November 29: Milford Sound to Queenstown

What a difference a day makes! When we woke this morning the sky was clear and most of the smaller waterfalls had already dried up! After an early breakfast we sailed through the fiord to the Tasman Sea. Along the way we saw not only more penguins (from quite a bit further away), but also fur seals and dolphins. Felt like we had won the trifecta!

Rich captured this photo right before dawn










Approaching the Tasman Sea


Another photo of this spectacularly scenic area 
(note the absence of waterfalls)






We got back to port a little after 9:00 am and soon thereafter started the long drive to Queenstown. Our route took us south back to Te Anau and then northeast to Queenstown. It was a very roundabout, but only, way to get to our destination. What was a 3.5 hour drive for us is a mere 15 minute plane flight!

Queenstown is a beautiful city, sitting on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkables mountain range. Its  busy waterfront seems to be the heart of the city and on this Friday night, it was buzzing with activity and all the bars and restaurants were overflowing.

We didn’t have much time to wander the waterfront as we had booked an evening cruise on the 100-year old T.S.S. Earnslaw sternwheeler. It sailed Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm where we had a delicious dinner followed by a sheep-shearing and farm dog demonstration. 

We couldn’t decide if this kaka
(mountain parrot) wanted to hitch
a ride or if it just wanted some of the
car’s weather stripping for its nest

View from Queenstown waterfront across
Lake Wakatipu

Sheep shearing



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