Adventures Down Under - New Zealand and Australia
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El Toro Joe
FYYFF
Looking forward to the next installment.
airboss
Well-known member
Waiting
Don't know how this report could get any better.............just know it will,
ZOOOMM AGAIN
Well-known member
It's been a long winter here in upstate New York, so thank you so much for the beautiful pics and narrative. You do have a story teller's qualities! Looking forward to meeting you in May.
bigjohnsd
2021 BMW R1250GSA
Come on T' work is secondary, next installment please!
gregory
Great things are afoot
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Day 5 - A Visit to Milford Sound
Almost everywhere I did research said do NOT miss a trip to Milford Sound. Rudyard Kipling called it the 8th Wonder of the World. With press like that, how could we miss it?? Milford Sound has a mean annual rainfall for 268 inches. The weather gods decided to take the day off from watering the land and we were blessed with mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures.
We were told to allot a minimum of 2-1/2 hours to get out to the Sound. Our cruise was scheduled to leave at 2:45 so we had plenty of time to stop and look at various places along the way and snap a few photos... there wasn't a whole lot of tourist traffic and the day was just gorgeous...
Have I mentioned they have a few sheep over there??
We started to see the rising mountains in front of us as got further into the park...
Our first stop was at Mirror Lakes... there was a walk way through the woods to get to the lakes...
When I first saw this sign, I thought someone made a mistake... then I looked lower...
Wonder how they came up with the name??
Almost everywhere I did research said do NOT miss a trip to Milford Sound. Rudyard Kipling called it the 8th Wonder of the World. With press like that, how could we miss it?? Milford Sound has a mean annual rainfall for 268 inches. The weather gods decided to take the day off from watering the land and we were blessed with mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures.
We were told to allot a minimum of 2-1/2 hours to get out to the Sound. Our cruise was scheduled to leave at 2:45 so we had plenty of time to stop and look at various places along the way and snap a few photos... there wasn't a whole lot of tourist traffic and the day was just gorgeous...
Have I mentioned they have a few sheep over there??
We started to see the rising mountains in front of us as got further into the park...
Our first stop was at Mirror Lakes... there was a walk way through the woods to get to the lakes...
When I first saw this sign, I thought someone made a mistake... then I looked lower...
Wonder how they came up with the name??
A little while later we were in the middle of the towering mountains with ribbons of tarmac winding its way through...
At the summit, there is a one-way, 1.2-km tunnel guided by a stoplight for traffic to flow... Sally was waiting for me there...
We were a wee bit nervous as to the condition of the tunnel but, while a bit bumpy, no surprises (i.e. potholes, big rocks, etc.) and we made it through with no issues... camera doesn't focus too well inside a tunnel!
The other side is a wonderfully twisty road... unfortunately, our timing was off this time and we got caught behind a bunch of traffic that was moving very slowly and the smell of burning brakes was starting to overwhelm us...
At the summit, there is a one-way, 1.2-km tunnel guided by a stoplight for traffic to flow... Sally was waiting for me there...
We were a wee bit nervous as to the condition of the tunnel but, while a bit bumpy, no surprises (i.e. potholes, big rocks, etc.) and we made it through with no issues... camera doesn't focus too well inside a tunnel!
The other side is a wonderfully twisty road... unfortunately, our timing was off this time and we got caught behind a bunch of traffic that was moving very slowly and the smell of burning brakes was starting to overwhelm us...
So we decided to take a break at The Chasm, an easy access short walk with views of waterfalls, rainforest, and rock formations... now this is what I envisioned for New Zealand!
Huge ferns adorned the forest... very Jurassic Park like!
In Maori culture, the Koru design (looks like a curl) is inspired by the fern frond unfurling as it grows. It represents peace, tranquility, personal growth, positive change and awakening...
We could hear the waterfall as it thundered down over the rocks - there has been a drought in NZ this year so the rivers weren't running to full capacity so we could only imagine how fierce this waterfall would be when everything was at capacity... it was so cool and fresh here...
One of the many ponds formed within the falls... surrounded by interesting rock formations...
Refreshed, relaxed, and invigorated we continued on... we had packed a picnic lunch and when we arrived at Milford Sound, we de-geared and found a nice shady spot to sit and sup together... we were a bit early for our cruise so chatted with other tourists and wandered around the visitors center and the dock area...
This would be our vessel for the day... we lucked out as we pretty much had the whole ship and crew to ourselves so got a very personal tour... I highly recommend this particular cruise company... the crew was fun and very knowledgeable about the area...
Huge ferns adorned the forest... very Jurassic Park like!
In Maori culture, the Koru design (looks like a curl) is inspired by the fern frond unfurling as it grows. It represents peace, tranquility, personal growth, positive change and awakening...
We could hear the waterfall as it thundered down over the rocks - there has been a drought in NZ this year so the rivers weren't running to full capacity so we could only imagine how fierce this waterfall would be when everything was at capacity... it was so cool and fresh here...
One of the many ponds formed within the falls... surrounded by interesting rock formations...
