South Island Road Trip: Milford Sound to Invercargill

Friday, Sept 10:  Today we hopped on the Cruize Milford Sound tour.  We spent 30 breathtaking minutes sailing through the most famous visitor destination in New Zealand.  Although I've already cruised around here with my family, the spectacular sights of waterfalls cascading from sheer rock faces rising 1,200 metres or more from the sea, lush rain forests clinging precariously to the cliffs, and the seals, penguins and dolphins that play in the waters, will never cease to amaze me.

Milford Sound

Mirror Lakes

On the drive back, we stopped at the Mirror Lakes, Dunn Lake, and the Chasm.  So beautiful!!  Finally we made it back to Te Anau to get food, gas, and walk around.  I bought two used books I can't wait to read - Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Afterwards, I drove us all the way to Invercargill via the scenic route.  The sights were no less than amazing again and the sunset wsas the coolest deep pink I have ever seen.

We are so sketch haha.  When we arrived in Invercargill we parked at McDonalds and cooked dinner.  Cathy, Stephanie, and I had so much energy so we decided to explore the town.  Courtney was tired so she drove around trying to find a campsite, but the lady was really mean so she ended up at a nice beach to relax.  That night we decided to camp on the beach.  Luckily we got away with it!  Waking up on the beach was so nice.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Our mission today was to travel through Fiordland National Park to get to Milford Sound.  This is the world's top travel destination and is considered the 8th world wonder.  I can tell you this place is beyond beautiful.  Even the one road to Milford Sound is considered one of the finest drives in the world.  When we arrived, we hiked around some trails and then took a small cruise around the Sound.  We were surrounded by sheer rock faces covered in rainforest and waterfalls.  One of the tallest mountains in the world, Mitre Peak, rose 1,692m above us, plus the 1,517m Elephant Mountain, resembling an elephant's head, and the 1,302m Lion Mountain, in the shape of a crouching lion.  One of my favorite parts was when a dolphin came right up to the boat and swam beside us.  Our ship captain said the dolphins like to ride alongside the boat because it propels them forward so they can move without effort!  I also loved the waterfalls and rainbows they created.  We got to put on rain jackets and go right under some of them.  We ended up sailing right out to the Tasman Sea and back, and got to see a lot of seals.  I wish everyone in the world could see this place.  Well done, Earth, I am beyond amazed.

Mirror Lakes

On the way back along the same road through Fiordland, we stopped at the Mirror Lakes.  These are formed by glaciation and are so incredibly still and reflect Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.  It was a brilliant site.  Afterward we drove to Invercargill where we got fish n' chips and went to sleep.