Once disembarking from our wonderful Doubtful Sound experience, we decided to head back up towards Milford to explore the region a little further. We phoned ahead and booked for two days into the rustic accommodation available at Knobs Flat, about half way between Te Anau and Milford Sound itself. Quaint, heated units with their own kitchens are a comfortable place to stay. By basing ourselves here, you save yourself considerable driving time coming back and forward from Te Anau itself. PC, the manager, is quick to assist with local information and to point you in the right direction for walks and places of interest to visit. The weather was fine on our arrival although, it didn´t take long for the clouds to appear and the rain to start. This being a mountainous region, it was to be expected. Fiordland is the forth wettest place on the planet, receiving between 6 and 8 metres of rain a year (20-26ft). During this time, waterfalls flow with force down rocky faced mountainsides and the sound of surging water echos off their steep faces. It really is an amazing thing to see.

We have explored several areas over the last couple of days, the rocky, raging stream flowing from Lake Marian, the ascent to Key Summit (just short of 1000m – 3280f)through native rainforest and the nature walk to Lake Gunn. From the top of Key Summit, the view of the three glacier formed valleys was impossible for us to see because of the amount of cloud, but it was worth the climb to the top all the same. Leaving the shelter of the forest and heading towards the exposed, shrub covered top was a little bracing especially as we were walking into rain filled clouds The forest areas here are an amazing sight once you start walking through them. Thick, cushion like moss lines their floors, spreading up trunks of beech trees, along their branches dangling like long flowing hair. This thick moss and in parts lichen, covers everything in the forest. In vivid shades of green, it makes everything appear to be encased in thick green sponge. Water drips relentlessly off overhanging branches and from the tree canopy above. It makes you wonder if the place ever feel dry. Ground squidges underfoot as you walk and you notice a multitude of different coloured and shaped toadstools and mushrooms spouting out of not only the forest floor but also up the damp bark of surrounding beech trees. Damp, cool and, at times dark, these forests are unique. They almost look like something from a  fairytale, set up ready for a movie.

Rivers that run through Fiordland are crystal clear, smooth stones clearly visible along their bottom. Cascading over larger rocks and falling into transparent pools, the water has a real blue tinged colour to it. Mountains are huge, rugged and, at times, snow or glacier capped. Clouds move quickly giving glimpses of their exposed summits as they pass. The beauty of Fiordland is really impossible to describe in a blog post. The damp forest smells, the sound of huge waterfalls, the crisp air where you can see your breath, the spectacular scenery and fabulous, diverse discoveries once exploring deep into the rainforests, I don´t think that I could even begin to do it justice.

So as we arrive back in the evenings to our cosy heated lodge, we take our chairs outside and sit gazing up at the stars, undisturbed by street lights. What a vision, billions deep and sooo clear you can even see the Milky Way running across the sky above you, a first to see for both of us! Like a cloudy highway amongst its other glittering neighbours. Silence, stars and completely perfect nature……..I think we have both been blown away by Fiordland, even though we have only skimmed the surface exploring it considering the immense size of this National Park……….completely gob smacked to say the least