Refreshed, relaxed, and invigorated we continued on... we had packed a picnic lunch and when we arrived at Milford Sound, we de-geared and found a nice shady spot to sit and sup together... we were a bit early for our cruise so chatted with other tourists and wandered around the visitors center and the dock area...
This would be our vessel for the day... we lucked out as we pretty much had the whole ship and crew to ourselves so got a very personal tour... I highly recommend this particular cruise company... the crew was fun and very knowledgeable about the area...
We climbed aboard, made introductions, and set sail for the open water...
Our skipper, Craig, who was a very entertaining chap...
Looking forward...
Looking back toward land...
Mitre Peak - The iconic mountain of Milford Sound is one of the tallest mountains in the world. It rises 1692 metres directly from the sea floor. Mitre Peak is the most dominant and most famous feature of Milford Sound...
I loved the variation of colors and textures between rocks, foliage, and water...
About half way out, we came up on a cruise ship that was taking a tour of the Sound... the Sea Princess is close to 900 feet long and when it first enters our view, it looks quite big...
Our skipper, Craig, who was a very entertaining chap...
Looking forward...
Looking back toward land...
Mitre Peak - The iconic mountain of Milford Sound is one of the tallest mountains in the world. It rises 1692 metres directly from the sea floor. Mitre Peak is the most dominant and most famous feature of Milford Sound...
I loved the variation of colors and textures between rocks, foliage, and water...
About half way out, we came up on a cruise ship that was taking a tour of the Sound... the Sea Princess is close to 900 feet long and when it first enters our view, it looks quite big...
After the cruise ship passes, we round a corner and are treated with the sight of sea lions lazing about on the rocks...
Reminds me of how I feel on Monday mornings...
Then we go by Fairy Falls which is not running very hard on this day but we still get misted by the cool water as it falls off the edge of the rocks...
Craig tells us that the locals call this rock formation "Kissing Turtles"... I can see it... can you?
Again, looking back as we head toward the Tasmania Sea...
There was a section of the water that was reddish under the blue and we were told it was from plankton... good to know it wasn't the blood of poorly behaved cruise ship passengers tossed over board for the fish to eat...
Craig explains that originally, Captain Cook mapped this as a river entrance and it's easy to sea how as the Sound is hidden from view if you don't look further. The fjord remained undiscovered by Europeans until Captain John Grono discovered it c.1812 and named it Milford Haven after his homeland in Wales. Captain John Lort Stokes later renamed Milford Haven as Milford Sound.
The Sea Princess on it's way back out doesn't seem so big anymore as it is towered over by the mountains of the Sound... it's about dead center in the picture but hardly detectable...
And more lazy sea lions... I like the feathery flippers on this one...
Reminds me of how I feel on Monday mornings...
Then we go by Fairy Falls which is not running very hard on this day but we still get misted by the cool water as it falls off the edge of the rocks...
Craig tells us that the locals call this rock formation "Kissing Turtles"... I can see it... can you?
Again, looking back as we head toward the Tasmania Sea...
There was a section of the water that was reddish under the blue and we were told it was from plankton... good to know it wasn't the blood of poorly behaved cruise ship passengers tossed over board for the fish to eat...
Craig explains that originally, Captain Cook mapped this as a river entrance and it's easy to sea how as the Sound is hidden from view if you don't look further. The fjord remained undiscovered by Europeans until Captain John Grono discovered it c.1812 and named it Milford Haven after his homeland in Wales. Captain John Lort Stokes later renamed Milford Haven as Milford Sound.
The Sea Princess on it's way back out doesn't seem so big anymore as it is towered over by the mountains of the Sound... it's about dead center in the picture but hardly detectable...
And more lazy sea lions... I like the feathery flippers on this one...
Our next destination would be Stirling Falls - Drops 146 metres - it is the second largest permanent waterfall in the fiord and is fed by glaciers situated in the mountains behind. Named after Captain Stirling when he brought the HMS Cleo into Milford Sound during the 1870s...
We are warned that they are going to take the ship into the falls and that if we stay out on the deck, we'll get very wet... I looked at Sally, took my camera inside where it would stay safe and dry, and went back out onto the deck... she thought I was nuts but I said, hey, I'm on a ship in New Zealand in Milford Sound and I have the chance to stand under a waterfall... hell, yeah, I'm gonna do it!! lol Luckily, Sally's camera is waterproof so we get a few shots of our water adventure...
Absofrickinglutely brilliant!
Another ship lining up under the falls where we had just been...
On the way back, now that we have stopped dripping all over the carpet, Craig let each of us take a go at steering the ship...
Lady Bowen Falls, named for Diamantina Bowen, wife of George Bowen, the fifth Governor of New Zealand...
Our tour had to come to an end but it was such a wonderful experience with some fantastic memories that I will never forget... we gave our crew members big hugs and thanked them for giving us a day that we would carry with us forever...
We are warned that they are going to take the ship into the falls and that if we stay out on the deck, we'll get very wet... I looked at Sally, took my camera inside where it would stay safe and dry, and went back out onto the deck... she thought I was nuts but I said, hey, I'm on a ship in New Zealand in Milford Sound and I have the chance to stand under a waterfall... hell, yeah, I'm gonna do it!! lol Luckily, Sally's camera is waterproof so we get a few shots of our water adventure...
