Touring Milford Sound by Cruise Ship 23 March 2025
Milford Sound, or Piopiotahi (its name in Maori), sits on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island and was first called the Eighth Wonder of the World by none other than Rudyard Kipling, who had seen some pretty wonderful places. As you sail up the 15-kilometer-long (nine-mile-long) sound, with soaring snow-topped peaks looming above—the tallest reaches an altitude of 1,517 meters (4,977 feet)—you'll understand Kipling's enthusiasm.
Although it is called a sound, it is technically a fjord—a narrow inlet created by glacial erosion over thousands of years. While its geological history is long, its human history is not. It is believed that the Maori first explored the sound, and the rest of the area that is now part of Fiordland National Park, around 1,000 years ago; Captain Cook followed in 1770. But neither Maori nor Europeans created permanent settlements of any significance, and the land was pristine when Fiordland National Park, New Zealand's largest national park, was established in 1952. While many walking trails cross the park, the most breathtaking views are arguably those from the water, with the sheer rock faces looming above your ship as you sail through this majestic landscape.
While underway 24 March 2025…between New Zealand and Tasmania
While making the long trek from New Zealand to Tasmania we saw the largest seabird, by wingspan, the wandering albatross, which has the largest wingspan of any living bird, reaching up to 3.5 meters (11.5 feet). These massive birds can fly for hours without rest due to their enormous wingspan and unique soaring techniques, circumnavigating the Southern Ocean multiple times. We were a day by sea to land…think about that.
