Thursday 14th February 2019 - Milford Sound

So it really can rain in New Zealand! We had heard the rain on the tent through the night and it was still raining when we got up at 6.15. Some of the group were up and away earlier as they were kayaking on Milford Sound. We had opted for the 2 hour cruise and as we were being driven there we were glad we had! It poured! However, Adrienne was quick to point out that this would make the trip more special. Really?? As we drove along we began to think that she might be right! There were so many waterfalls coming down the sides of the mountains. On arrival in Milford Sound the rain was coming down in stair rods, making the short dash to the coffee shop an exercise in how to get wet quickly! (Adrienne has also learnt how to keep many of her group happy very easily!)

We might not have had the blue skies and views of the tops of the mountains, but once in the boat (with a full set of waterproofs on!) and on the Sound we could see that Adrienne was indeed right! Hundreds - no exaggeration there - of waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, long, short, fat, thin, explosive, cascading down the mountainside. At some points they merged into one to become a wall of water. Where the wind was catching the falling water it was blowing it back upwards making it look as if the waterfall was going up and not down. At times the waterfalls were running through green vegetation, at other times over bare rocks, giving very different aspects to the scene.

Being on the boat was fun! We opted to be on top, under a covered area, but slightly exposed to the elements, particularly when the boat changed direction a bit. We were glad of our waterproofs! The views on top were better though! To start with the water was calm, it as we moved further into the Sound, and then through a narrow channel, it was much rougher

We were told that Milford Sound only has 3 permanent waterfalls and that once the rain stopped the other falls would dry up within about 2 hours. It seemed unbelievable, but we were assured it was true, and there is some logic when you consider that all that rain has to flow somewhere, so straight over the side of the mountain probably makes sense! Annual rainfall accounts varied from 3 - 7 metres and a further piece of information was that it rained on average 2 out of every 3 days. We ended up feeling that we probably had seen it on the best day.

We chickened out of the walk that afternoon as it was still raining. However by the time the few walkers came back some 2 hours later, the rain had stopped, the sun was out and we were able to cook and eat tea outside.

Whilst here I have seen the tomtit, kaka, tui and rifleman, all birds endemic to New Zealand.