A fiord is defined as a u-shaped glacier-carved valley which has been flooded by the sea. The fiord lands of New Zealand are called the Fjordlands because the original founders spelled it wrong. (My kind of peeps!)) It has been listed as one of the "eighth" wonders of the world. It is a stunning part of New Zealand and is frequented by many tourists via tour bus, car or hiking for its beauty, magnificent waterfalls and serenity. Much of the landscape is what you see in the Lord of the Rings movies and the pictures cannot come close to doing it justice. The sheer magnitude of the cliffs and mountains is breathtaking.
The closest town is 90 minutes away in Te Anau which is two hours away from Queenstown. We flew from Abel Tasman to Queenstown and drove to Te Anau where we stayed one night before moving onto Milford Sound (The Fjordlands). Te Anau sits on a lake and has a population similar to Manson, WA. Small population in the winter and busy in the summer as there are lots of summer homes located along the lake. It was pretty, but in comparison to the rest of New Zealand, it was kind of unremarkable.
On our way from Te Anau to Milford Sounds we stopped to hike the Key Summit (a section from one of the great walks.). It was a moderate hike in difficulty, but exceptional in beauty. About 15 minutes into our hike, in between breaths, I told Ryan “Hey Speed Racer! Dial it back a notch. I’m not going for speed here!”
I'm not sure what made me more breathless, the non stop uphill climb at a the pace of a wanna be marine, or this view of his behind the entire time :)
The closest town is 90 minutes away in Te Anau which is two hours away from Queenstown. We flew from Abel Tasman to Queenstown and drove to Te Anau where we stayed one night before moving onto Milford Sound (The Fjordlands). Te Anau sits on a lake and has a population similar to Manson, WA. Small population in the winter and busy in the summer as there are lots of summer homes located along the lake. It was pretty, but in comparison to the rest of New Zealand, it was kind of unremarkable.
On our way from Te Anau to Milford Sounds we stopped to hike the Key Summit (a section from one of the great walks.). It was a moderate hike in difficulty, but exceptional in beauty. About 15 minutes into our hike, in between breaths, I told Ryan “Hey Speed Racer! Dial it back a notch. I’m not going for speed here!”
I'm not sure what made me more breathless, the non stop uphill climb at a the pace of a wanna be marine, or this view of his behind the entire time :)
 |  Just being a first class dork when Ryan wasn't looking! |
It’s not like I was slow poking it either. The recommended time for the hike was three to four hours. We made it up to the summit and back to the car in just over two hours which included 30 minutes at the top to take pictures.
The views at the top were STUNNING! Alpine lakes, mountains, beautiful foliage and nice little German teens who took our picture but failed to make me look thinner like I had asked.
The views at the top were STUNNING! Alpine lakes, mountains, beautiful foliage and nice little German teens who took our picture but failed to make me look thinner like I had asked.
After the hike we made our way to the one and only lodge in Milford Sound. There were a few beautiful chalets on the river and the rest was reserved bunk rooms for all the back packers. The drive down there was like no other. During one section you drive through a one way tunnel carved through a mountain. The digging of the Homer Tunnel began in 1935 with just five men, their picks and wheelbarrows. The tunnel was not finished until 1954 with intermittent deaths during those years due to avalanches. It climbs 945 feet in just ¾ of a mile. The rest of the drive is also quite hairy, but extraordinary.
After dinner that night (in the one and only bar/café) Ryan schooled me at Cricket. Ahem…. I beat him TWICE at 301. But who’s keeping track?
After dinner that night (in the one and only bar/café) Ryan schooled me at Cricket. Ahem…. I beat him TWICE at 301. But who’s keeping track?
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In the morning we woke up to take one of the smaller cruises around the sound. The weather was beautiful and sunny which is quite rare in those parts. It usually rains two out of three days in Milford Sound. Crazy enough, Ryan and I had kind of hoped for rain because the number of waterfalls multiplies tenfold.
As it was, it was beautiful scenery and I got my share of a few waterfalls here and there.
As it was, it was beautiful scenery and I got my share of a few waterfalls here and there.
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After Milford Sound we drove back to Te Anau for one more night’s stay to break up the longer drive back to Queenstown. As a treat, Ryan booked two massages for us the morning before we left. She commented on how tight my shoulders seemed. Ummm….yeah….have you not driven your roads?
One last thing before I end this post….3/4 of the visitors in Te Anau are Chinese who are driven in by chartered busses. There was one Chinese restaurant across the street from the supermarket. Both nights Ryan and I were in Te Anau the restaurant was packed. This was the road sign posted across the street from the restaurant. Does this not seem a little bit racist to anyone else??
One last thing before I end this post….3/4 of the visitors in Te Anau are Chinese who are driven in by chartered busses. There was one Chinese restaurant across the street from the supermarket. Both nights Ryan and I were in Te Anau the restaurant was packed. This was the road sign posted across the street from the restaurant. Does this not seem a little bit racist to anyone else??
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