Milford Sound and the Routeburn Track
Milford Sound
An inlet of the Tasman Sea, Milford Sound is a deep (about 1600') fjord about 2 miles wide. The peaks and cliffs are high and huge (up to 6000') and they drop straight down into the water.
I visited twice, once with Nat and once with my parents. Both times I was supremely luck to have sunshine both times. Each time I went on an overnight boat, highly recommended. You get to do your cruise with the late evening light, you get the stars in the sound and then the sunrise in the fjord.
The trip in to the sound is also spectacular, big open glacial valleys and steep-sided mountains

 

 
A parking lot kea
Then we went onto the Routeburn Track, a trip like the Milford Track that you need to sign up for early. You all start at one end and hike to the other, so you get to know your fellow hikers well. Nat and I befriended these two kiwis gals. They were fun hiking companions, the one of the right was a solicitor, a serious gal; the other Natalie, was her younger sister.
The trail starts in the forest and you hike up slow and steady through the woods
It passes some clean clear mountain streams
Then it comes out along the side of the mountain looking into a classic glacial valley
In New Zealand, people sleep in huts. A very civilized way to backpack. You bring your food and sleeping bag and they provide a stove/gas and a bunk. The distances between huts are usually much shorter than in the US too, less than 4-6 hours of trail time. So you get a lot of hanging out and taking in nature time. The first night we played the Oz-Kiwi version of Trivial Pursuit with some Kiwis. We held on our own on history but the Sports and Entertainment questions were a total loss.
Day 2 gets us into the alpine zone
 
 
Descending to hut 2
Hut 2 was near this green lake on the edge of the alpine zone
 

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