Absofrickinglutely brilliant!
Another ship lining up under the falls where we had just been...
On the way back, now that we have stopped dripping all over the carpet, Craig let each of us take a go at steering the ship...
Lady Bowen Falls, named for Diamantina Bowen, wife of George Bowen, the fifth Governor of New Zealand...
Our tour had to come to an end but it was such a wonderful experience with some fantastic memories that I will never forget... we gave our crew members big hugs and thanked them for giving us a day that we would carry with us forever...
Gear back on and time to head out of the park... along with a whole bunch of other vehicles... sigh, this was going to be a long ride back...
But wait... what's that going on right before the one-way tunnel? The tour bus has stopped about 200 yards back from the stoplight leaving a huge gap for other vehicles to pull in front of it... if I could've, I would've hugged that driver... so we scooted on up to the front of the line...
On your mark, get set, GOOOOOOOO!!!! Given there is about a 15-30 minute gap between traffic flows, we now have been given the gift of a completely open road ahead of us and we take full advantage of that gift... what a blast it was to ride that road with no traffic whatsoever! At one point, Sally slowed and pointed to an area we had talked about maybe getting pictures on the way back and I fanned my arm forward to say, GO GO GOOOOO!!! There was no photo worth the price of the open road ahead... I didn't take many photos on the way back because we were just having too much fun...
When we exited the park, we came to a viewpoint of Lake Te Anau and finally stopped to soak in the view and do our happy dances of riding joy...
Back to our little home away from home, we visited with the kids next door and traded stories of what we had seen...
We showered and walked into town to get some dinner before our tour of the glow worm caves...
And sat outside to watch the sky put on it's show for the evening...
We weren't allowed to take photos on the cave tour so don't have anything to show you... 12,000 year-old caves, carved out into swirling shapes by the force of the river that flows through them and then to a grotto of glittering glow worms, native to New Zealand... kind of felt like a Disneyland entrance to an attraction or something... Sally said I was jaded... I guess after a day like we had had, it was kind of hard to top that...
I found some photos from Google images to give you an idea...
The tour was over around midnight and the walk back to our room seemed infinitely longer than it did going into town... but we finally made it without tripping over anything and slept quite soundly given we were in bunk beds and afraid we'd smack our heads on the bunk above when we got up in the middle of the night to go to the loo... that and we were exhausted from such a wonderful day...
The next chapter - Te Anau to Queenstown
B)
But wait... what's that going on right before the one-way tunnel? The tour bus has stopped about 200 yards back from the stoplight leaving a huge gap for other vehicles to pull in front of it... if I could've, I would've hugged that driver... so we scooted on up to the front of the line...
On your mark, get set, GOOOOOOOO!!!! Given there is about a 15-30 minute gap between traffic flows, we now have been given the gift of a completely open road ahead of us and we take full advantage of that gift... what a blast it was to ride that road with no traffic whatsoever! At one point, Sally slowed and pointed to an area we had talked about maybe getting pictures on the way back and I fanned my arm forward to say, GO GO GOOOOO!!! There was no photo worth the price of the open road ahead... I didn't take many photos on the way back because we were just having too much fun...
When we exited the park, we came to a viewpoint of Lake Te Anau and finally stopped to soak in the view and do our happy dances of riding joy...
Back to our little home away from home, we visited with the kids next door and traded stories of what we had seen...
We showered and walked into town to get some dinner before our tour of the glow worm caves...
And sat outside to watch the sky put on it's show for the evening...
We weren't allowed to take photos on the cave tour so don't have anything to show you... 12,000 year-old caves, carved out into swirling shapes by the force of the river that flows through them and then to a grotto of glittering glow worms, native to New Zealand... kind of felt like a Disneyland entrance to an attraction or something... Sally said I was jaded... I guess after a day like we had had, it was kind of hard to top that...
I found some photos from Google images to give you an idea...
The tour was over around midnight and the walk back to our room seemed infinitely longer than it did going into town... but we finally made it without tripping over anything and slept quite soundly given we were in bunk beds and afraid we'd smack our heads on the bunk above when we got up in the middle of the night to go to the loo... that and we were exhausted from such a wonderful day...
The next chapter - Te Anau to Queenstown
B)
exskibum
~<>~<>~<>~<>~
Looks like you had a blast. I was worried at first, but once the fog and overcast abated, this RR got back to the Tyler photographic color extravaganza that we've become accustomed to. Now I don't have to actually travel there with the attendant expense; I've been visually transported. Good work!
wheatonFJR
...
WOW!!!!!!!!
Love it!
Just magnifies my already fervent wish to ride the South Island someday.
Love it!
Just magnifies my already fervent wish to ride the South Island someday.
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majicmaker
Well-known member
I have no words for what I just saw........
It looked like the outdoor sets of the Harry Potter movies.
It looked like the outdoor sets of the Harry Potter movies.
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bluesdog
Well-known member
DAAAAYUM!
What a visual feast! Thank you for sharing.
What a visual feast! Thank you for sharing.
Mudslide Miller
Well-known member
More spectacular pics Tyler!!
