Update from Milford Sound

Yesterday we adjusted our clock ahead an hour. This was the final time zone adjustment for this trip – until we return to Sydney. We’ve now been traveling for over two full weeks. As we’ve been constantly moving around Australia, the time has gone by quickly since our January 1 start. One noticeable difference during the trip is the length of the day. Typical sunrise is around 6:30am and sunset is around 9:45pm.

We’ve been starting our “at sea” days with breakfast in the main dining room (MDR). The MDR offers a great selection of fresh fruit – many of which are unavailable at the general breakfast buffet. Examples include papaya, sliced bananas and sliced orange segments. The general buffet fruit selection is often limited to watermelon and honeydew and cantaloupe melons. The MDR offers a variety of pastries and hot/cold menu items – eggs, French toast, pancakes, quiche, yogurt – in a formal restaurant setting.

For an early 11:30am “at-sea” lunch, the meal alternatives include the general buffet, MDR and often a special pool-side buffet. We’ve been enjoying the pool buffet and participated in a Mexican foods buffet one day and an Italian buffet the next day. With the addition of some fresh fruit from the general buffet, our lunches have been more than necessary.

For dinner we’ve been returning to the main dining room. The pace of the meals is more relaxed in the MDR compared to the general buffet and the MDR food preparation of the four course menu, is often markedly better. The MDR also permits us to chat with the folks at the next door tables, sharing observations about the day activities we’ve enjoyed – or not.

As with most cruises, in-between meal snacking opportunities are widely available and play to our weaknesses. While we’re not particularly hungry, it’s hard to pass by the ice cream counter, cookie and fruit plates and pizza counter without being tempted. Luckily, there is a gym on board and we’ve been good at scheduling afternoon workouts. In addition, the port stops generally include four hours of walking.

After two days of crossing the Tasman Sea, our ship will enter Milford Sound, part of Fiordland National Park, to start our day of viewing three fiords within the park. The Tasman Sea transit was relatively calm, though we understand that moderate waves and wind are typical for this crossing and can result in somewhat of a wild passage.  

The last time we toured Fiordland National Park was in 1997. The weather at that time was rainy and the low clouds made it difficult to see the cliffs, plant and animal life and waterfalls. Today the ship will be entering Milford Sound (7-9am), Thompson Sound (12Noon to 1pm) and Dusky Sound (2:30-4pm) for viewing. There are 14 fiords and hundreds of lakes within Fiordland National Park, the largest National Park in New Zealand. The native Maori were well familiar with the area as a seasonal food gathering location and Captain Cook mapped Dusky Sound in 1773. 

Milford Sound Photos
©2013, R. Ono

©2013, R. Ono

©2013, R. Ono

©2013, R. Ono

©2013, R. Ono

©2013, R. Ono

Thompson Sound Photos
©2013, R. Ono

©2013, R. Ono