Sarah WallockFor the past year, I had wanted to visit Milford Sound. Finally, after Covid-19 lockdown ended, I entered a giveaway for a free cruise with Jucy Cruise.
The cruise was going out the first weekend of out of lockdown from Covid-19. I couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy myself after being indoors for so many days. I didn’t win the free cruise, but my housemate was one of the winners, so props to her! Although, Jucy didn’t leave me empty-handed.
For everyone who entered their giveaway, they offered a coupon for their cruise at a discounted rate of only $50, rather than the regular $100 – heck yes! The next weekend, Nick, Nicole and I headed south for our much-anticipated Milford adventure. The first weekend out of lockdown, I headed to the Routeburn though, for a remarkable walk.
The entire weekend cost less than $100. Our cruise tickets were $50, a hostel dorm bed at YHA Te Anau was $30. We split the costs of groceries and fuel. It was pretty incredible to be able to visit the “Eighth Wonder of the World” for such a small cost. And it was equally unique during such a quiet time where international tourism has halted.
As for the cruise, tickets are usually $100 pp. YHA, the Youth Hostelling Association, has been quite reliable throughout our stay in New Zealand. We especially enjoy the kitchen aspect of their hostels. That way we can grab groceries last minute and save money on food.
Milford Sound is at the top of the must-do list for many. It lies in the southwest corner of the South Island in Fiordland National Park. Milford’s landscape is stunning and dramatic with rainforests, cliffs, and unspoiled nature. It is only accessible by driving 2.5 hours from Te Anau or flying over and stopping at the teeny airport. The giant fiords block the sun from reaching the surface of the ocean. Milford Sound is the only place in the world where deep sea ecosystems exist at a surface level. In rain, waterfalls line the green and lush fiords and there’s a dark glow throughout area. While in sun, the captivating views and the extra bit of warmth are an added bonus.
Saturday – Visiting Milford Sound
Saturday morning, we were up and going from Queenstown by 8:30am to get to our 1:15pm meeting time in Milford. The drive takes 4.5 hours, but one should give themselves 5 hours for roadworks and windy roads. Because of the inversion, when the clouds form a layer close to the ground virtually blocking everything in sight, our drive didn’t have any views. Apparently, the drive is incredible, but ours was navigating a bubble of fog for 4 hours.
In Te Anau, we stopped for a coffee then got back on the road. Around 30 minutes out from Milford, we could see the lakes and the ocean. We arrived at 12:30pm with loads of time to spare. We walked around the small path and packed our bag for the boat.
Being surrounded by a large group of people was so strange when the restrictions for Covid-19 were lifted. Easily hundreds of people were boarding boats to explore the fiords. We hopped on our Jucy Cruise and meandered throughout the indoor and outdoor decks. The guide was knowledge and the cruise was really incredible. We saw a seal and a few waterfalls, but I was mostly enjoying the sunshine and wind in my hair.
We did a loop of Milford Sound. Boat after boat completing the same pattern. I can only imagine how busy it gets during the peak of summer. For the grand finale, we approached the largest of the waterfalls in Milford. Everyone rushed to the front bow of the boat to get soaked by the falls. We stayed on the back bow, for an equally good view and a less crowded vantage point.
We headed to the car to drive to Te Anau, like everyone else who was at Milford. The afternoon drive was pretty mellow. The 4-hour morning drive was manageable, and if needed, we could have driven back to Queenstown the same day. We stopped to watch the sunset on the Milford Track Barge. This moment was so special, it may have been one of my favorite moments traveling in New Zealand so far. The views of sunrise and sunset are so unobstructed here, the pink skies are bright and stunning.
At YHA, we whipped up some dinner, walked down the street to the pub for a drink, and met other travelers. All in all it was a successful day. Having a warm bed to sleep in at the end of the night was such a luxury. I wouldn’t have wanted to camp as the temperatures were low and it’s so windy by the ocean and lakes. After driving 7 hours total and having a drink at the pub, we sleep soundly.
Sunday – Returning to Queenstown from Te Anau
When we woke up on Sunday, we cooked breakfast, grabbed a coffee and headed off. There was slight inversion in the morning, but it burned off by the time we were out of Te Anau. We got back to Queenstown midday and felt like we truly made the most of the weekend.
I’ve been dreaming of returning to Milford this winter, as it’ll be less crowded and there will be no international tourists. Maybe this time, in a helicopter…
