Queenstown is a beautiful little city in the mountains in South Central New Zealand. It is also where most people stay when visiting the sounds: Doubtful and Milford.
Like getting to other cities, I drove to Queenstown in the rain. Not pouring, but steady. The drive from Franz Josef to Queenstown requires getting over a mountain range. There a lots of little walks and hikes you can stop for along the drive. Lovely views and waterfalls are all around.
My first night in Queenstown the snow level dropped almost to street level. This made the city look beautiful and me excited for the trip to Doubtful Sound.
I took an overnight trip to Doubtful Sound with an amazing company called Real Journeys. I would recommend them to anyone traveling in Southern New Zealand.
Before we got to the boat for the trip on the Sound, we were treated to a fabulous view of Doubtful Sound from the hills above.
We boarded a nice boat and checked in to our cabins. To save money, we stayed in the dorms down below. Penguin was ecstatic since we were right at water level.
The boat trip was amazing. Not just the scenery, but the boat, the crew and everything.
After an afternoon seeing beautiful sights from the big boat, many of us got into kayaks for an unforgetable up-close experience with Doubtful Sound.
Penguin was most unhappy that he couldn’t go kayaking (they didn’t have a life vest to fit him). So he got up to mischief on the big boat.
On day two of the mini-cruise, we were treated to a beautiful sunrise.
And later, we saw Penguins!!!! The Fjordland Crested Penguin. It only lives in this part of New Zealand. So very exciting!!!!
When we got off the boat we met a Kea. The Kea is the only alpine parrot in the world. They are social, inquisitive, and according to some Kiwis, a bit cheeky.
After my two days in Doubtful Sound, I spent one day on a trip to Milford Sound. Milford is the more famous of the two sounds and is spectacular, but it’s not better. Both are wonderful.
I traveled to Milford Sound by small plane and returned by helicopter. The visit to the sound itself was on a boat.
I loved traveling on the small plane. It was quiet and stunning. I got to sit in the co-pilot seat!
The plane at the airfield
After the plane, we got on a boat and toured the Sound.
The helicopter ride back from the cruise was incredible. We stopped again at the top of a mountain for photos in the snow.
(click on the above to see a really cool video)
My trip to the Sounds has been brief but amazing. Queenstown is a beautiful city and demands more time than I have been able to give it.
My next stop is Dunedin – on the east coast of NZ. One reason for my stop here is more penguins. Cross your fingers that I get to see more of these wonderful creatures.
Love to all y’all!