The weather for today is rain, rain and more rain and only 12 degrees maximum. The drive wasn't as spectacular as we hoped as it was misty, cloudy and raining. We are hoping it will clear up when we return to Te Anau. We reached the Homer Tunnel which is only a one way tunnel, so you have to wait until the light is green.The tunnel,which is cut out from solid granite, took nearly 20 years to complete. From the beginning to the end it measures 1270 metres. It seems very old. Mazz was very happy to get out of there.
Once we arrived to the boat terminal, we waited for about 10 minutes until it was time to board. We had read prior to coming to New Zealand to go on an early boat cruise before all the tourist buses get there. Glad we did as there were only about 12 people on board the boat. Because it had rained so much and was still raining (Milford Sound is known as he wettest place in the world and rains 200 days a year) you could see many temporary waterfalls running down the steep sided rock faces. It was so spectacular! Also along the way we stopped at two of the permanent waterfalls Lady Bowen and Stirling Falls. The boat got so close you would get wet by the spray, but because it was already raining and cold, we didn't stay outside too long to get wet.
We also got to see seals swimming around and lazing on the rocks. We eventually got all the way out to Dale Point where the mouth of the fiord comes out to the Tasman Sea where is began to get very rough. We didn't stay out there too long. Once turned around we headed back to the boat dock and the weather had nearly cleared up.
Back on the road we were able to stop at some of the sites we missed out on on the drive up. We stopped at the Chasm which is a spectacular waterfall where the Cleddau River has scoured its way through solid rock. Its pretty freaky when you aren't quiet sure what you are looking at until you look down under where you are walking and there it is. We then stopped at Mirror Lakes- on a still day you can see a perfect reflection of the Mountains.The scenery is just breathtaking. We can understand how it could be considered the eight Wonder of the World.
Once we got back to our motel, we just chilled for the rest of the day. Dinner was "fsh and chps"- Aussies make them better and our entertainment for the night was the rest of the Lord of the Rings Movie.
Once we arrived to the boat terminal, we waited for about 10 minutes until it was time to board. We had read prior to coming to New Zealand to go on an early boat cruise before all the tourist buses get there. Glad we did as there were only about 12 people on board the boat. Because it had rained so much and was still raining (Milford Sound is known as he wettest place in the world and rains 200 days a year) you could see many temporary waterfalls running down the steep sided rock faces. It was so spectacular! Also along the way we stopped at two of the permanent waterfalls Lady Bowen and Stirling Falls. The boat got so close you would get wet by the spray, but because it was already raining and cold, we didn't stay outside too long to get wet.
We also got to see seals swimming around and lazing on the rocks. We eventually got all the way out to Dale Point where the mouth of the fiord comes out to the Tasman Sea where is began to get very rough. We didn't stay out there too long. Once turned around we headed back to the boat dock and the weather had nearly cleared up. Back on the road we were able to stop at some of the sites we missed out on on the drive up. We stopped at the Chasm which is a spectacular waterfall where the Cleddau River has scoured its way through solid rock. Its pretty freaky when you aren't quiet sure what you are looking at until you look down under where you are walking and there it is. We then stopped at Mirror Lakes- on a still day you can see a perfect reflection of the Mountains.The scenery is just breathtaking. We can understand how it could be considered the eight Wonder of the World.
