We set off from Manapouri early in the morning, around 8:30, and drove to Milford Sound to board the Monarch cruise at 12:50. We stopped at many scenic spots on the way to and from Milford Sound, and had a very enjoyable and fulfilling trip. Although we didn’t get to see the stunning views of the fjord in the rain, making the cruise a bit boring, the scenery along the way was really worth it!
🌟From Te Anau to the fjord, take Highway 94, where there are many beautiful views, and you can stop anytime (P2-P5). Along the way, you can see many small waterfalls from the melting snow on the mountain tops, which left a deep impression.
🌟Be careful of kea parrots near the Homer Tunnel (P6). When we were parked waiting for the tunnel, we suddenly heard something hitting the roof of the car, thinking it was falling rocks from the mountain, but it turned out to be two large parrots!
These parrots like to peck at car rubber strips, and even honking and tapping on the windows couldn’t scare them away; they were not afraid of people at all. Fortunately, when the tunnel lights came on and we could proceed, the parrots did not follow [laughing and crying emoji]
🌟A stream formed by melting snow from the mountain top, with quite fast-flowing water, see P7.
A friend wanted to play in the water, so we parked at a roadside viewpoint. To reach the stream, we had to go down a steep gravel slope. Others were just watching from the shore, but the two of us insisted on going down [laughing and crying emoji]. There was no one below, and people above couldn’t see us, the water was freezing cold!
🌟Highly recommend the Lake Gunn Nature Walk, see P8. We did this walk on our way back to Te Anau. Apart from us, there was only one or two other people in the entire forest. It’s mostly a forest of red beech trees, with some enormous trees covered in moss, and occasionally you can see fallen giant trees, very primitive and tranquil, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the trees.
The trail is easy to walk, taking about 40 minutes to the end, where you reach Lake Gunn (P9).
🌟Mirror Lakes: Not recommended if you’re short on time. It’s a very small lake, see P10, more like a pond. When my teammate and I arrived, we both said, “Is this it!” But when we took photos with our phones, we found that the Mirror Lakes truly live up to their name and are quite photogenic.
However, still not recommended, as there are also quite a few bugs by the lake.
🌟For the Milford Sound cruise, we booked the Monarch with a lunch buffet package. I don’t really recommend it, as the buffet was not good and required queuing for food, and it was also quite crowded with many tour groups.
I totally agree that the drive to Milford Sound is amazing even without rain. It’s all about enjoying the journey, but I’d still love to see those dramatic rainy views too!
Milford Sound was fun even on a sunny day because of the stops along the way. The views were great, but I agree the fjord looks better in the rain. Good tips on staying safe during lightning storms though!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Sunny days at Milford Sound are indeed enjoyable with scenic stops, and it’s great you found the tips helpful. Rain does make the fjords extra magical, but every weather has its charm. Cheers to safe and memorable adventures!