New Zealand - Milford Sound

Saturday morning we woke early for our scheduled trip to Milford Sound, located in Fiordland National Park. Those who want to see that area can either drive from Queenstown (4 hours one-way) or take an airplane. After listening to friends describe their flights as "well worth the splurge," we opted for the scenic flight. We had to call the tour operator at 7am that morning to confirm that the weather conditions were good for flights that day. I was thankful when they said we were cleared for the trip, since the entire family was already up and ready to start the day before sunrise.

Within 10 minutes, a van arrived to transport us to the Queenstown airport. At 8am we took off in a cozy 12-person propeller plane for the flight that lasted about 40 minutes. Grandma sat in the "co-pilot" seat while the rest of the family was in back, so Emily thought she was flying the plane. Having flown in a 2-person plane before, I wasn't anxious but wondered what the girls would think of the experience. They showed absolutely no fear during the flight, even when we had turbulence over the mountains. The view from the plane was stunning and the pilot described points of interest along the flight path. Our plane flew over Milford Sound and out to the Tasman Sea before returning to the airport, providing a great view of the coastline.

 Flying Over Lake Wakapitu

 Coastline Along the Tasman Sea

No Beverage Service on This Flight

Milford Sound formed two million years ago when the ice age created glaciers that ground their way towards the Tasman Sea. Changes in temperature caused the glaciers to advance and retreat many times and each time they advanced they sculpted more of the landscape, deepening valleys and scraping the sides. While known as Milford Sound, the correct term for these waterways is "fiord" as it's an ice-carved valley that has been flooded by the sea after the glacier's retreat. How's that for a quick geology lesson?

After landing at the small airport, a van transferred us a short distance to the terminal where we boarded a ship for the scenic cruise. While waiting to board, Megan said, "I don't know about this, Mom. What if the boat runs into these rocks and sinks?" I did my best to calm her nerves while thinking, "We just flew in between mountains in a tin can and you're worried about this ship?"

Boarding the Boat

We spent the morning cruising around Milford Sound and the cloudy, chilly air created a mystical atmosphere. We felt a little drizzle at one point and I was thankful it wasn't raining more because it is one of the wettest places in the world, receiving more than 230 inches of rain each year. I lost track of how many waterfalls we saw gushing from the cliffs and the captain even flirted with a few, allowing people in the front of the ship to be sprayed by the cold water. The air was cold enough that we would stand on the top deck to take pictures and observe the scenery for periods of time before briefly heading indoors below to thaw.

If Megan was concerned about the ship, by the end of the cruise, I was thinking about seismic activity after the guide described how many small earthquakes occur in Milford Sound each month and pointed to a specific fault line where one can visually see the shift after each tremor. He also mentioned seismologists have been predicting "the big one" to hit soon. Comforting words to a bunch of tourists. He also pointed out hanging valleys and glacial striations along the waterway, all evidence of the glaciers that carved out the area long ago. I could appreciate the awesome power of nature while cruising through the fiord.

We hopped back in the little plane and we were back in Queenstown early afternoon. The operator, Real Journeys, did a great job coordinating the excursion and I'm thankful we could experience the beauty of Milford Sound. I'm equally happy we didn't have to spend 8 hours on the road to see it.

Loved the Alpine Lakes - Flight Back to Queenstown