NZ - Milford Sound

In our first full day in NZ we took Baba and Hannah for one of my favorite trips - the flight over the mountains to Milford South.  We were blessed with magnificent weather and a charming pilot (who seemed slightly hungover and forgot to turn his transpoder on)

We flew in a convoy of other light aircraft.   Our  flight path was up the Greenstone valley flying  below the height of the mountains and climbing enough to pass safely over the pass of the main divide.

Baba was very brave despite her fear of heights.

We all arrived safely at the Milford Sound airport.   Mitre Peak looked magnificent in the background.

Next we boarded a boat for a cruise to the mouth of the sound.

The boat was soon joined by a pod of dolphins

Video:  Dolphins in Milford Sound

And of course magnificent scenery.

Looking west as we head back down the Sound.

The view from the boat terminal.  Looking east to Mitre Peak (1,692m).

And south to the Arthur river and Mt Ada

After a stylish family photo

We boarded our plain again.

We flew out down east down the Sound, following the route we had taken earlier in the boat.

Climbing all the way.  Looking down to the boats in the Sound far below.

Then we turned left circling south and then east.   This is looking east back down Milford Sound

Up over the mountains of Fijordland

Video:  Flight from Milford Sound (pt 1,  to main divide)

And back North East across the main divide.  This is looking North West

Video:  Flight to Queenstown (pt 2).

Crossing the Hollyford Valley, looking North-West.

Then back over the McKellar Saddle (945m),  down the Greenstone valley, and across Lake Wakatipu back to Queenstown.

Magnificent!