We eventually got to the beautiful Milford Sound last week, which didn't disappoint.
We went with our friends Ryan and Amy and stayed in the main town for Milford Sound visitors, Te Anau, which is still 2 hours out of Milford.
We had a booked a kayaking trip which meant for an early start as we had to be in Milford for 8am! It was definitely a struggle getting up to frost in -2 degrees.. Didn't feel much like summer.
However, by the time we set off on the kayaks the weather was perfect. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the water was as still as glass. It was so peaceful paddling in the crystal waters.
We were lucky enough to get up nice and close to the waterfall that provides all the electricity and drinking water in Milford! This was incredible, however we were more blown away when we had Fiordland crested penguins swimming right next to our kayak.. The second rarest penguins in the world and only 30cm in height! So cute but also so noisy.
We couldn't have stopped in a better place for lunch, on a little bay with a perfect view of Mitre peak.
The wind picked up dramatically whilst we ate lunch so the next bit of paddling was much more intense. It was well worth it though once we joined our kayaks together and put up a sail to be taken back to the shore by the wind.
On the way back to Te Anau, we happened to pull in to a beautiful little river just for a toilet break. The sun was beaming so we had a little drink break whilst sunbathing on the grass :)
An amazing day was ended with fish and chips on the lakefront and an evening swim in Te Anau lake!