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Homer Tunnel

Milford Sound–Part 2

March 17, 2021 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

We were excited to go through the Homer Tunnel. Around eight years ago, we read a book titled Below the Mountains, about digging this tunnel, and have wanted to see it ever since. It is about 1.2 km long, and was blasted out of solid rock. It goes down at a 1 in 10 gradient. It is only one lane wide, so there are lights at each end. At times, people have to wait up to 20 minutes to go through. We only had to wait about a minute and a half—just long enough to get out, stretch, say hello to the kea who was keeping an eye on the traffic, and jump back in.

The mountains surrounding the south side of the tunnel are incredible! As far as we could see through the mist and rain, there was roughly a horseshoe of cliffs going straight up, with waterfalls coming down here and there.

224-IMG_7395225a-IMG_5013225c-IMG_5016

This kea was hopping around beside the road, looking for handouts—we didn’t give him anything!225-IMG_7396226a-IMG_5026226a-IMG_7397226b-IMG_5022226c-IMG_5025227-IMG_7398228-IMG_7399

Into the tunnel!229a-IMG_5029

And out the other end.229b-IMG_5031

On the north end, toward Milford Sound, the road goes down sharply in a series of switchbacks. The tunnel is at around 900 meters above sea level, and it takes only 15 minutes to get to the sound! That is a fast descent.229c-IMG_5036229d-IMG_5037

We have arrived at the Sound!229-IMG_7400

The sheer cliffs are incredible.230b-IMG_5041A duck on top of a campervan.

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Some of the cruise ships tied up at the dock.230d-IMG_5046230e-IMG_5048230f-IMG_5050230-IMG_7401231-IMG_7402

Mr. Sweetie under a tree.232-IMG_7403

Sometimes we got to see Mitre Peak, the famous mountain out in the fjord.233-IMG_7404

That large white splash in the center is a huge waterfall.235-IMG_7406236a-IMG_5051

Gayle and James figuring out where to go next.236c-IMG_5054

We walked out on a strip of land that goes a ways out into the sound.236d-IMG_5059236e-IMG_5061236-IMG_7407

We got a good view of the spectacular waterfall from out there.237-IMG_7409238-IMG_7411239-IMG_7413

Elijah, Mr. Sweetie, Simon, Mr. Diligence.241a-IMG_5069

Me with Miss Joy, Gayle, Mr. Imagination, Little Miss241b-IMG_5070241c-IMG_5071

An oystercatcher241e-IMG_5078241f-IMG_5079

Paradise Ducks241-IMG_7416243-IMG_7419

The mist about half way up the right side of the picture is from the waterfall.244a-IMG_5080

Mr. Imagination found this crab.244-IMG_7421

Baby Paradise Ducks245-IMG_7422

We climbed to an overlook above the township, and were rewarded with this view.

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I was fascinated with the plants growing out of the cliff.

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The next post will show what we experienced on our way back to Te Anau. So much spectacular scenery! It about overloaded me.

Filed Under: Away From Home Tagged With: Holiday Trip, Homer Tunnel, Milford Sound

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