Thursday - Kea, walkwire and snow

We set off this morning with the objective of doing three walks of various lengths on our way to Milford Sound.

First walk was on the Earl Mountain Track, through boggy undergrowth and moss covered trees. The plan was only to walk the very first section until we got to the walkwire.

The walkwire is a bridge with three wires, one for each hand and one for the feet. It was quite exhilarating walking across, especially as it had not stopped raining all morning.

The second track was going to be the first section of the Gertrude Trail, but as we sat in the parking eating our lunch before setting off, we decided it was just too wet; the rain had now become stair rod rain!

 

As we drove higher and higher the visibility got worse, and the temperature dropped. Occasionally we could see enough to know we were driving through a spectacular pass between high mountains.

We saw our first kea in one of the parking spots. I think he was trying to entice Mick to give him some food! A coach party also stopped, and soon our van and the kea were surrounded by a group of happy photographers.

 

The top of the pass, just before the entrance to the Homer Tunnel, was under a layer of snow that had fallen in the night, and was still falling. Not a sight we expected on this trip!

Two more keas were hanging around the parking and sitting on cars. Seeing a green parrot in the snow seemed surreal. They are quite large birds, with a lovely flash of colour from the underside of their wings.

Emerging on the other side of the tunnel we found more snow and even less visibility. We pulled into the Milford Sound Lodge and paid for a powered spot for the night, then drove into the main town for a look around. The main town doesn't really exist! There's a cafe/bar and another lodge, and a terminal for the boats, and that is it. Further out is a small airstrip, and there are a few huts clustered behind some trees. We went into the cafe and had hot chocolate (and chips and carrot cake), then went back to our campsite, where we took full advantage of the residents lounge, sitting on comfy chairs reading, listening to other folk talking and playing the piano, and then having a drink and a bite to eat, all in a warm and dry environment.

At about 7.30 we realised the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. We walked back into the 'town', and marvelled at the mountains which had magically appeared. At one side was a huge waterfall, though smaller waterfalls covered all the mountain sides.

We stood there and watched the sun get lower, then headed back to our camp site and bed. Tomorrow we go kayaking!

 

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