MILFORD SOUND (24/08/09)
The road to Milford sound winds through some beautiful scenery - lakes, mountains and forest.
It also went through a dark, dark tunnel.
Milford Sound, a valley originally carved by a glacier before sea levels rose creating a fjord. The mountain on the right is Mitre Peak. We took a boat and sailed up the sound through the mouth and into the Tasman Sea.
A strip of bare rock caused by an interesting phenomena known as a 'tree avalanche'. Basically the trees that grow up the mountain side only have a loose root system attached to the rock in small cracks. In order to provide themselve with the stability to grow larger they attach their roots to the roots of other trees. This works fine un til one tree gets so big that it cannot be supported. When this tree falls it pulls the adjacent trees with it causing a chain reaction which peels a strip of trees off right down the mountainside.
One thing that has made Milford Sound famous is the huge number of waterfalls that cascade down the cliff faces into the sea below. The high ratio of freshwater mixed with seawater has created a unique underwater ecosystem and attracts hundreds of fascinated divers every year.
Despite the sunshine it was very cold and windy on the boat. At one point Adam's hat blew off and only narrowly missed going over the side- which is lucky because that would have been the end of our trip.
The entrance (or exit ) from Milford Sound into the Tasman Sea.
On the Tasman Sea looking into the Sound.
Another view of the entrance to the Sound.
Milford Sound is home to a small colony of Fur Seals.
On the way back to Te Anau we stopped off for a walk in some of the areas lush temperate rainforest. It is a very special and unique experience to walk through the rainforest whilst looking at snowy mountains through the trees.
As th road climbs steeply upwards it leaves the trees behind until, in winter time, you are surrounded by thick snow. There was even more snow around than normal since a special national park unit had been deliberately causing avalanches with dynamite just a few days before. By causing the avalanches themselves the national park can control them much better and consequently the road is much safer.
A Kea, a type of alpine parrot. Whilst we had red about these birds and knew that they lived high in the mountains we had no idea that they could actually be found in the snow. They are incredibly inquisitive birds who for some reason love rubber and plastic- they cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to windscreen wipers, tyres, rubber seals and bicycle seats every year.
A final stop before Te Anau at a small waterfall near the road. The turquoise of the water blended beautifully with the green of the plants and the orange of the rocks.
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