Thursday 21 July 2011

Milford Sound and Queenstown so far

Though Milford Sound (technically not a Sound but a Fiord because it's been created by ice) is really really close to Queenstown, there is not road through mountain range, so getting there is a long affair. From Queenstown, I got the tour bus and we drove down to Te Anau then back up again on the Milford Road, the most scenic road in New Zealand, and therefore the world. The drive itself was as amazing as the boat trip. It just builds and builds and gets more and more dramatic until it "explodes all over your face" (Kiwi Experience guide Ringo). If you can believe it, there is actually a parrot that lives out there called the Kea and we were lucky enough to see one. Ringo said it had the intelligence of an 8 year old Kiwi child, or a 12 year old Australian child.

The 2 hour boat trip was incredible, taking us all the way out to the Tasman sea past stunning waterfalls and the odd seal. Even though it rained and the sky was quite overcast, it is easy to see why Milford Sound has been voted the most beautiful place in the world. It is amazing. Though it's sounds a bit peculiar, it actually reminded me of the film Avatar the way the mountains come soaring out of the sea and the waterfalls appear to float. My pictures do not do it justice.

On the drive back, we watched The Hangover and I tried not to be sick on all the windy bits.

Yesterday was my first proper day in Queenstown so I took advantage of the sun and went up the Skyline Gondola and had a couple goes on the Luge. In the evening I met up with Harrison and Thomas for a few drinks around the town. Today we're going to have a Fergburger, have a look around the art galleries and then go play frisbee golf in the park. All in all, it sounds like it's going to be a fun day. Plus, it's really sunny again. Yay!

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