**Tutorial warning**It is actually geologically classified as a Fjord (a glacial V-cut into the rock into which sea and fresh water collect - very deep water (300m-400m), very steep sides (60-90 degrees)... you know, like in Norway and western NL) while a Sound is classified as a river opening into the ocean... and, at Milford Sound, there is really no river - just lots of water falling from the rocks surrounding it, etc. No more techie-talk... I promise.
We (or better said, she-who-must-be-obeyed) decided to take the bus tour because it's an all-day drive-boat-drive operation, it's over unfamiliar roads, we don't know anything about the areas and geography through which we were to travel AND there was an on-board 'potty'... the travel agent who sold the trip to my better half thought that would be the clincher for us old-folks. Well, he wasn't right but the other reasons were more than valid and we were very pleased with the results. We arrived and returned safely, we were fatigued but not beat, and we learned a great deal about Otago and the Fjordland World Heritage Site. Thank-you, better-half.
I can't begin to describe all the ups and downs and acrosses and arounds; the scenery was ever changing - we moved through South Island terrain from hill/mountain range to valleys that were desert-like and rain-forest-like... all micro-climes. We learned that when the first europeans arrived to colonize the lands, there were no indigenous mammals on the islands... only birds.... including a number of flightless birds - the most famous of which would be the national animal symbol - the KIWI.
(BTW, This guy is NOT a Kiwi - it's a very intelligent NZ rain forest parrot know as a Kea... and it loves to pick off all the sift rubber on your car!)
We did not see a Kiwi... but they are nocturnal so that shouldn't be a surprise. , Stewart Island - south of South Island - is a Kiwi sanctuary and that's where one would find the majority of them. The Takehe and the Kakapo are also nearly extinct but can still be found on South Island or the off-islands - they are, of course, protected but are prey to a introduced mammals - rats and possums. OK, OK, enough of the lesson-stuff... Russell's monologue on things 'kiwi', including natural history, ornithology, and tall-tales of NZ pioneers were nothing short of amazing and most of us on-board the tour bus were well and truly entertained.
We stopped at several picturesque locations inside the Fjordland territory - reminded my of the drive to Banff and Lake Louise - and then we climbed into the mountains that make up the southern end of the Southern Alps.
After passing through a hand-hewn single lane Homer Tunnel (which took 19 years to 'dig' through a mountain 'saddle'), we entered the rain forest which surrounds the Milford (Fjord) Sound... it really was like stepping back into pre-historic landscape with moss-covered trees and 8 meter ferns - all dripping, all the time.
As we entered the modern dock facilities for the cruise ships, we were met with a vista lifted from a Spielberg movie... the clouds and mist greyed the sunlight above to a dark-shade effect... the walls of the surrounding mountains provide sheer vertical drops to the deep and cold fjord waters (260m) - the aquatic life lives only in the top 40m as the light levels below that are insufficient to support vegetation or other aquatic life.
This Word Heritage Site draws interested visitors from the world over... as can be seen by the presence of a world-traveling Silversea super cruiser which traveled around from the Med. We watched the constantly changing micro-environment as we left the dock and cruised out to the western approaches in the Tasman Sea. I shot many photos... because every turn and each direction provided a panorama of clouds, mountains, water sliding and falling down vertical slopes, sea life and, very now and then, a peek at the sun.
The return trip was considerably more subdued... Russell had either exhausted his seemingly endless supply of anecdotes or he had pity on a bunch of tired puppies who enjoyed the snoozing opportunities afforded by the 300km drive back. For us, it was exactly what we expected and we were not disappointed. After thanking Russell and bidding adieu to our recently acquired tour mates, we packed up to get ready for the next leg of the journey into the centre of Central Otago's best known product - pinot noir!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Milford Sound, Fjordland National Park, South Island
1 comment:
am so enjoying taking this trip with you guys! LOL!!!! keep 'em comin'! Glad you weren't 'IN' the earthquake area when it occurred ... called Myra from Hfx b/c I was worried about you! Take care and Have fun!!!! Ruthie
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