Day 6 - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown

Milford Sound, also known as Piopiotahi in Maori, is located in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island. Although called a sound, it is more accurately classified as a fjord. Milford Sound, the most famous tourist site of New Zealand, has also been called an eighth Wonder of the World by Rudyard Kipling. It is situated within the Fiordland National Park which is in turn part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.

With a mean annual rainfall of 6813 mm on 182 days a year, a high level even for the West Coast, Milford Sound is known as the wettest place in New Zealand and one of the wettest in the world. Rainfall can reach 250 mm during a span of 24 hours. The rainfall creates dozens of temporary waterfalls (as well as a number of major, more permanent ones) cascading down the cliff faces, some reaching a thousand meters in length. Smaller falls from such heights may never reach the bottom of the sound, drifting away in the wind. (www.milfordsound.net)

Early in the morning, take our own time and drived ourself from Te Anau heading west to Milford Sound, it take 2 hrs. It is advisable to fill up your fuel in Te Anau because there is no petrol station along the journey and in Milford Sounf, and it take 2 hour from Te Anau to Milford Sound. The road to Milford Sound is considered to be one of the world’s finest alpine drives.

Herd moving to another field for brakfast - on the way to Milford Sound

View along the way to Milford Sound

Visitors to Milford normally opt for a cruise of the sounds by launch, and the experience for us is unforgettable. This is a unique opportunity to get close up views of some of the best scenery Fiordland has to offer. Be inspired as mountain peaks soar overhead and waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into the sea below. Often, dolphins accompany the cruise up the sound and seals are a common sight as they bask on rocks.

The cruise parking at Milford Sound Jetty

The sky was dark, it's raining all year long
On the cruise to discover the 8 Wonder of the WorldAmazing Milford Sound!




Seals on the rocks (too small to see)
Falls are everywhere

The West Coast of the South Island and the Fiordland area has sandflies that will “eat you alive”. These New Zealand tiny sandflies are not generally lethal but they are very annoying. To avoid from these annoying insect, spray the New Zealand made sandflies repellent is the best choice.

The cruise sail to the Tasman sea, it was very stong wave and the cruise was shaking seriously.

After 2.5 hour Natural Cruise journey, we departed from Milford Sound and head-back to Te Anau for lunch and then drive ourself to another destination- Queenstown.

Stopover at one of the creek for a fresh water face wash.

2 Hours drive from Te Anau. Arrived Queenstown in the Evening

Queenstown's compact downtown area, a cosmopolitan hub that's relaxed during the day and fun at nigh, with a little shopping on the side.

Church, Lavender along the walking path

Day 5 - Wanaka (Puzzling World)-Te Anau (Gloworm Cave)

Sunday. It look like rain this morning.
We went to local Presbyterian church for sunday service. Meet 2 eldery sis at the front of the church, they told us that the local are deserve for the rain desperately cause it was a drought days recently, they feel sorry to us as tourist dont like rain as it will stop us from some outdoor activities. Feel like home when were in the church, bro & sis are nice.

Continue exploring the puzzling word in Wanaka. Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World claimed itself is a world unique attraction specialising in puzzling eccentricity. Offering the world's first "modern-styled" Great Maze, incredible Illusion Rooms, a Puzzle Centre/Café, large Gift Shop and eccentric architecture.

When we arrive at Puzzling World, immediately we noticed the crazy architecture. One building has four eccentric Tumbling Towers. Another one is called the Leaning Tower of Wanaka. This tower has been pulled out of the ground and is balanced on one corner at an unbelievable 53 degrees! The Leaning Tower of Pisa only leans six degrees.

We've had a great time and taken many photos of the crazy buildings!

The puzzling is worth for visit!

Leaning Tower - 53 degrees

This wall actually drawn parallel horizontal lines.
Hologram Hall

Hall of following faces

Tilted House Roman-style toilets

Afternoon, Heading south-west to Fiordland, Te Anau. It was a hill road to drive slowly and carefully, but what reciprocate us are the beautiful scenic panorama. Sheeps are found everywhere along the drive way.

Mountains covered by snow on the peak

Arrived at Te Anau Holiday Park in late afternoon. This is our Holiday house, it was fully equiped.

Inside the house
Kitchen- preparing dinner
Having afternoon tea at the garden, beautiful scenery.
In the evening, check out the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves with Real Journey. It is a rare example of a living cave that is still under formation.

Depart at 6.45pm, following a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau, view informative interpretation displays at Cavern House before our guides take us on an exploration of the Caves by path and small punt. It was so amazed us that the rushing water sculpts the rock formations, before gliding through silent darkness to the glowworm grotto by a small silent boat. We are restricted from photograhying cause the flash light will harm the living glow worms.

On the way to Glow Worm Cave by Real Journey cruise

Ready to explore the cave by entering this track (Photo from google)

Glow Worm larva (photo from google)

Adult female glow worm, quite similar with our firefly (photo from google)

Jetty - going back to Te Anau town by cruise