rises to a height of 2756 m (9,042ft) and apparently was named after a Maori chief Tutoko.

Everything else paled to this experience today.  And let me tell you, that scenic drive to Milford Sound is nothing to sneeze at.  This is one cherished corner of the world where valleys and mountains are in abundance.  Much of the forest clings to steep faces of hard rock or are by the roadsides.  The moss and peaty humus are thick and stunning.  Of course about 100 metres up you will find snow tussock grasses. The road is stunning with just so many visitors by car, camper-vans or buses.  The 119kms are just so easy to drive on and of course there are just so many places to stop and marvel what mother nature provides. The drive through Homer Tunnel was one heck of an experience as well, only 1.2kms and 945 metres above sea level.

As we have chosen to visit Doubtful Sound tomorrow, we did not do a Milford Sound cruise today.  We know that there is no comparison between these two, but somewhere you have to make choices.