Archive for the ‘New Zealand’ Category

posted by admin on May 25

Mildford Sound: Milford Sound is located in Fiordland National Park at South Island, New Zealand. It is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand. This popular place receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Fiorland is a magnificent place in New Zealand. It is located southwest of South Island. Fiordland is the largest national park in the country. This region is now a World Heritage Park, being recognised as a great ecological area. Milford Sound is regarded as the most remarkable part of Firodland. At Milford Sound, there are spectacular sights on landscapes, cliffs, mountains and waterfalls. Visitors can also see fur seals, dolphins and penguins here. The most famous landmark is Mitre Peak, a pyramid shaped mountain with a height of about 1,692m. Other remarkable features are Lion Mountain, the Elephant and Copper Point. Striking Milford Sound waterfalls such as the Bowen Falls and the Stirling Falls are captivating sights here.

Concerning Milford Sound weather, downpour of rain is common here. However, the rain creates stunning waterfalls and a misty scene that makes the atmosphere here more mystical and captivating. The huge mountains are softened by the mist which instils a sense of great calmness in the air. The whole ambience feels awesome.

An Underwater Observatory, located in one of the bays of Milford Sound, enables visitors to see black coral, red coral, anemones, starfish and other fishes that live in the fiord. Visitors can peek below the top layer of water to view beautiful sea creatures and corals that are living under water.

Some visitors come to Milford Sound via the Milford Track while others take a bus ride to the cruise wharf. The Milford Track spans about 5.3km from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound over the Mackinnon Pass. It takes about three to four days to reach Milford Sound using this track. A drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau will pass Cascade Creek, Upper Hollyford Valley and Homer Tunnel. During peak periods, the visitor centre tends to be crowded with people. Usually, there are more visitors during the day than at the end of the day.

Going for one of the Milford Sound cruises is a must activity here. It is one good way to explore the place. A day cruise usually lasts about one to two hours. All the cruises depart from the wharf visitor centre. There are also scenic flights available here for tourists to view the place.

Milford Sound is indeed a remarkable natural wonder. The marvellous sights of huge mountains, such as Mitre Peak, rising from the surface of the sea and stunning waterfalls tumbling from great heights to the sea waters are truly breathtaking. For those who are keen to visit places with great scenic beauty, Milford Sound would be a good one to explore. It is certainly a ‘must see’ for those travelling to New Zealand!  Milford Sound New Zealand :)

posted by admin on May 20

The Bay of Islands: The Bay of Islands is one of the best attractions in New Zealand. It consists of 144 offshore islands and an irregular coastline. All the islands are within 50km of the coast. The largest island is about 22 hectares. Many of these islands are uninhabited, while the rest are privately-owned or are reserves.

The Bay of Islands is a favourite recreation spot for many locals as well as tourists due to its favourable climate, great beaches, silent coves and aquamarine waters. Many visitors come here for deep-sea fishing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, cruising, water-skiing, jetboating and diving. This place is usually most crowded during summer in New Zealand.

A good way to explore the Bay of Islands is to go for a sailing trip. In this way, you can slowly view the surroundings of this beautiful place. Besides, during the sailing trip, you can include activities such as swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or fishing. There are dolphin swimming trips available here. For these trips, you can have opportunity of cruising around the islands as well as watch and swim with the dolphins. If you are keen in sea kayaking, you can choose to join a guided tour or go for it yourself by renting a kayak. Besides kayaking, visitors can enjoy the fun and excitement of jet boating.  There are other interesting activities for tourists such as scenic flights, paragliding and horse-trekking. As this place is famous for its coastal scenery, going for a scenic flight would enable tourists to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Paihai is a popular town in the Bay of Islands. This small town has a great number of visitors, especially during summer. Previously a mission post, this place has become a bustling modern town with plenty of activities to offer. There are many shopping areas, restaurants and cafeterias. All types of accommodations are also available here. Paihai is a base for deep-sea game fishing. Its popular wharf offers cruises and fishing trips around the bay. There are many historical places here and they are indicated by plaques placed along the seafront.

Some attractions are located near Paihai. Waitangi National Reserve is located within walking distance from Paihai. The Lily Pond Park, located at the north of Paihai, is a great destination for family outing. This park gives its visitors the opportunity to interact with many kinds of farm animals. The animals in the park include goats, sheep, eels, alpaca and emus. Another attraction, the Haruru Falls, is located about 3km from Paihai.

Russell is a beautiful historic town in the Bay of Islands. It is a quiet town with many historic buildings and a wonderful waterfront. Another town, Kerikeri, is popular for its orchards and outdoor cafes.

The Bay of Islands is indeed one the most beautiful and historic regions in New Zealand.  If you are looking for a place for recreational activities, like camping, boating, fishing or simply relaxing, you can consider visiting this place. The Bay of Islands.

posted by admin on May 1

Milford Sound Weather : Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in New Zealand. It has a mean annual rainfall of about 6,813 mm on 182 days a year. The high rainfall creates numerous waterfalls, cascading down from great heights to the surface of the sea. Some smaller waterfalls were drifted away by the wind as they fall from the heights. Due to the wet climate, tree avalanches into the sound also occur as some parts of the rain forests lose their grip on the sheer cliff surfaces.

The wet weather conditions at Fiordland give the region its unique character. Huge amounts of rainfall make Fiordland a place full of lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls and fiords. At spring and winter months, the steep mountain ranges sometimes cause avalanche conditions on the Milford Road. The rainfall varies significantly from areas immediately at the coastline to mountain passes. This means that while Milford Sound may experience above average rainfall, Te Anau’s rainfall can fall below average. 

At Milford Sound, the climate is cool temperature. The coldest months are May to August where frosts produce ice on the valley floors. The warmest months are November to February where temperatures can rise above 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit). Average high temperatures range from 67F in February, to 48F in July. Average low temperatures range from 51F in January and February, to 34F during the month of July.

Regardless of the Milford Sound Weather,  it is worth a visit at any time of the year. Although there may be rain, the wonderful scenery created such as the amazing waterfalls, glistening surface of the sea and the misty scene of the fiord will not fail to keep you fascinated. Milford Sound Weather.

Climate data for Milford Sound
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 18.9
(66)
19.5
(67)
18
(64)
15.6
(60)
12.3
(54)
9.5
(49)
9.1
(48)
11.2
(52)
13.1
(56)
14.4
(58)
16
(61)
17.6
(64)
14.6
(58)
Average low °C (°F) 10.4
(51)
10.4
(51)
8.9
(48)
6.8
(44)
4.2
(40)
1.9
(35)
1.3
(34)
2.2
(36)
3.9
(39)
5.8
(42)
7.4
(45)
9.3
(49)
6.1
(43)
Precipitation mm (inches) 717
(28.23)
499
(19.65)
640
(25.2)
585
(23.03)
641
(25.24)
440
(17.32)
418
(16.46)
427
(16.81)
523
(20.59)
688
(27.09)
522
(20.55)
648
(25.51)
6,749
(265.71)
Source: NIWA Climate Data[10] 1971 – 2000