Queenstown & Milford Sound, New Zealand

After disembarking our ship in Auckland, we flew to Queenstown on New Zealand’s stunning South Island—a breathtaking resort town nestled between snow-capped peaks and the sparkling waters of Lake Wakatipu. The flight in was eventful as our jet had to abort landing in Queenstown due to strong tail winds. As we circled waiting for another approach, we ran low on fuel and were diverted to Dunedin to gas up. Our next attempt was successful and only a bit over 2 hours delayed. With its vibrant restaurants and a cosmopolitan buzz from travelers around the globe, Queenstown charmed us instantly.

But the true highlight awaited us: a journey to the legendary Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. The 4½-hour drive was a scenic dream—winding through misty rainforests, mirror-like lakes, and dramatic alpine landscapes. Once there, we boarded a boat and glided through the Sound’s serene waters, flanked by sheer cliffs and cascading waterfalls. But nothing could have prepared us for the grand finale: a flight over the region that revealed Milford Sound in all its vast, untamed glory. From above, the fiords looked otherworldly—and no wonder, as some scenes from The Lord of the Rings were filmed in this very terrain.

It was nature’s grandeur at its most cinematic—an unforgettable chapter in our New Zealand adventure.Read more