Foto: Milford Sound Fjord (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
New Zealand - Outside, it is still dark when the alarm goes off. It’s 5:30 a.m. We shower and have breakfast in our cabin. Just before 6:30, we head out. At 9:00 a.m., the boat departs in Milford Sound. The distance to Milford Sound is still 120 kilometers, and it’s recommended to allow at least two hours for the drive. The road is quiet, and the weather looks beautiful. The mountain peaks are already lit by the first rays of the sun. Morning mist hovers over the lake. This mist obscures the view at Mirror Lake. Normally, you can see the reflection of the mountains in the water here. Hopefully, we’ll have a better view on the way back. The road winds into the mountains. The views over the mountains become increasingly beautiful. At the tunnel through the mountain, traffic is regulated by a traffic light. Each lane takes turns passing through the 1,200-meter-long tunnel. The keas, a type of alpine parrot, are well aware of this. These cheeky birds approach the cars looking for food. One bird sits on a car and taps on the windshield for attention. Signs everywhere warn not to feed them, as it reinforces this behavior. The light turns green, and we pass through the tunnel. Construction of the tunnel began in 1934 as a job creation project and took no less than twenty years to complete. On the other side of the narrow tunnel, we enter Milford Sound. Through hairpin bends, we descend to the harbor. Several boats are waiting here. It's likely that every tourist on the South Island takes this excursion. When we board, it’s clear that it's chilly in the shadow of the mountains. The temperature is around five degrees Celsius. Milford Sound is the most beautiful fjord in Fiordland. The steep cliffs contrast strikingly with the blue water. Mitre Peak is the tallest and most famous mountain around the fjord. The pyramid-shaped summit rises 1,692 meters above the water. The captain steers the boat through the 16-kilometer-long Milford Sound. The boat is dwarfed by the towering cliffs. There are waterfalls in various spots—both large and small. It seems like water streams are cascading down everywhere. The captain sails the boat close to one of the waterfalls. People on the front deck stand in the spray. At the mouth of Milford Sound, near the sea, the boat turns around. We return along the opposite side. The view is just as beautiful from this side. The sun shines on the mountain ranges across the water. A downside is that the boat is now sailing in the shade again. It immediately feels cold. I leave the upper deck and continue enjoying the trip inside. After two hours, we return to the harbor.
Abel Tasman National Park
New Zealand - At eight o’clock, we drive onto the grounds of Abel Tasman Kayaks. We have booked a kayak tour in Abel Tasman National Park. We are immediately introduced to Balwi. Our guide for today is of Indian origin. He has been living in New Zealand for four ...
Cape Reinga
New Zealand - Several buses are running today. The second one to arrive is ours. Marvin is the driver and welcomes us onboard. Since multiple buses are operating, Marvin first drives all the way to Cape Reinga and then returns via the beach. This does mean we’ll ...
Cathedral Cove
New Zealand - Around half past one, we approach Hahei on the peninsula. At the edge of the town, there is a large parking area for cars. We decide not to use the shuttle bus but to walk to Hahei beach. Hahei beach is often called the most beautiful beach in New Zealand. ...
Jetboat and Funyak at the Dart River
New Zealand - Today, we’re going on a boat trip on the Dart River. First, we need to drive to Glenorchy, about an hour away. Upon arrival, we’re given a wetsuit, wet shoes, a fleece, a rain jacket, and a life vest. In the changing room, I switch into the gear. ...
Otago Peninsula
New Zealand - In the afternoon, we booked a wildlife tour to the Otago Peninsula. Since the tour lasts until the evening, we decide to eat now at one of the small restaurants in the center. At half past three, Tony picks us up at the hotel. Together with eight other ...
Queenstown
New Zealand - Queenstown is a town with over 10,000 inhabitants, located on the South Island of New Zealand. It lies on the northeastern shore of Lake Wakatipu, with The Remarkables mountain range in the background. We’re halfway along the route to Queenstown. ...
The Glaciers around Mount Cook N.P.
New Zealand - A thrilling day today. Would the glacier tour go ahead? When we wake up, it is cloudy. Yesterday, the weather forecast seemed better. We can call at nine o’clock to find out if the helicopter trip will take place. To be safe, we decide not to do a mountain ...
Thermal Wonderland Wai-O-Tapu
New Zealand - Just about half an hour’s drive below Rotorua lies the Thermal Wonderland park, Wai-O-Tapu. Besides the geothermal pools, the Lady Knox geyser is also located here. Every day at quarter past ten, the geyser shoots water into the air. We leave early ...
Tongoriro Alpine Crossing
New Zealand - At exactly 7:30, we drive onto the grassy field. Several people are already waiting for the 8:00 a.m. bus. It's another 25 minutes by road to the starting point. On the way, the driver tells us that it’s cloudy today and that wind gusts of up to 100 ...
White Island Volcano
New Zealand - At quarter past seven, we check in for the boat trip to White Island volcano. The check-in is at the reception of our hotel, where we can also check out of our room immediately. At the dock lies the Pee Jay VI, the ship that will take us to the island. ...