Day 2 - To Milford Sound

Our second day began early so we could get down to Milford Sound to start our kayaking adventure. The early morning drive into Fiordland National Park was interesting, taking us through the 1.2 kilometer long Homer Tunnel. The tunnel is a testament to the perseverance of Kiwis, having been started in 1935 by five guys with pickaxes. They started from the far side which meant they had to carry all their equipment in. Two of the original five died in avalanches. The tunnel was completed in 1953. This picture out the window of the van shows a bus entering the tunnel. Traffic is limited to one direction at a time.

We descended into the deep shadows of the steep mountains of Fiordland as the peaks blazed in the morning sun high above us. This image only begins to capture the sensation, and gives you an idea what those poor guys had to tunnel through.

When we arrived at sea level we were greeted in the parking lot by a Kea. Keas are actually large, alpine parrots that roost above the tree line, but the climate is cool enough at Milford Sound that the tree line is not far away, and Keas can't resist tourists if they are nearby. Keas are known for their inquisitiveness and intelligence, but they can be a real pain, too, because they like to get into everything and pick it apart. This guy was drinking the dew off the roof of a car. A few minutes later we saw him dragging a stolen bag of bread around the parking lot and ripping it apart.