One of the Greatest Roads in the World, up to Milford Sound

[Wazza]

As I said in my Mitre Peak post, the road leading up to this Sound, is regarded as one of the greatest Alpine roads in the World. I've done it twice now. Back in January 1996 (when I was just 12 years old - without a camera), and just last month, carrying the 20D. You can literally stop anywhere along this 90km road, and see beauty all around. Grass plains, tussock grass, Beech forests, and a mountains surrounding everything. I just LOVE it. Anyway, here's just a handful of the shots I did whilst on this drive.

Just past Te Anau, we have lush green grass, and sheep grazing (sorry, I couldn't be bothered stopping at this point :p)
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/298.jpg

Further down the road...
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/288.jpg

And why not another road shot...
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/357.jpg

From a lookout
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/294.jpg

From a bridge
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/309.jpg

A Mountain Kea (repost, but fits in with the location)
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/259.jpg

Just up the road, from the Kea, entering the Homer Tunnel, about 700metres altitude.. Tunnel is 1km long
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/306.jpg

After a couple of hairpin turns, after exiting Homer's Tunnel, which is cut directly through a large mountain
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/308.jpg

One of the waterfalls, next to a one lane bridge
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/292.jpg

Finally, arriving in Milford Sound. This is a view South from the carpark by the wharfs for the tour boats... (Looking West from here, and you'll see the majestic Mitre Peak, as seen in other thread)
http://wazz*****scity.com/si/320.jpg

These are just some of the sights along the alpine road..
Do you need anymore convincing this is one the of the best stretches of road around?
:)

[joeseph]

Do you need anymore convincing this is one the of the stretches of road around?
:)

Nope! fabulous photo's....
did you get out on the water too?

[sparker1]

Absolutely beautiful scenery, Wazza. I remember the tunnel well. Our bus met another in the middle. The drivers decided our bus would back out. The driver handled it very well, possibly not the first time for him.

[Desertraptor]

Fantastic shots Wazza. i see the can opener bird again :)

[RockOne]

Yep. You've convinced me too. And you're making me wish I was there.
Amazed that you got a shot from the middle of the road without getting flattened by a tourbus. I must sort through some of my NZ pics soon, see if there is any worth posting. I like the snow on the hills too. Never been there when there is that much snow around, only on the very tops of a few peaks. Must get back there in winter.

[marie]

they are way out beautiful Wazza

[marie]

Amazed that you got a shot from the middle of the road without getting flattened by a tourbus
:mrgreen:

I thought something the same thing



wazza ):

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100543/104697/RoadKill1739.jpg

[kenyc]

Incredible and incredibly beautiful shots Wazza!

Marie!
KAC

[jgjulio]

Wow wow wow. Beautiful. There is a trip I would love to take.

[pashooter]

Those are absolutely stunning - thanks for sharing them. I'd love to make it down to your neck of the woods some day.

BTW - I assume the "out the car window" shots were taken out the back window... either that or somebody was driving on the wrong side of the road :D

[Wazza]

Thanks everyone. Well all the shots were mine, and from the driver's seat, and from the left side of the road. It's how we are in New Zealand. All backwards. Oh wait, it's just a few countries, such as USA, which are all wrong. :D

So when is everyone else joining me on travelling this road. Actually, I really wouldn't mind walking the tracks, such as the Kepler, Routeburn, and the Milford Track (53km long).

Nice pic too Marie. I made a small website several years ago on geocities, sharing funny pics, and that one was there.

The time I was travelling was good. Typically as most boats are 9:30 and 12 o'clock, most will be on the roads about 8am till a bit later. These were shot in the early afternoon. And the following day when I left, I was going against the traffic. I literally passed no one in 1 hours driving, but there were 50 coaches coming the other way.

[marie]

Nice pic too Marie. I made a small website several years ago on geocities, sharing funny pics, and that one was there.


:lol:
thanks Wazza

I think Tom W owns that 'rat':confused::lol:

:cry:

[Wazza]

More like the rat was OWNED. :rolleyes:

Hehe, was it shot by him you mean?

Back then, when I was a teenager, I would have never understood the copyright issues, but now fully do. I think this one deserves a world release, as well as the other funny ones. :D

[marie]

More like the rat was OWNED. :rolleyes:

Hehe, was it shot by him you mean?

Back then, when I was a teenager, I would have never understood the copyright issues, but now fully do. I think this one deserves a world release, as well as the other funny ones. :D

it must have a world release or Tom W wouldn't have dared put it on a post :shock:



:confused:


it's more or less ( mostly less ):lol: a road safety sign

in other words no one cares if we get killed
they'll just draw the lines over us anyway

:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[Wazza]

I think you've crossed the line on that one Marie. :lol:

Don't apply too much makeup paint.

[cmM]

nice shots, great scenery !!!

[ecobo]

Beautiful scenes! I like the bird very much too! ;-)

[Wazza]

Thanks for the bold comments. :)

[scotttnz]

Nice shots as usual Wazza. I would love to spend some more time in the south island. I am determined that sometime I am going to do a road trip around the SI on the way to Warbirds over Wanaka. Maybe next year......

[bachscuttler]

Superb quality shots and interesting commentary.
A joy to view ;)

[Maureen Souza]

Wazza, those are beautiful scenery photos, wow!

[andydajo]

What a beautiful place to travel, great shots.

[pianoman]

Totally incredible shots, my friend. Thank you very much for sharing your world with us! Please keep posting them (this way it makes the rest of us envious that we could shot the same scenes too!)

Thanks for sharing!

[marie]

I think you've crossed the line on that one Marie. :lol:

Don't apply too much makeup paint.
:lol::lol::lol:
never

dead or alive
:lol:

[Wazza]

Thanks so much all!

And your humour just keeps on coming Marie. How lucky we all are, to be able to read your witty comments. :D

[MDJAK]

Nice shots. I didn't know the scenery along the FDR drive on the east side of Manhattan had so much to see. I gotta concentrate more. ;)

me

[skulpt]

Very nice work there. :)

[82NoMe]

Outstanding Road Trip...

[jgrussell]

Beautiful shots. Yeah, they're four years old, but y'know, I'll bet the scenery hasn't changed a bit...

[Wazza]

Wow, blast from the past.

I've spent much of this time away from my own country, but looking at heading back in a few months. Would absolutely love to revisit these locations, shooting with better skills, experience, and hopefully with someone this time. Was a much needed solitary trip, but great fun nonetheless.

Nice shots. I didn't know the scenery along the FDR drive on the east side of Manhattan had so much to see. I gotta concentrate more. ;)

me

Cheers Mark :)

Outstanding Road Trip...

Absolutely :D

Beautiful shots. Yeah, they're four years old, but y'know, I'll bet the scenery hasn't changed a bit...

Thanks, possibly become more beautiful to myself. Homesick.

[mikekelley]

I did that drive in late 2007.

Absolutely spectacular, and not a day goes by where I don't think about New Zealand in some form or another.