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milford sound
 The
scenic icon of New Zealand is the picture-perfect view of Mitre
Peak mirrored in the glassy waters of Milford Sound.
Milford Sound’s majestic grandeur is symbolised by the
perfection of this scene of sheer rock walls, 1700 metres high,
plummeting into the black depths of the fiord. No wonder author
Rudyard Kipling described Milford as the eight wonder of the
world, and Arthur Michener thought of it as ‘the most
stirring sight in the Pacific’.
 The majestic scenery begins long before you
reach Milford, in the Eglinton Valley. Snow-capped mountains loom
1000 metres above the road, streaked with waterfalls, and
reflected in mirror lakes. The road climbs steeply into a
sub-alpine wonderland at the Homer Tunnel entrance. You emerge
from the tunnel to an instantly breathtaking view of the canyon
which descends into Milford.
Milford Sound comes a close second to the mountains of Tahiti in
recording the highest rainfall in the world. The deluge of 7
metres of rain each year sounds forbidding for a tourist resort,
but it actually adds to the drama and mystique of the sound. In
torrential rain the sheer mountain walls erupt with a thousand
cascades plunging from hanging valleys, wreathed in ethereal
mists, and crossed with rainbows.
 A boat cruise is the best way to appreciate
the grandeur of the sound. Highlights include Bowen Falls, Mitre
Peak, Anita Bay, The Elephant and Stirling Falls. In Harrison
Cove there is an underwater observatory with views of aquatic
life on the reef. Some cruises go out to the entrance of the
Sound where dolphins, fur seals and crested penguins may be seen.
Kayaking and diving trips can be arranged and divers have the
rare opportunity of seeing black coral at relatively shallow
depths. Scenic flights take in the other main sounds down the
coast, and the Sutherland Falls, which are New Zealand’s
highest.
The 55 km Milford Track, reputed to be ‘The Finest Walk in
the World’ operates in the summer months. It takes three
days and links Lake Te Anau with Milford Sound.
Milford Sound provides a rare chance to get a close view of
nature on a grand scale. It’s the ultimate in scenic
splendour in a country that excels in mountain grandeur.
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