Milford Sound

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound

We're on our way to Milford Sound and stop for an early lunch at Te Annu next to the largest lake on the South island. It begins to rain as we enter into Eglington valley with the peaks hidden in the clouds. We make a brief stop at Mirror Lakes, which are left over after the river shifted its course. As we go further the water being to flow in places like Falls Creek and a beautiful carved canyon, the Chasm. We're beginning to see more and more water falls in the nearby cliffs and after we go through the 1.2 km. tunnel carved out in the 1930's, they're everywhere, a precursor of the sound. We begin our 2 hour cruise through the sound. There is Mitre peak, the most famous landmark of Milford sound hidden in the clouds. As we cruise the sound, there are waterfalls everywhere, only two of which are permanent - Lady Bowen Falls (161 m) and Sterling Falls (155 m). The rest of the waterfalls only appear when it rains, and they fall from great heights. The sun shines more and more as we make our way to the Tasman sea. The sound, actually a fjord, isn't actually very long. But it is easy to see why this is a World Heritage Site. On our return, they get us soaked going under Sterling Falls.

Unfortunately, our return bus trip is tragic. Margarete has an asthma attack and can't breathe. We stop the bus. Peggy Connor begins to help her. Another bus stops and 2 other nurses begin to help. A helicopter pilot stops by in his car, we're in an area with no phone communication, but he has a radio and asks for an ambulance. The nurses begin CPR. At first Margarete begins to breathe again, but a few minutes later, they're giving CPR again. About 75 minutes later a medical helicopter manages to land on our narrow road and an ambulance arrives. But it's to no avail, she has died on the side of the road.