Bus/Boat Milford Sound
Milford Sound, which we learned is a glacier-created Fjord, is an hour’s bus ride from Queenstown. We made a few stops along the way, and in some ways, the bus tour was more interesting than Milford Sound. While the sights of Milford Sound during the boat tour were spectacular, the boat ride itself was anything but. It was overcrowded, tourists were pushy, the captain’s narration was inaudible, and the lunch was . . . well, awful.
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Farmland On Way To Milford
From Queenstown we took a group bus tour to Milford. Along the way we toured some of the sights.
Mountain Tops from Bus
More scenery as we approached Milford Sound, which is not a “Sound" because a glacier, not a river, made it
Lots'a Waterfalls (Bowen Falls)
For some reason, watching cascading water over a steep rocky cliff does not get boring.
A Stop at Mirror Lake
One stop was Mirror Lake. I wonder why they call it that . . .
Made It To Our Boat
A victim of its own popularity, boarding the boat required wading through a mass of people at the ticket building and a line at the boat.
Milford "Fjord" Walls
Ahh . . . and the walls of the Fjord were beautiful.
A Stop at Monkey Creek
Looking down the valley is yet another beautiful sight.
Stirling Water Falls
After a crowded and terrible lunch, at least the cliffs and waterfalls were spectacular.
Milford View on Return
This is a view from the stern as the boat pulled back into the dock. Unfortunately, the flight back to QT was canceled due to the clouds, so we slept on the bus back.