Over the last couple of days temperatures in the Fiordland and Southern Lakes region have dropped, bringing unseasonable fresh snow! Check out these photos of Mitre Peak covered in fresh snow. The road to Milford Sound is currently OPEN, but please take care and ensure you carry chains.
A few photos from the last few days in Milford Sound, which has seen some unseasonable snowfall and more fantastic wildlife!
One of our boats with a snowy Mitre Peak in the background. Yes, we’ve had snow in November! In the mountains you never know what the weather might surprise you with!
Penguins! These little guys are some of our favourites to spot on the shores of Milford Sound.
The iconic Mitre Peak with a dusting of fresh snow… in November!
Wekas! In NZ you might spot these little guys walking around… because they are flightless birds!
Hello Mr Weka!
Quite happy to pose for a photo!
A couple of days ago the Volendam cruise ship sailed into Milford Sound to visit. Milford Sound sees around 80 cruise ships visiting over the summer season. At 237m with 10 passenger decks the Volendam can easily accommodate 1400 passengers. Wow, that’s a lot more than our little boats! Clocking in at just under 61,000 gross tons she’s a pretty big ship, not quite up to the 115,000 gross tons of the Diamond Princess that we are expecting later in the season though. To compare, our Mitre Peak boats are around 20 gross tons.
One of our skippers Caleb spotted a Southern Right Whale at Milford Sound just the other day. He’s only ever seen 2 in 10 years, so they are very rare to see indeed. Here’s the photo he snapped!
We love to see your wildlife photos from Milford Sound too, so please share them along with your experiences over on our Facebook page!
Corey Wallyn and his wife joined us on a scenic flight and cruise package last year, and recently shared with us the wonderful video they made of their experience. Thanks Corey, we like your video very much!
Milford Sound is home to some very exciting and rare wildlife. It’s always interesting watching the seasons change, and observing the habits of some rather curious and often rare creatures!
Last week saw some rare Fiordland Crested Penguins, also known as Tawaki arrive to nest. These penguins are some of the rarest in the world and were spotted at Penguin Cove at Milford Sound. It is likely that they will stay there until November, when their chicks will be ready to head out to sea.
Our small uncrowded boats offer you an unparalleled opportunity to get up close to the incredible wildlife which habitats this beautiful and unique part of Fiordland. For your chance to see these rare penguins, amongst the other wildlife which call Milford Sound home, join us for a cruise.
Each winter avalanche debris blocks the road and entrance to the Homer Tunnel, on the way to Milford Sound. Last week the snow was 5m deep around the tunnel! This is why during the winter months access by road to Milford Sound is occasionally closed. When it’s clear however, it means you get to view some really spectacular mountain scenery in New Zealand’s stunning Fiordland region. Remember, if the road is closed – it’s possible to fly from Te Anau or Queenstown to Milford Sound on a scenic fixed wing flight or by helicopter. Check out our flight and cruise package options and contact our friendly team if you have any questions.
The East portal of the Homer Tunnel BEFORE the avalanche.
The East portal of the Homer Tunnel AFTER the avalanche.
Last week saw some huge snow storms hit New Zealand’s south island. Winter was rather slow to arrive, until BANG…. meters and meters of fresh snow everywhere! Check out some of the photos of the snow clearing which took place around the Homer Tunnel on the road to Milford Sound.
Even with this much snow, we are still open for business and winter is an incredible time of year to visit Milford Sound. It’s an even more magical place when the mountains are covered in snow! During winter we have 3 cruises operating daily, 9:55am, 12:20pm and 2:45pm – for more information and to book, check out our Cruises & Pricing page.
Don’t forget to add your own photos and tell us about your trip on the Mitre Peak Cruises Facebook page. You can also rate us and read independent travel reviews on TripAdvisor.
Check out all the fresh snow at the entrance to the Homer tunnel, on the way to Milford Sound. Winter is here and it’s a fantastic time of year to visit us. A little less crowded and very magical with all the snow!
Milford Sound is home to an incredible range of wildlife, from native New Zealand birds to seals and dolphins, regularly spotted on our cruises. Remember, our small boats take you up close! A big thanks to our Skipper Caleb for these fantastic photos.
We recently spotted a beautiful Orca Whale in Milford Sound.
White Heron with Mitre Peak in the background just the other day! These birds breed at Okarito on the West Coast and feature on New Zealand’s $2 coin.
