Milford Sound: A South Island Must-See

We learned early on that we can't see everything we want. It's best to see the things you like and be grateful for all of your experiences, and don't worry about trying to see everything that you read about online. However, this is perhaps the only exception I will make. Milford Sound is a must-see. If you are ever in New Zealand, it is worth it.

There are only four permanent waterfalls in Milford Sound, but it rains almost every day, including the day we went, revealing literally thousands of waterfalls. No, not figuratively, literally thousands of them.

Our boat even went right under one of the bigger falls! As far as wildlife, we saw seals and a few penguins, but many animals stay out of sight during stormy weather (which is all the time).

We took a cruise through Southern Discoveries, one of several operators out of Milford Sound. We really appreciated this since a bus came and picked us up in Te Anu. The drive up is doable, but it was pouring rain and some of the roads in New Zealand can be difficult to manage. I'm glad we got a bus to take us for this one. The staff were all knowledgeable and friendly, and I would gladly recommend them to anyone. We are very glad we took a cruise here also. Normally we try to avoid touristy things like this, and we thought about trying to rent some kayaks instead, but ultimately we agreed that a cruise was the best option. A few reasons include - you get to see more of the fjord, you'll be better able to take photos, and you would be miserable in a kayak in all that rain.

This is one of the few times I've been disappointed with my Marmot PreCip rain jacket and Hannah's Patagonia Torrentshell rain jacket didn't hold up any better. Both jackets were completely soaked through. I would recommend getting a rain poncho for cheap to throw over whatever gear you've got on this trip, and be sure to wear rain pants if you have them. Seriously, all of our stuff was soaked for days after this adventure. Still, it stands out in both of our minds as one of the best things either of us will ever experience.