Day 5

6th April 2010

We passed the night in Milford Sound Lodge - the only campervan site available there. It was fully booked - thankfully we have made a previous reservation.

Milford Sound Lodge_our accomodation

We had previously signed up for a Kayak expedition yesterday & it wasn't due until 1430 hours. After brekkie, we drove back out to explore some of the attractions we missed yesterday. First stop - The Chasm.

Fallingwater

Moulded rocks

gotta be really hardworking spider to live in the Chasm

There are suspended footbridges & disabled-friendly footpaths to access the area where you get to enjoy the waterfall and wonder at the marvel of air and water at play. Don't use your camera if your equipment is sensitive to moisture as the falling water creates a dense mist curtain around you & might wreck the equipment.

D's "artistic" shot

More artistic shot

We left the roaring waters and headed to an old bridge for some shots. Then head back to the Lodge to kill some time. We had 1 hour to spare so we hung out at the Lounge area and chatted to a German backpacker who had 4 hours to spare.

killing some time amongst pebbles

Finally at 1430 hours, a van painted in yellow & black rocked up at the parking lot and deposited a couple of people wearing strange leggings who came straight into the Lounge area and yelled out for "all those who are going with the Rosco's Kayak team" to "please gather round". We had a briefing, cracked some jokes, took some instructions, then we all hopped into the van to a deserted beach approx. 10 minutes away.

Transformation shed

Once we arrived, we were herded into a shed and handed stripped leggings + thermals and wooly jumpers. We were divided into two groups - males & females, and then had to strip & change into our new uniforms.

After that , we were handed these items which we wore in the following order - rubber spray-skirts, bright yellow PVC overalls & purple life-jackets. It is the first time I am wearing 6 items at once. Minus the cap & sunnies & bikini.

Full kayak regalia

More briefing before we hit the water at Deepwater Basin. We were divided into groups and there were the 6 of us under one guide - a Brit named...Vin (i think). Although I did some sea kayaking like decades ago, it was a struggle for the both of us to get very far, initially. We had to paddle really hard & fast to catch up with our older counterparts. For our first checkpoint, Vin brought us to a tiny enclosure accesible only during high-tide.

Vin pointing out some rare woodpecker which we didnt snap

The enclosure & one of our group mates

Vin was yakking on & on about the diverse wildlife was I was really jumpy & could not wait to get going. I don't like the peace / quiet / the tiny enclosure. I just want to get out there into the ocean. The real Sound! My kayak was going to start to tremble soon, until Vin finally tore himself away from the "wonderful birch trees, bla bla bla" and led us along into the wider, wilder waters.

into the open

We were probably the youngest group here and also were the most eager, energetic and not to mention inexperienced. The other 2 teams were taking it slow & easy but they just cruised along, while we had to spitter & spatter just to get somewhere.

the amazing view

In my haste to stay within our group, I had almost forgotten to look up at the amazing views, as I was actually Looking at my paddle dipping in and out of the water. It was very therapeutic & hypnotizing, my paddle was.

Vin admiring his workstation

Vin must have known how hypnotizing kayaking is, so he stopped & launched himself into yet another ode to nature. And that's the thing we love about Vin. Although he got a bit carried away at Deepwater Basin, his enthusiasm and utmost respect + awareness for this surroundings made us appreciate Milford Sound all the more.

Imagine working here, day after day

Bowen Falls

Vin pointed to that waterfall falling furiously, not so far away and told us that we could paddle there. How exciting!

Up, close & personal

We did get pretty close, about a few hundred metres away from the roaring falls and it was exhilirating to be so close to the waterfall and literally inches away from the rainbow it formed. We did not take much photos as the water was splatering all over us.

snoozing seal

After paying homage to the waterfall, we paddled on & Vin's sharp eyes discovered something shining & snoozing, basking itself in the evening light. It was a male adolescent NZ fur seal.

Faraway snow-capped peaks

The day is fading fast and it was an utterly humbling experience to observe the day's swan song in the vast Sound. Colours change dramatically and the nearby peaks are silhoutted by the sun's dying rays.

setting sun in the valleys

In the blink of an eye, Twilight is upon us. One minute we were bathed in golden glorius sunlight, the next, we were ensconced in semi-darkness. By now, we were quite exhausted and I was dying to empty my bladder.
We had to go through a patch of rough seas & high winds and we witnessed tree erosions on the way back. We were informed that the granite mountains around us is submerged another further 200m below sea level and I really do not want to know about how deep the mountains go because it is a very unsettling thought.

shadow & light

All in all, Milford Sound was absolutely gorgeous, & we got to know later, that we were extremely lucky to catch that sunny weather because with an annual rainfall of almost 7m high (almost 200 days a year, it's raining there), Milford Sound is considered to be one of the wettest area on Earth.

Vin told us of expeditions in the rain or kayaking miles away from a mini cyclone. Milford Sound is more often than not shrouded in a mysterious mist, drizzling incessantly, but whatever weather you get, the Sound is sure to astound its visitors and guarantee a memorable time within its sanctuary.