Wednesday, January 27th. At not very good night, as we could expect it. We get up all the same at 9:30 am, still quite tired. As every morning, the car is filled with vapor, not easy to drive. Too bad, we have all the same to return in town to be made the stalk of necessary toilet before beginning the day. In town, we also fill up drinking water, and we leave for Milford Sound. It is a round trip, there is only a single road which leads over there. It is lost what! Only, it is very known because it is great attractive; thus we go there! The departure of Te Anau is magnificent with the lake and the mountains behind. Instead of going directly to Milford Sound, we make a bend by the small village of Manapouri, where from we have a beautiful view. As everywhere in fact! Having picnicked, we leave then for our final destination.

As every time, there are places to be seen along the road, and we stop among others on "mirror lakes". They carry this name because they reflect the mountains which are just in background. The place is very attractive and the water always so clear, transparent, but the wind makes folds on the water what prevents us from seeing well the reflections. We take back then quietly the road. We approach little by little mountains and snowy summits. It is beautiful. We stop one or two times to take photos. Arrived at the top of a mountain pass, there is a parking close to some snow. Waouh, some snow!!!! That made so for a long time! We rush to see it, that pleases! It is a beautiful snow, as all to those whom we can see above. To take back the road, it is necessary to pass by a tunnel. We go back up by car and we take place in the entrance of the tunnel. There is a light which has just passed in the red, and it becomes green every quarter of an hour. We have the time … We go out again from the car, and we see closer a bird who had drawn our attention. It is Kea, a kind of brown parrot who lives in the mountains of NZ. Magnificent! Then we go back up in the car and we pass in the tunnel.

Then, there is not more than to go down the mountain before arriving at Milford Sound. Along the road, we try to see if there would be no place where we can sleep, but all the parking lots which we cross are forbidden to camp there. We wonder then if it is a good idea to take the risk, because that seems very strict there. Finally, we are going to inquire in the first youth hostel which we see, how much their room costs. It is too expensive for us, on the other hand the places of campsite for cars are twice less expensive. Then we decide to make that, and in this way we can benefit from all the services of the inn, among which the kitchen and especially the showers!!! Before settling down, we go up to the end of the road to see what that looks like this Milford Sound of which one spoken. It is true that it is beautiful: mountains which fall to pike in the sea. We return then to the inn where we spend a quiet evening between shower, computer, film and meal. Then it is the hour to go to bed! Not easy to stand out outside and to settle down in the car with the cold which it makes …