Milford Sound
Milford Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1200 metres or more on either side. The natural beauty of this landscape draws thousands of visitors each day. Tourists should be sure to bring umbrellas, however, as Milford Sound receives over seven meters of rain annually. Far from being a damper on a visit, though, each rainfall creates dozens of "temporary waterfalls" down the cliff faces, some reaching a thousand meters in length. Be careful, though: accumulated rainwater can at times cause portions of the rain forest to lose their grip on the sheer cliff faces, resulting in tree avalanches into the Sound. The re-growth of the rain forest after these avalanches can be seen in several locations along the Sound.
Milford Sound is located about two hours drive from Te Anau; many tour buses to the Sound depart from there, as well as much pricier helicopter tours. The Milford Road drive itself passes through unspoiled mountain landscapes before entering the 1.2-kilometer Homer Tunnel, the highest alpine pass in the world. Be careful during winter. Chains for your car are required to be carried and avalanches are common so you may find the road closed on some occasions. Click here to see the current road conditions.
If you can, drive yourself to Milford Sound. It's one of the top drives in the world. On the way, stop off to take pictures at Mirror Lakes, climb the first part of the Routeburn Track to take photos from Key Summit and wonder at the engineering feat that is the Homer Tunnel.
Boat tours of the sound are offered by several companies, departing from the Milford Sound Visitors' Centre. Lush rain forests cling precariously to the cliffs, while seals, penguins, and dolphins frequent the waters. Hiking (tramping, in New Zealand English) and canoeing are also possible. An underwater observatory provides viewing of black coral, usually only found in much deeper waters. A dark surface layer of fresh water, stained by tannins from the surrounding forest, allows the corals to grow close to the surface here.
