The splendor of the Fiordland National Park has to be seen to be believed! The day dawned blue and rainbows, but by the time I got picked up from my B & B, it was raining. I was told that in the fiords it rains every third day! And that the views are more spectacular because the waterfalls race do wn the granite, bauxite and aluminum mountains. And of course, the locals were right!
First, we took a chartered coach to Manapori, where we boarded a boat to go across the western arm of the lake. Then we boarded another coach to take us over the pass to Doubtful Sound. There is so much rain here that the sides of the cliffs have hanging moss everywhere, the rocks, the trees and the tree tops. It took 8 years to build the pass road. An amazing feat of engineering! WE finally got on the ship to take us through the sound and it was breathtaking, even in the pouring rain. We rode for 3 hours and were actually able to get quite close to the waterfalls (of which there were many thundering down the cliffs) as the water has no gradual deepening, just sharp dropoffs to about 600' or more.
AT one point the boat Captain actually shut off the motors and asked us to be quiet so we could hear the silence, punctuated by the sound of rushing water. It was amazing!
When we returned, we toured the Manapouri Hydroelectric Station. Another fantastic engineering nmarvel. Tunneling through underground and then putting turbines, generators, etc. There is no nuclear power in New Zealand.
Alas, the trip was over too soon. Met some people from all over the world. Great day!!!
All photos are on Doubtful Sound.
Love,
Kerry
As cool as this is, it would be awesome if your pictures were in sound. While reading your words, I can actually imagine being there. Thank you.
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