Day 8: Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown
The Milford Road is not just a journey - it's a destination in itself!
This statement is very very true. You have to be there to witness it yourself. The scenery is magnificent. The road is a stunning alpine drive and it is a must to get out of the car to drink in the spectacular scenery and trully appreciate the sheer scale of the awesome landscape. Leaving Te Anau and heading north, we follow 119km of sealed road to the majestic Milford Sound.
This statement is very very true. You have to be there to witness it yourself. The scenery is magnificent. The road is a stunning alpine drive and it is a must to get out of the car to drink in the spectacular scenery and trully appreciate the sheer scale of the awesome landscape. Leaving Te Anau and heading north, we follow 119km of sealed road to the majestic Milford Sound.
Te Anau Downs
Continue along Milford Road.
We are so glad that we can see snow in spring. 
The Homer Tunnel
Completed in 1953, the Homer tunnel periced the mountain to allow road access to Milford Sound. At an altitude of 945metres above sea level, workers toiled throughout the depression of th 1930's in ectreme conditions, and completion of the tunnel, 1.2km through a mountain, was an extraordinary achievement.
The tunnel remains largely unmodified since its ealy creation. There is limited internal lighting within the tunnel. Traffic lights control traffic flows over peak periods in the summer months.
Completed in 1953, the Homer tunnel periced the mountain to allow road access to Milford Sound. At an altitude of 945metres above sea level, workers toiled throughout the depression of th 1930's in ectreme conditions, and completion of the tunnel, 1.2km through a mountain, was an extraordinary achievement.
The tunnel remains largely unmodified since its ealy creation. There is limited internal lighting within the tunnel. Traffic lights control traffic flows over peak periods in the summer months.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is 119km or 2 1/2 hrs from Te Anau and has been described as te eighth wonder of the world. Few would disagree. Milford Sound is the most dramatic of Fiordland's glacier-carved fiords with cascading waterfalls, lush rainforest and towering Mitre Peak (1682m) rising a full mile out of the water. Milford is at tis best after rain.
Milford Sound Nature Cruise
Operated by Real Journeys, NZ$75 per pax, about 2- 2/12 hrs.
Milford Sound is 119km or 2 1/2 hrs from Te Anau and has been described as te eighth wonder of the world. Few would disagree. Milford Sound is the most dramatic of Fiordland's glacier-carved fiords with cascading waterfalls, lush rainforest and towering Mitre Peak (1682m) rising a full mile out of the water. Milford is at tis best after rain.
Milford Sound Nature Cruise
Operated by Real Journeys, NZ$75 per pax, about 2- 2/12 hrs.
After a very relaxing cruise in the morning, we gotta say Bye-Bye to Milford Sound. Continue our journey to Queenstown, we use the same Milford Road. It's the Kea bird.
More stops to snap more photos on our way to Queenstown.
I think this is the Mirror Lake along Milford Road, but I'm not too sure though.
Queenstown
We arrive Queenstown in the evening, just right for dinner time. We have spicy Thai food. After dinner, we stroll in the town and the lake.
We arrive Queenstown in the evening, just right for dinner time. We have spicy Thai food. After dinner, we stroll in the town and the lake.
Day 9: Queenstown
We are staying 2 nights here at YHA Queenstown Lakefront. The hostel has a very nice view and very comfortable sitting right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
The town of Queenstown, just 10 minutes walk away from our hostel.
Deer Park Heights
This is Queenstown largest Lord of the Ring location. The self drive tour costs us NZ$20 per car via tollgate. We spend quite some time here exploring the stunning scenery that made this a key movie set. It is surrounded by lakes and mountain ranges experience a spectacular journey through this magnificent wildlife park.
This is Queenstown largest Lord of the Ring location. The self drive tour costs us NZ$20 per car via tollgate. We spend quite some time here exploring the stunning scenery that made this a key movie set. It is surrounded by lakes and mountain ranges experience a spectacular journey through this magnificent wildlife park.
Magnificent views from top of the hill
We have a really fun time feeding the animals. We fill in a silver tin from the green animal nut dispensers with NZ$2/tin and take it with us through the park. We stop to feed the miniature horses, sheep, donkey, goats and etc.
The animals in the Deer Park- miniature horse, llama, bixon, goat, deer, donkey and etc.
The Kawarau Bridge Bungy
43 metres above the crystal clear water of Kawarau River, the world's first bridge bungy established in Nov 1988 and the home of bungy ever since.
43 metres above the crystal clear water of Kawarau River, the world's first bridge bungy established in Nov 1988 and the home of bungy ever since.
Arrowtown
Located only 20 minutes from Queenstown is the beautiful Arrowtown.The cry of “gold” in 1862, brought thousands of miners to the Arrow River, one of the world’s richest sources of alluvial gold. At the height of the rush the population reached 7,000. These pioneers built small cottages of stone and wood, established churches, and planted avenues of beautiful trees. Through careful preservation, the legacy of the early settlers is retained in a fascinating, picturesque town where the past and the present are delightfully blurred with Arrowtown now a treasure in its own right.
After some shopping in the town of Queenstown, we go to the coolest plain in Queenstown- Minus 5 Degree Ice Bar (NZ$25/pax). To my disappointment, the room is quite small and I think only tourists visit here, not the locals. Nevertheless, it's a great experience.
In here, everything is made of ice, even the glasses and bar counter. Cool!!
Day 10: Queenstown - Franz Josef
Today is the day we have to continue our journey without our friends-Muththu & Shaaly. They are taking bus back to Dunedin, whereas we continue to Franz Josef.
The Skyline (Gondola, Restaurant & Luge)
and Kiwi Birdlife Park
Today is the day we have to continue our journey without our friends-Muththu & Shaaly. They are taking bus back to Dunedin, whereas we continue to Franz Josef.
The Skyline (Gondola, Restaurant & Luge)
and Kiwi Birdlife Park
Our journey continues... just the 2 of us again to Franz Josef.
New Zealand Self Drive (Part 4 - South Island: Cromwell, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Picton)
New Zealand Self Drive (Part 4 - South Island: Cromwell, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Picton)
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