The Classic

Milford and Routeburn tracks (part two)

The image above shows a very small tree fern:

The leaves of ferns are called fronds and when they are young they are tightly coiled into a tight spiral. This shape, called a ‘koru’ in Māori, is a popular motif in many New Zealand designs.

The Milford track ends at ‘ Sandfly Point’. Sandflies are nasty flies and their bites itch for days.

From Sandfly point we got transferred by boat to the Milford Sound, which is a drowned glacial valley open to the sea surrounded by the most spectacular mountains. It is part of the NZ Fiordland National Park.

On our final night we celebrated the end of our walk in another nice lodge, followed by a cruise on the Milford sound the next morning. As it had rained all night the waterfalls were amazing,

The seals were out

and the scenery was spectacular

A bus transferred us to Te Anau for 24 hours rest before we started the Routeburn track. I had a much needed massage in Te Anau and we enjoyed dinner with Kevin and Tony, two doctors from Brisbane and Megan from the US who is Sophie’s age. She put on a very brave face considering we were all at least double her age! All five of us and a Polish couple Maggie and Alex from Chicago were doing the Routeburn track as well.