Our five hour coach trip started at 7am (groan) and all hope of a snooze went out the window as the the coach driver started his five hour commentary (bigger groan). At least we were able to watch the sun rise over the miles of mountains that stretch all the way from Queenstown through to the Fiordland National Park. It was interesting to see the landscape morph back and forth between the heather and red tussock of the alpine ranges to the more temperate, green fern and flax covered ranges, but the towering, snow-covered mountains and crystal blue rivers and lakes were a constant feature.
Most memorable were the breathtaking 'Mirror Lakes'. The name gives you a clue. See? I've run out of words and we haven't even started on the Milford Sound Cruise!
The two hour cruise around the incredibly green and inaccurately named Milford Sound (it's actually a very big, very deep fiord) was just wonderful.
Our very skilled skipper nosed the boat right under a two of the countless waterfalls that decorate the steep walls of the fiord and encouraged us to try a once-in-a-lifetime waterfall shower, which I did. I got very wet but spent the rest of the trip grinning from ear to ear. Absolutely exhilarating, especially when Mother Nature topped it all off with a series of stunning rainbows.
As we cruised back the sun was starting to set over the Tasman Sea and we were treated to another natural lightshow as the mountainous walls, emerald green water and clear blue skies transformed into a mercury coloured lake against a monochrome backdrop with the now familiar low-hanging white clouds. Another great day in the land of the long white cloud.
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