February 2016 - New Zealand - Milford Sound

We got up quite early to head out to Milford sound, as we had tickets on the first boat out in the morning. We wanted to get out on the sound before too many others! 

We had been a little nervous about the drive to Milford. The roads were reportedly narrow and slightly harrowing, especially when driving a big camper van. Mike navigated it like a pro, and we were just fine! 

We make a few brief stops along the way there, but left most of our stopping and exploring for the way back. The way there was breathtaking though. There was a mist blanketing the mountains and valleys, and it was just magical.

We made it to our boat without any trouble, and then just enjoyed a few hours of cruising along Milford Sound and taking in the incredible beauty of the Fiordland. 

Poor Lewis. We were nervous about him getting car sick on the way since it was early in the morning and very windy roads. We gave him children's dramamine. At first we didn't quite get why he was so ridiculously tired on the trip. Then it hit us. Ah...the medication. It says it's non-drowsy, but not in his case. Poor kid missed a lot of it, but not all! 

We felt so blessed and grateful for the weather and how that affected our experience. It rains at least 1 in every 3 days at Milford. We had a sparkling day. The contrast of the mist and clouds in the morning to the clear skies later in the day was gorgeous. We were so glad to have seen both!

We did a little seal watching. And there were lots of amazing waterfalls. The boat even stopped and filled up cups of water for everyone to try.

We got to stop at an environmental center on the sound along the way back. We learned there about deep sea life and got to view some of the black coral (the white one!). Milford is so rainy that there is normally a dark sediment covering the top of the water. That creates an environment in which you get deep sea creatures like those you normally only see at great depths.

It was simply gorgeous! Just a heavenly morning out in such beautiful creations. We felt so, so grateful for the beautiful weather and this incredible place. 

On the way back to Te Anau from Milford, we kept a more relaxed pace and did lots of stops to take pictures, do a little walking and hiking, see waterfalls, and enjoy. 

Mike and I discovered a benefit of the camper van that made this vacation even more amazing to us. The boys loved coming for some of the walks, but they naturally were not up for seeing every look out or spot along the way. Plus, David was often enough asleep as we drove. So, we popped in a video for the boys, gave them instructions to open the van for no one and not to disturb David. And Mike and I got so many mini little dates taking 10-20 minutes to go for a little walk and enjoy the incredible scenery just the two of us! 

I can't even capture how lush the vegetation there is!

A Kea!
The birds here evolved to be flightless because they didn't have any natural predators.

This trip was just amazing!
Even all the time in the car was a pleasure with views like this everywhere!

This is certainly the only time we'll ever drive a Mercedes!

Here is the big one-way tunnel we passed through on the way to and from Milford.
It was amazing to be able to see how it was carved out of the rock!

 This was a lovely walk to some waterfalls we did as a family on the way back. Just so lush and fresh and almost untouched and beautiful.

Love how sweet Beau is with his baby. 

I just have to include this story. 

As we were leaving this trail, I really needed to pee. We were trying to use the camper bathroom as little as possible - like almost not at all. We didn't want to drive with a smelly van! Since we were back at the parking lot, there just wasn't really a private spot. Even if I had headed back to the trail, it had been quite a narrow one between the river and a hill, so there wouldn't really have been a spot. And there were mosquitoes galore there! So, I thought it was fine to just go right there in the parking lot next to the camper van. No one was around. 

Well, as I was squatting down, a car with some Asian tourists drove by...and they stopped and just stayed there staring and watching me! Come on! Drive on by! Or avert your eyes!

Nope. They just stayed right there until I had finished my business! Mike was in the front seat of the van just dying with laughter. It was so ridiculously awkward! 

Moving on to more beautiful stops! 

And, back to the lake at Te Anau!