It’s Saturday so that can only mean one thing……. Parkrun, but this time an actual official one in Te Anau called Lake2Lake (only 1 of 3 Parkrun titles with a number in – need to check out the other 2). So the alarm went off around 7.00 we got dressed in our running stuff and drove to the start. Weather a cool 9 degrees, but the sun was coming up and no signs of any clouds. It’s a very small Parkrun so only 31 people, more than half being tourists and unbelievably there were 6 of us from Essex. We finished 7th (Dave) and amazingly 15th (our highest finish placings ever) and we were both 1st in our age groups! The course was on an undulating trail along side of Lake Te Anua, so what did we do at the end?  Got changed into our swimming gear and had a dip in lieu of our shower! Bit colder than yesterday but so refreshing.  

Having dried off and had some cereal, we grabbed some pies from the local pie shop and we were on our way by 9.30 which was good as we heard the coaches set off at 10.00 and we wanted to try and stay in front of them. We were all heading for Milford Sound.

I had planned an ambitious 10 stops on route and we had a deadline of 3.30 when we needed to check in for the overnight cruise.  

1) Eglinton Valley – the flat valley floor, lovely setting to eat our yummy pies!

2) Mirror Lakes – self explanatory, breathtaking

3) Lake Gunn view point – picturesque 

4) Lake Gunn North view point – even better, don’t think anyone knew about this stop!

5) Pops Lookout  –  outstanding view of the mountains and valley

6) Lake Marian track -you’ve got to love a good swing bridge (and this one really was swingy) and waterfalls. 

7) Christie Falls –  roadside waterfall

8) Alpine view point – fabulous view of the mountains you just can’t appreciate nor comprehend their scale.

9) Gertrude Valley –  only place we couldn’t actually park. View back over the valley we had driven through. 

10) Homer Tunnel – 1200m long, one way through granite rock, dug mainly by hand

11) Hundred Falls –  not sure about this one, perhaps it needs to be raining! 

12) Chasm Viewing Bridge  –  well the bridges got swept away in 2020 and haven’t been replaced yet, but a lovely little walk

Yep, I added a couple extra ones in on route.

At the final stop we decided to have a sarnie and set the chairs up and had lunch in the baking sun (quite rare for Milford Sound which has over 200 days of rain a year!)

We finally arrived at the start of Milford Sound and found the free parking. We grabbed our packed rucksacks, told Mabel to behave herself and set off on the mile walk to the cruise terminal. With almost perfect timing we arrived at 3.15. 

By 4 we were onboard and on our way.  Stunning scenery with the sun blazing. After about 45 mins of sailing up the sound we anchored at Harrison Cove and decided to have a kayak tour around it, there was 16 of us in total, the remainder of the passengers took the tenders out.  

Whilst kayaking we happened to see a Fiordland crested penguin, which is the only penguin to live in a forest and is a rare sight in NZ. As well as seeing a glacier, rain forest and Fiord all in one view. 

With everyone back on board we were allowed to swim and of course who can resist having a swim in a freezing cold fiord, yours truly.

After a quick shower, canapes were served followed by a buffet dinner and then a wildlife presentation.

After a few drinks we ventured out on deck to do some stargazing.  Obviously no light pollution so the stars and Milky Way were breathtaking.

Wow – what a day.

Tital distance 123 kms (76 miles)