Milford Sound

The Milford Sound…

is the southernmost point of our 2024 world trip. At the same time, it is one of the absolute highlights of this trip. Not only because this fjord offers a breathtaking backdrop, but because it is my former lover and now wife’s birthday. And we want to celebrate this on a ship where we will also sleep. That is the plan.

State Highway 94 to Milford Sound is described in many online posts as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. And that’s another reason to travel to Milford Sound.

As a precaution, we have our large luggage “stored” at the Hilton Resort and Spa Queenstown, where we are at we will stay there on our return. Freed from useless ballast, we set off on the approximately 280 kilometer long journey. As the crow flies between Queenstown and Milford Sound would be perhaps 70 km. But okay, we want to drive on roads and not fly!

Our road first takes us along Lake Wakatipu, at the southern end of which is the town of Kingston. The Flyer, a historic, steam-powered train, runs from here. Useless for the locals, but really attractive for fans of nostalgia!

In Te Anau we take a break to – well – pursue human needs and buy a few supplies, mostly liquid ones, for the next few days. There is a ferry from Te Anau to a beautiful cave with glow worms, but unfortunately we don’t have time for that today.

Unfortunately, the sky is getting darker and the weather is far from being nice. Nevertheless, we enjoy the journey on SH94 to the fullest. It’s pretty flat for the first few kilometers. The road accompanies a wide and slowly flowing river, and we admire the trees that form a closed roof over the road.

To put it briefly: the road really deserves to be in the top ten roads in the world! Even though the sky is now completely overcast, we are always fascinated by the views that open up to us.

Shortly before the actual destination, Milford Sound, the road climbs up to 940 and then reaches the western side of the mountain range in a tunnel about a kilometer long. Directly at the exit of the tunnel you will come across a colony of mountain parrots, but fortunately they are unable to visit today due to the weather. The last time we were here, the critters scratched our car quite a bit, so we’re not really upset that there aren’t any feathered animals to be seen today.

From now on it’s all downhill… until after many more bends we reach the launch site of our ship, which on the one hand is supposed to accommodate us for the night and on the other hand is supposed to bring us closer to the most beautiful sides of Milford Sound.

Unfortunately it is now raining heavily and there is an icy wind blowing. That’s why the sightseeing tour is quite short. Of the seals that gather here in large groups, only two can be seen. Countless waterfalls cascade down the steep rock faces into Milford Sound.

Dinner is served as a buffet and overall is plentiful and good. We treat ourselves to a good wine and this makes the evening quite fun and entertaining.

At first we are happy about the “start number” four, which we are given at check-in. Then we are told that it is the room number. Wow! First! The best room! Disillusionment follows immediately when we are finally allowed to move into the room: the bedroom is practically below the water line and only has a tiny porthole! Nothing comfortable! It doesn’t matter, we just want to sleep. Well then good night!