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With lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife, Milford Sound is New Zealand’s premier beauty spot. Cruises milford sound are the best way to experience the stunning scenery at a relaxed pace. Tours can offer small groups an insight to the area, which are run by locals who really know and care about their homeland. Milford Sound is known as a ‘paradise on Earth’ due to its lush green scenery and towering cliffs. Granite cliffs sheer out of the ocean, plunging below the waves to depths as low as 450m; rare plants and animals carve out a precarious existence atop the unfriendly rocks; and stunning sunsets turn the whole scene rose-pink. Milford, on New Zealand’s South Island, is named after its range of beautiful fiords (also spelled fjords), which are deep saltwater inlets that run inland from the sea. Milford Sound is the most accessible of these fiords; although ‘accessible’ is a relative term, in this case meaning it is the only fiord with a paved road access. The fiord runs 16km inland, meaning that cruises milford sound will take a leisurely hour and a half to run from the headland to the open sea. Though popular with tourists, the area is far from bustling. The enormous size of the fiord means that it is possible to spend a day there without seeing more than a handful of fellow travelers. The only sizable town in the area is Te Anau, which is a two and a half hour drive inland. The massive scale of Milford Sound, combined with its remoteness, makes it a tricky place to visit independently. There is no public transport to the fiord, and with sixteen majestic kilometers to explore, it is hard for travelers to know where to begin. There are local tour operators who can show you all the hidden treasures of Milford Sound, which larger operators might miss. The guides all live nearby, so they know the landscape in and out. With a tour size of 15 people maximum, visitors are treated as welcome guests instead of being herded on and off buses like cattle. Leisurely stops and comfortable transport ensure the best possible experience. There are a variety of options for travel: by boat, bus, or both. The most popular option is any of the all-day tours, where you will be picked up in a comfortable coach from your accommodation in Te Anau; travel the famous Milford Road winding up the hill to the fiord; and then take a long, relaxed cruise along Milford Sound with commentary from a knowledgeable guide. After taking in a few more local attractions, such as the Marian Falls waterfall and the historical museum Gunn’s Fort, you will be dropped back to your hotel in time for dinner. If you prefer a more active day out, guided half-day or full-day hikes take in the most spectacular views across the fiord, with options to arrange more or less taxing excursions depending on your own fitness level.
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