Fiordland - Journey to Milford Sound

It's really, really, really, really COLD!

The Lakeside motel has the smallest breakfast bowls.  We are staying here again tonight, so it is nice not to have to pack everything up for the journey.

Today we are doing the Milford Sound Cruise. We need to be at Milford Sound by 1 pm. We need to allow 2 1/2 – 3 hours drive from Te Anau (with photo stops).

We've packed our raincoats and a picnic lunch.  After leaving Te Anau we drove up the Eglinton valley.

The rain and mist gave the journey a mystical feel.

The road winds alongside the Eglinton River. Snow caps the surrounding hills.

There are a number of rest areas with compostable toilets along the way

A break in the rain, and we stopped for morning tea, and stretched our legs. Plenty of moss.

A Toutouwai (South Island Robin) joined us. A very inquisitive bird and not afraid.

The Toutouwai is about the size of a sparrow. Eats insects and vertebrates. This one was friendly and talkative.

Not much further along the Eglinton Valley, is the Mirror Lakes.  It was raining, so there was no reflection.

Bonus! A black Pīwakawaka was flirting between the flax bushes. In the rain, it was difficult to get a photo as the bird moved so fast.

Found an image on the internet.  The bird is more dark brown than black.  So different from the standard Pīwakawaka. 

So exciting to see this tiny rare bird.

The walk to the Mirror Lakes is less than 5 minutes from the main road. There are broadwalks amongst the trees. Nice break to stretch the legs.

The rain has created waterfalls along the valley.  The clouds and waterfalls made the journey magical. I am glad it was wet, the cliffs would be stark in the dry.

The road narrowed, and we carefully drove up to the Homer Tunnel.

The lights were red, so we waited, and it was snowing.

The Homer Tunnel is a 1.2km-long tunnel through solid rock. Before the tunnel opened in 1954 after 19 years of construction, there was no road access to Milford Sound. Although the Homer Tunnel is wide enough for a bus and a small vehicle to pass each other, traffic lights operate to keep it safe. The tunnel is a fairly steep 1:10 gradient running east to west.

On the other side, there were still plenty of waterfalls cascading down the mountainside. A kea flew by, it's wings very orange against the grey rock.

The Milford Road winds through the Cleddau Valley, the rain stop, the clouds cleared, and we arrived!.

Milford Sound is a fjord. Considered one of the great wonders of the world.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE DRIVE TO MILFORD SOUND

When you self-drive to Milford Sound you will be sharing the road with other cars, campervans and large tour coaches. Because most people plan their trip to Milford Sound to coordinate with cruise times, traffic along the road is often heavy. To avoid this traffic it is best to leave either very early in the morning (around 6am) or later in the day.

• There are no shops or petrol stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound. Ensure you have ample food and drinks and your petrol tank is full.
• The Milford Road has limited cellphone coverage.
• We recommend using the toilets in Te Anau before embarking on the long drive to Milford Sound. After Te Anau, there are public toilets on the Milford Road at Knobs Flat and The Divide.
• Be prepared for the weather to change drastically within a short period of time, even in summer, and dress appropriately.
• Carry snow chains in the winter months and ensure you know how to fit them to your vehicle.
• Always drive to the conditions, follow all road signs and stay well informed by regularly checking the NZTA road status page.