Stirling Falls, Milford Sound

Milford Sound in the South Island of New Zealand runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea at Dale Point - the mouth of the fiord - and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 1,517 metres (4,977 ft), said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, 1,302 metres (4,272 ft), in the shape of a crouching lion. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins, and dolphins frequent the waters and whales can be seen sometimes.

Milford Sound sports two permanent waterfalls all year round, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. After heavy rain however, many hundreds of temporary waterfalls can be seen running down the steep sided rock faces that line the fiord. They are fed by rain water drenched moss and will last a few days at most once the rain stops.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori) is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey (the 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards by TripAdvisor)^]and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World

Waterfall

The sight and sound of a waterfall is compelling and we sometimes walk for miles up a valley or mountain just to watch the beauty of the water falling over rocks to the pool below. This waterfall is located in Milford Sound in the south island of New Zealand and is special in that it plunges directly from the vertical sides of the fjord into the sea.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey, and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Rudyard Kipling had previously called it the eighth Wonder of the World.

To get to Milford Sound in the South Island of New Zealand requires a fairly long drive from Queenstown via Te Anau but is one of the most beautiful drives you will experience. Once you get to the end of the road at the upper reaches of the fjord there is nothing much there other than the spectacular view so many people simply make it a day trip and drive back. We decided to do an overnight cruise through the fjord on the Milford Mariner which again was a wonderful experience and highly recommended.