CAUTION THIS BLOG CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT, DO NOT LOOK AT THE PICTURES IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED, SUFFER FROM ANY AILMENTS, INCLUDING BACK ACHE, HEAD ACHE OR ANY OTHER ACHE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, LOW BLOOD PRESSURE AND SMOKING CAN DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH. Think that covers everything.
We’re not sure what was in the air this morning, but at 07.00, when the alarm went, there was an awful lot of people wandering around. It sort of makes you suspicious that you have just slept through a fire alarm that everyone else heard but not you. We were up and about with the sparrows this morning as we were off to Milford Sound and better still, someone else was doing the driving. We have opted to take the coach and alleviate a few hours driving. At 0820, the coach and steerologist, Bruce appeared bang on time. Off we went, out of town like a bat out of hell, with Bruce in full flight giving a terrific commentary all the way along the road. There were many places with great scenery and a few where we were just going through the bush. During these periods, Bruce recited jokes, some as old as he was and some even older, but entertaining and time passers.
Much of the land from Te Anau to Milford is owned by the government and is rented out to sheep and cattle farmers. A huge portion of the 30 million sheep that inhabit New Zealand are in this area along with a healthy quota of cattle and an increasing number of millions of deer.
We also stopped at some amazing places, with quite spectacular views, that photographs simply will not do justice to. As you approach Milford Sound, the views simply get better and better and about 18Kms from the Sound, you enter a tunnel, which is about 1.2Kms long, but goes down a 1 in 10 gradient, which is quite a peculiar feeling.
When you exit the other side, the views are stunning and the road goes through a series of hairpin bends before it follows the Clendau River through to Milford Sound. From the time we left the campsite the weather was getting brighter and brighter and the early morning misty cloud had disappeared leaving us with beautiful blue skies to enjoy the views.
We boarded the cruiser at 12.00 and were greeted with a barbeque lunch as the boat departed its moorings and started the journey up the Sound. Needles to say, the lunch was consumed in record time for fear of missing any of the scenery. Without doubt, Milford Sound is impressive and on a day with clear blue skies, it probably doesn’t get much better.
On the down side, there are only three permanent waterfalls spilling into the Sound, but when it rains, there are dozens and apparently amazing to witness. So perhaps we need to come again on a rainy day, although I am pleased we’re here on a dry one. We left Milford Sound and entered the Tasman Sea before turning about and returning along the opposite shore to the Discovery Centre or Milford Deep Water Observatory. This is a floating facility at Harrison Cove with a central spiral stairway that descends 30 feet down into the Sound. It has observation windows made of 4” glass, which enable you to see into the lake and watch the fish swim by as well as view various plants and sea crechers in marine gardens.
Apparently, an imitation Viagra plant has been opened on the shores of the Sound and it’s feared that there may have been a leak from the plant into the Sound, with interesting mutations on the plant life.
After a tour round the Discovery Centre, we returned to the cruiser for the final leg of the return journey to the terminal building at Milford Sound. Bruce was there to meet us and after dropping off 4 passengers who were doing the helicopter trip, we hurtled off to meet them at their drop off point, just the other side of the Homer Tunnel. Once we were fully loaded, Bruce gave us a stunning demonstration of his masters degree in steerology, by getting us home safely in record time. On the way we were entertained, not only with his wit and repartee, but a CD of 50’s and possibly even 60’s tunes. Bruce was a retired stockman, so his repertoire of jokes was endless, I guess his problem was knowing which ones he could tell to a mixed audience.
Safely back at the van it was time for a cup of tea and a dunk, whilst we downloaded the days pictures onto the PC. Today is a memorable occasion, from a photographic perspective as I have filled up the first 8Gb memory card on my camera. That is equivalent to just over 1250 pictures. Not bad for just under 3 weeks. Anyone coming round for dinner when we get back will be subjected to the lot, so beware of accepting any invitations.
Tonight we are having steak again a very thick cut of Porterhouse costing the ridiculous sum of NZ$10.46, that’s £5.23 in real money. Tomorrow is venison night and at NZ17 (£8.50) per kilo, it’s a steal, not that we did.
Another early start tomorrow as we’re off to Doubtful Sound and hopefully another blue sky day with more stunning scenery.
Hi my turn for a few words; today has been FAB, every bend that you go around you are greeted by another view and each one you just cannot believe, NZ is a great place and most of the people are very nice and so helpful. The days seem to fly bye, I cannot believe that we are well into our 3rd week already.
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