Milford Sound / Te Anau Highway - November 29, 2012

 After spending several hours cruising the Milford Sound we are now on our way back to Te Anau where we will stop for coffee and a stretch before continuing on to Queenstown for the next two days.

 

The rainwater pours down the rocky slopes along the way.

 

 

 It was a beautiful ride and loved the dramatic weather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Awesome views of the winding road from this spot!

 

 

I wonder if these dirty icy patches ever completely melted during the summer.

This is November 29, just one more day of spring! 

 

 

 

 

 

 We're now getting closer to Te Anau once again. The green pasture land reappears.

 

 

 The journey is every bit as wonderful as the destination!

I repeated these words over and over on this trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Awesome trees!

 

 

 

 

 Nothing less than beautiful!

 

 

 

 

Passing over rivers is common in New Zealand.

Love the color!

 

Milford Sound/Te Anau Highway

November 29, 2012



Milford Sound - South Island, New Zealand

 a dark and rainy day on Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand

 

 

 

 Jerry with the NZ Red Ensign Flag and then it was my turn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 we loved the mystical mood on this day, which is a typical day out here.

some get blue sky and sunshine, but not us!

 

 the rain brought on roaring waterfalls!

 

 

 brrrr...it was cold and we got wet but it was worth it.

we couldn't stay inside the boat with nature's glory before us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 the sides of the mountains were seeping with water.

 

 

 

 

 

 up close and personal!

and, then it was our turn...

 

 

 

 

 

 a view of the Tasman Sea lies ahead but we turn back into the sound.

 

 

 Sook Minugh...a friend on our tour comes prepared for rain!

 

 

 Bob and Sook Minugh

 

 

 water galore!

 

 

 amazing beauty!

 

 

 

 

Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand

November 28, 2012

 

 



Onward to Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand

 The journey along the Te Anau - Milford Highway gets more spectacular with each km traveled.

This is a shot of a random forest with a slow shutter speed from a moving coach.

(somewhere near Mirror Lake)

 The peaks and valleys are covered in dense fog and dripping rain.

 There's more and more curvy road ahead!

 Milford Sound straight ahead (on a curvy road)!

 Some side roads are open but close early even 3 days before the beginning of the summer season.

 We followed this rushing stream part of the way.

 The walls of the valleys are covered with waterfalls!

 Brrrr...it's cold!

 more waterfalls

 We are at the snow level now before we dip back down to sea level.

Road repairs continue after an early spring avalanche.

 A Kea Mountain Parrot sits in a road pull-out area hoping for treats from travelers.
This is the first one we saw but there were many more as our travels continued.

 A lady is in awe of the majestic scenes before her, as we were also.

 ...a photo op I am glad I didn't miss!

 dense fog!

It seems Jerry is about to take a quick snooze since the view has disappeared for a few minutes!

Milford Sound is just a short distance now.

November 28, 2012