Milford Sound, New Zealand

Took a taxi to Queenstown Airport to pick up Hertz rental car. Loaded trunk up and began journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Stopped halfway in Te Anau to get gas and lunch. Saw enormous, probably non-perennial snow pack just before Homer Tunnel. Water had carved a 10' high tunnel in the snow pack, and mist arose from the icy/snowy mass.

Two hours later, after a drive through an alpine zone, we arrived in Milford Sound for our 4:30 pm overnight cruise on the "Real Journeys" Mariner. We motored through the sound (no rain!), admiring the sheer cliffs and waterfalls, stopping in Anita Bay (near the end) for "water activities". Some went in a motor boat. We kayaked for 1-1/2 hours with a nature guide, learning about "Post Office Rock", the garden, and the cottage there. It took three takes on the videocamera before capturing John in his kayak with the Tasman Sea in the background. The boat anchored in Harris Cove for the night.

Dinner on board with 2 nice women from Australia. Pavlova for dessert again. Slept in tiny bunk bed in a tiny cabin surprisingly well.

Awoke on board Mariner and went to front deck as we started cruising back out of the Sound and into the Tasman Sea. Another rainless day (2-1/2 days out of 3 it typically rains!) and exceedingly calm seas for a cruise in the Tasman Sea. On the way back in we got close to a massive waterfall and got wet from the mist. And then we saw three dolphins, which rode our bow for 10 minutes. (John got it all on video.) Magnificent views, and an excellent idea to do an overnight in Milford sound instead of a 1-1/2 hour cruise, which is what most people do.

Took a 15-minute side trip near Milford Sound to a gorge where water had carved magnificent shapes into rocks hundreds of feet below us. Spent remainder of day driving from Milford Sound to Queenstown. Met Tom and Linda Watkins (and Alan and Ann) for dinner at Speight's Ale House.