Yoo 442 - NZ...Milford Sound

After Kepler it was on to one of our most-anticipated stops: Milford Sound!

But not before we'd spent the morning on horseback. A relaxing change from hiking.

I brought my camera but when I got there I realized I'd forgotten to slip the battery back in after charging...and the spare was in the car back at camp. So all we have are cell phone pictures that our guides were nice enough to send us!

^^ the coolest dog ever

They don't quite do the trip justice because it was awesome. They're a small, family-operated tour company that runs a very personalized tour. With a stop for homemade treats! (i'm a sucker for homemade treats...put that on your brochure and count me in).

The scenery is stunning around Te Anau...rolling grazing pastures with mountains on the horizon in every direction. Even a few Hobbit-filming locations along the route. And plenty of sheep! We couldn't have asked for a better morning...or better weather.

I rode a horse named Missy and Greg was on Nick. Nick just pooped a lot and tried to defend his lead position while Missy had a *hint* of a stubborn side and ate all the time.

I'm strictly talking about the horses here, let's not try to draw any resemblances.

Missy had to be juuuuust off the trail, blazing her own path, sometimes at a trot, while Nick was towards the front, checking either side and blocking any horse trying to cut around him. And pooping. Don't forget the pooping.

We weren't supposed to let them graze on the trip but man, Missy was quick! And tricky!

Have you ever felt like you could relate to a horse?

I mean, minus her love-life. She really needs to decide if she loves Nick or Donald cause she can't have them both and it's not polite to lead them on.

Anyways, we loved the horse tour and then spent the whole drive into Milford Sound talking about how we could buy a ranch and horses and sheep and cows and deer in New Zealand and live perfect lives.

We're dreamers.

But now to Milford Sound.

 ^^ keeping lunch warm...fresh bakery pizza roll!

 ^^ i know, socks with flip-flops...i'm not ashamed...the sand flies were attacking my feet!

 ^^ his future's too bright...

The drive into Milford Sound and Milford Sound itself is sensory overload. No place should be that stunning. You can't even take it all in!

HUGE, vertical peaks, hundreds of waterfalls, creeks, rivers, lakes, valleys of wildflowers, towering trees, everything. There is everything and it is all stunning.

We set up camp at the only lodge in the area and then...kayak time!

One of our trip splurges.

 ^^ kayak fashion tip, take your mis-matched stripes polypropylene base layers and tie them together with a bold spray skirt. pull it all the way up to your arm pits...just like you did as a kid

 ^^ do you see how vertical those mountains are??

I was a little bitter that my Greggiant was too tall to be the driver. They assured us he wasn't too tall but then his legs went right on passed the foot pedals and he was too tall. So I had to sit in back and steer the kayak while paddling and wrestling with the dry bag every time I wanted to take a picture.

"We're about to run into that mountain."

"Just a second I'm trying to take a picture of the waterfall!"

Let's not forget that there was a large man smack in front of me, prime picturing territory, and I also had to keep my oar from drifting away while not dropping my camera in the fjord.

It was a little complicated at times. But worth it for these pictures!

Evening is a great time to kayak Milford because most of the big tour boats have stopped, there's a breeze pushing you in, and the setting sun is spectacular. And seals.

More seals!

 ^^ i think they're stuck and just waiting for high tide

Oh they rip my heart out with cuteness. One swam right up to our kayak! Man alive I wanted it to plop itself in front of my spray skirt and be my little sea-puppy pet for the rest of our paddle. It could have sunned its belly just fine there and I wouldn't have complained about the extra weight.

Slightly related, Flounder is lame. If I was a Mermaid I would have a pet seal.

 ^^ stirling falls...we got to kayak thru the mist!

^^ "sailing" our kayaks while the guides told stories...

At some point I lost my sunglasses in the fjord. I always lose my sunglasses. I really liked those sunglasses though. It was a bummer.

I think they just wanted to stay in New Zealand...of all my prior sunglasses, they definitely have the coolest grave.

 ^^ pig

Ahhhhhhh, I would live that day again.

The technicals: we drove north from Te Anau to Milford Sound on the 94, covering 118 kilometers with plenty of picture and hiking detours. A drive everyone should get to experience in their lifetime. We spent yet another night in our tent camping at Milford Sound Lodge.

Have a great day :-)