MILFORD SOUND CRUISE
Milford Sound (Piopiotahi)
Be immersed in the moody majesty of the Fiord as sheer rock faces emerge from the Sound and tower hundreds of metres over yourMilford Sound boat vessel. Marvel at the power and splendour of Stirling and Bowen Falls and take in the arresting beauty of Mitre Peak that rises above you. Your cruise will travel down the south side of the Fiord, out to the Tasman Sea and return up the north side, stopping off at all points of interest along the way. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery with a full commentary on the natural history of the Sound. It is a deep, icy blue waterway flowing into theTasman Sea and is part of the majestic Fiordland National Park. Wet or fine the magic of Milford Sound will enthral you. Annually, Milford Sound receives between 5 to 9 metres of rain and you will see waterfalls thunder down the sheer cliffs of the Fiord. Carved over time by glaciers the deepest part of the Fiord is 400 metres.
Cruise Highlights
1. Mitre Peak Lodge - This was the original accommodation of Donald Sutherland who arrived in the area in 1877. The Government bought the property in 1922 and built a hotel 6 years later. After a large fire in 1952 the hotel was closed and reopened again in 1954 after extensive rebuilding. The lodge is now used solely as part of the Milford Track Guided Walk and is not available for any other accommodation.
2. Freshwater Basin - Milford Wharf Visitor Centre. Your Milford Sound Cruise departs from The Milford Wharf Visitor Centre, which is situated in the Freshwater Basin. This small harbour contains more fresh water than salt water so the harbour was named accordingly. The water’s brown colouring is the result of tannin washed down from the trees surrounding the Fiord.
3. Bowen Falls -The higher of the two permanent waterfalls in Milford Sound, Bowen Falls drops 161 metres from a hanging valley in the Darren Range. They are more correctly known as the ‘Lady Bowen Falls’, named after the wife of one of New Zealand's early governors.
4. Cemetery Point - So named because the mounds formed by debris from the Bowen Falls, resemble graves. There are in fact three actual graves here that date back to the very early days of the whalers and sealers.
5. Sinbad Gully - An excellent
example of a hanging valley, Sinbad Gully is enclosed by the steep slopes of Mt
Phillips rising 1,445 metres on its left, Mitre Peak on its right and the
Llawrenny Peaks in the background.
6. Mitre Peak - At a height of 1,682
metres, Mitre Peak is one of the highest mountains in the world to rise directly
from the ocean floor. It got its name because its shape resembles that of a
Bishop's mitre, or headdress.
7. Lion Mountain - Situated across to the right rising to a height of 1,301 metres. The mountain's correct name is Mt Kimberly, but because its shape so strongly resembles that of a crouching lion, this more descriptive name has been retained.
9. Copper Point - So named because of
the very high deposits of copper situated throughout this point. It is one of
the narrowest sections of the Fiord and wind gusts have been recorded here in
excess of 75 knots.
11. Anita Bay - Many years ago the Maori People frequently visited Anita Bay for its tangiwai. Tangiwai, more commonly known as greenstone is a precious stone that was carved for both weapons and ornamental wear.
13. Dale Point - Denotes the entrance to Milford Sound which is approximately 548 metres wide and 79 metres deep, compared to the rest of the fiord which is has depths up to 300 metres. Your Milford Sound Red Boat cruise takes you right out past this point into the Tasman Sea.
14. Seal Rock - Is one of the few areas in the fiord where the Southern Fur Seal is able to climb up out of the water onto the rocks. These seals inhabit the fiord all year round.
16. Harrison Cove - The only natural anchorage in the Fiord used during the early 1800s by whalers and sealers. The Milford Deep Underwater Observatory is located here.
17. Mount Pembroke - Is one of the highest mountains in the fiord at 2014 metres and is permanently snow-capped. The glacier on Mount Pembroke is the remnant of a glacier which carved its way through the Fiord, and measures up to a depth of some 27 metres. Several streams from the melting snow run down this mountain forming the Harrison River.
20. Deepwater Basin - This glacial carved hole was flooded at the end of the ice ages and has water depths of up to 50 metres. Deepwater Basin is home to a number of commercial fishing vessels which operate out of Milford Sound. These vessels fish the exposed southern coastline beyond the entrance to Milford Sound. Their normal catch is lobster. ( Note: Only the 12.25 Scenic Cruise stops at Deepwater Basin.)
21. Sandfly Point - This spot marks
the termination of the Milford Track, a 54 kilometre (33.5 mile) 3-day walk from
Te Anau over the Mackinnon Pass to Milford Sound. Trampers are picked up here daily by one of our vessels and ferried
back to the Mitre Peak Lodge. The track operates from November through to the
end of March.
