Views of the Queenstown Area and Milford Sound, New Zealand from Our 2001 Trip

Updated 14 October 2019

waterfall in milford sound new zealand



We visited New Zealand in 2001, and were blown away by the beauty of the land, as well as the friendliness of the people.

After arriving by air in Auckland, our hosts suggested a side trip to the South Island. We signed up for a tour and were happy that we did. The tour provided hotels and all travel connections. We were on our own for sightseeing and entertainment.

As part of the tour, were were taken to Queenstown, a very scenic area of South Island. The lake is very pretty, and the area is surrounded by high mountains. The skiing season was about to start, so the streets of Queenstown were full of skiers, waiting for the right amount of snow on the slopes.

Queenstown appeals to an international crowd, so there were some remarkable restaurants there. We managed to get Dim Sum, our favorite kind of Chinese food. We found a sushi place that offered 14 pieces for NZ$8. At that time, our meal was about US$3 (really). We finally had one big blow-out dinner, many courses, lots of wine, dessert: all the things we avoid when travelling, due to price gouging. We figured we would 'pay the price' when we got home to the U. S. Well a month later our charge card was dinged for US$20!!

The tour company picked us up from the hotel for a bus and boat trip of Milford Sound. The bus trip was wonderful, but the boat trip was a mess. The 'Red Line' boat and people were very hostile to us, since we had a 'tour' ticket, rather than a direct reservation with them. Then, it rained and rained, and blew and blew, which bothered us at first. However, this 'bad' weather created some amazing waterfalls, all along the Sound. So, in spite of poor treatment by the boat company, we saw some sights that most tourists don't get to see: huge waterfalls tumbling into the Sound from the cliffs above.

NOTE that these photographs are Copyright©2001-2019 Robert and Sandra Swanson. I greatly appreciate people viewing the photos, but not stealing them. If someone is interested from a commercial point of view, please contact me.

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Tasman Sea coastline near Jacobs River -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Tasman Sea coastline near Jacobs River]


[Tasman Sea (Can you say: California Highway 1, or the Road to Hana?)]

Tasman Sea (Can you say: California Highway 1, or the Road to Hana?) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Our lunch stop (kidney pie anyone?) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Our lunch stop (kidney pie anyone?)]


['Photo op' at  Thunder Creek Falls]

'Photo op' at Thunder Creek Falls -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Thunder Creek Falls -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Thunder Creek Falls]


[Another 'photo op' (and a one-lane bridge)]

Another 'photo op' (and a one-lane bridge) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Gates of Haast -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Gates of Haast]


[We seem to have picked up a hitchiker...]

We seem to have picked up a hitchiker... -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu]


[Steamboat on Lake Wakatipu]

Steamboat on Lake Wakatipu -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Queenstown Tram -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Queenstown Tram]


[Queenstown from the top of the tramway (raining like crazy)]

Queenstown from the top of the tramway (raining like crazy) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Sunrise on the Remarkable Mountains outside Queenstown -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Sunrise on the Remarkable Mountains outside Queenstown]


[What's that white stuff?]

What's that white stuff? -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Bus stops for a stretch break and a... -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Bus stops for a stretch break and  a...]


[...snowball fight, near Homer Tunnel (driver is explaining snow, and snowballs,  to some young folks from India)]

...snowball fight, near Homer Tunnel (driver is explaining snow, and snowballs, to some young folks from India) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Approaching the Homer Tunnel (about 3,000 meters altitude) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Approaching the Homer Tunnel (about 3,000 meters altitude)]


[The Red Boat... (they did not treat us well, do not use!!!)]

The Red Boat... (they did not treat us well, do not use!!!) -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Milford Sound -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Milford Sound]


[Milford Sound]

Milford Sound -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Milford Sound: rainbow and waterfalls -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Milford Sound: rainbow and waterfalls]


[Milford Sound: Wind blowing waterfall]

Milford Sound: Wind blowing waterfall -- Queenstown and Milford Sound

Milford Sound -- Queenstown and Milford Sound


[Milford Sound</b>]