Milford to Queen Charlotte

Departing Milford late in the afternoon, it was roughly a 470 mule run up the Tasman Sea along the west coast of the South Island, around Farewell Spit, across Tasman Bay down the Cook Straight and then down Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton.

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This route passed some truly spectacular scenery – the Southern Alps and Mount Cook, the Fox Glacier area, Farewell Spit. Unfortunately, we passed most of the best of it at night – so no photos. Equally unfortunate is that there were no safe harbors for us from the time we left Milford until we made the turn at Farewell Spit. At that point, Nelson and Picton were our choices.

So now for now for the good news – the terrible Tasman put on a rare display of its kinder gentler side – with some spectacular sunsets thrown in.

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This fellow stopped by but got a reprieve as they are not particularly good to eat.

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One of our great disappointments was the fishing. The waters off the South Island used to teem with Yellow Fin Tuna. Not any more. Joe said that the population has been decimated by commercial fishing. Truly a shame.

Finally, as we neared the entrance to Queen Charlotte, some shots of the lighthouse on Stephens Island.

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And one more milestone as this completed our circumnavigation of the South Island – a journey not soon forgotten.

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