Location: Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound is one of those natural attractions that lives up to the hype with a fiord that is surrounded by towering mountain peaks covered with lush forest and cascading waterfalls and is home to countless wildlife.
Its remote location thanks to steep cliffs and dense forest make it an untouched natural attraction that seeks to only add to its beauty.
According to Maori legend, the fiord was formed when Tu-te-raki-whanoa (a godly figure) chanted a prayer and carved the narrow valley out of the earth.
Previously only accessible by foot and boat, visitors can now travel to see Milford Sea via road, boat and on incredible scenic flights from Queenstown.
The park is part of Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage site and should be a must-do on any New Zealand South Island itinerary.
Among some of the notable sights that visitors can see here are the Mitre Peak that stalls tall at 1,692 metres above sea level plus get close to Lady Bowen and Stirling cascading waterfalls.
Given the thick forest that balance precariously on the sheer cliff faces, a huge number of native New Zealand birds can be found here including Takahe, Kakapo and the alpine parrot, Kea.
Milford Sound is one of those natural attractions that lives up to the hype with a fiord that is surrounded by towering mountain peaks covered with lush forest, cascading waterfalls and countless wildlife best enjoyed on a scenic cruise.
Passengers who join a peaceful cruise along the Milford Sound will be delighted to see Little Blue Penguins and the rare and endangered Fiordland Crested Penguin that can only be spotted here or at Stewart Island.
Bottlenose Dolphins and New Zealand fur seals are often sighted playing and darting in and out of the waters so keep your cameras at the ready.
Tours depart daily all year round to Milford Sound from Queenstown via coach to deliver you to the cruise departure point.
And the journey to reach the Fiord is an experience in itself with unbelievable views of the Fiordland National Park with plenty stops along the way for ‘instagrammable’ moments.
Real Journeys take the hassle out of getting to the launch point with a relaxing and scenic journey on their glass-roofed coaches so that you don’t miss out on any of views of the striking mountainous terrain.
Once you arrive, step aboard the cruise for a breathtaking cruise that will take you so close to the cascading waterfalls that you may even catch some of the mist on your face on the outdoor decks of the boat.
See the rainforest, rock walls and wildlife up close and listen to the fascinating stories of the history of the region before returning back to Queenstown.
The glorious photographs speak for themselves. This is one destination that you do not want to miss.