#fiordland

20161001 - Fiordland:Snow-capped mountains, drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound.

New Zealand is so beautiful

Routeburn en route to Falls Hut

Routeburn Great Walk, New Zealand

Routeburn River

Routeburn Great Walk, New Zealand

Stream through the forest along the road to Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Stream through the forest heading to Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Tree fern in a Fiordland forest.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Stream along a forest walk on the way back to Te Anau from Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

A last look at Milford Sound and one of its iconic waterfalls.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Mitre Peak and Milford Sound on a very rainy day.  Still beautiful.

Seriously though, if I had to choose between Doubtful and Milford Sounds, I prefer Doubtful.  Much more peaceful, and the overnight cruise was better than the Milford day cruise.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

The classic Mitre Peak view of Milford Sound.  I didn’t get too much of a view thanks to the rain, but it was still pretty epic.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Tiny kayakers against massive valley walls at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Kayakers in Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Misty valley at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Jumping dolphin at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Dolphin jumping with a wave at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Dolphins and waterfalls at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Dolphins swimming along the steep valley walls of Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Waterfalls and dolphins…the best parts of Milford Sound!

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Blurry dolphins chasing the boat at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Dolphins chasing the boat through the rain.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Another permanent waterfall at Milford Sound.

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Seriously, this is one of my better photographs of the dolphin pod.  They don’t exactly stay still like landscapes…

Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

The best part of my Milford Sound cruise?  This pod of dolphins that followed us for a good 15 minutes.  Unfortunately, I am not a very good dolphin photographer. :/