Milford Sound

2015-03-11

Wednesday, we took a cruise on Milford Sound for our departure day activity.  We
learned on the cruise that the sound is mis-named and should be called Milford
Fiord.  Sounds are river carved valleys and fiords are glacier carved.  Milford
is glacier carved and evidence of several glaciations can clearly be seen in the
geology.  Unlike the day before, the weather was a absolutely perfect.  Our
cruise guide told us the weather is rarely clear, so we felt fortunate for such
a nice day.

A beautiful day dawns in Milford

Looking across the harbor

That's my boat

A waterfall drains into the sound

The boys watch the wake

My lovely family

The Pacific Ocean and the end of Milford Sound

Heading back into the sound

Glaciers can slice through rock

Laura and a waterfall

On the way back to port the boat dropped us off at the Milford Sound discovery
center.  The center is a floating research and interpretation facility on the
sound.  It is constructed with a central cylinder that descends 15 meters or so
below the surface with viewports to see the sub-surface sights.

The kids get a great lesson

Milford Discovery Center

After the cruise, we set out for our next destination, Invercargill.

Plains of the Southlands

Evening tea, Queens park, Invercargill