van wyk journeys
Inside our villa 
View outside our villa 
The little plane that could 
Inside the little plane that could 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Inside the little plane that could 
Alpine lake 
Areial views 
High mountain glacier 
High mountain glacier 
Aerial views 
Milford Sound airport 
Aerial views 
Milford Sound inlet from the Tasman Sea 
Beautiful blue water 
Our boat for the 2 hour journey, not like the last 3 hour journey Gilligan 
Milford Sound looking back to port 
Milford Sound looking forward to the inlet 
Interesting rock formations 
Interesting rock formation 
Interesting rock formations 
Interesting rock formations 
Rainbow waterfall 
Rainbow waterfall 
Waterfall 
Vastness 
Joan and her many “friends” 
Milford Sound 
Cool waterfall 
The menace, “a selfie stick” 
Performing seal 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Aerial views of a coastal tramp 
Aerial views of Queenstown 
Aerial views of Queenstown 
Aerial views of Queenstown 
Oh look Joan, it’s a Countdown, should we stop for groceries? 
Arriving on a little plane that could 
Amazing waterfall 
The full view outside our window of Frankton Inlet 
Amazing waterfall 
Okay, this is maybe 1/4 of the buses that left Queenstown at 6 a.m., or did I forget to mention that, driving = 6 a.m. or flying =10 a.m. 
Pilot’s headgear 
Leaving on a jet plane, not quite 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Aerial views 
Not my car 
Still not my car
WARNING MANY PHOTOS IN THIS EPISODE (could have been worse as there were 400+)
Tuesday, +15, mixed cloud and sun
Wednesday, +18, mixed cloud and sun
On Tuesday, we had a short drive from Glenorchy to Queenstown. On the way, we stopped and did our last grocery shopping. We were able to check-in early at our hotel. It ended up being a very nice spot and we had some downtime before our last couple of days. We parked the car and hope we don’t have to drive it until we go to the airport on Friday.
On Wednesday, we went to Milford Sound home of the 8th wonder of the world. The untouched beauty of nature at its best. Or New Zealand’s famous sand flies take your pick. Sorry, no photos of the pests the sand flies but plenty of Milford Sound and the flight there and back. We had several choices for getting to Milford Sound, driving ourselves, a tour bus or flying. In the end, we chose flying which ended up being the best decision. Everything we read did not recommend driving as the road is winding but also busy with tour buses. We considered taking a tour bus but it was 5 hours each way, while by air it was only 45 minutes each way plus we were able to see much more from the air.
The tour company we ended up choosing was excellent. We were picked up by taxi from our hotel at 9:20 a.m. and in the air at 10:00 a.m. The cruise of the sound occupied about 2 hours and was without a doubt an amazing place. It certainly thrilled most passengers as the most dangerous part was when people rushed to the forward viewing point (where I was camped out) and they essentially pushed their way forward until they had the rail. They only gave up that place when they got cold and had to go below.
The real menace was the dudes with the “selfie sticks” if you were not careful they would poke you in the eye or even worse ruin your own photos.
The real treat for me was an opportunity to sit in the co-pilot seat on the flight back from Milford Sound. Besides giving one a different perspective it also gave me a chance to see how a pilot flies the plane. It is something of an interest of mine.