Flight from Queenstown over Milford Sound, NZ

Flight from Queenstown over Milford Sound and ride to Haast, NZ 

March 25, 2025

We arrived at Milford Air at 8:00 to find that it was too cloudy to fly.

We looked at the cool collection of airplanes.

Antony suggested that we walk down the street to get some coffee and pastry, to give the clouds a chance to dissipate.

Jay looks on as Antony points out exactly where he is taking us on the South Island.

We buckled up and....

and away we went over Queenstown.

You can see how misty/foggy it was at first. 

But it cleared up as we followed Lake Wakatipo West towards the Tasman Sea.

This curvy road is where we rode the motorcycle to Glenorchy. It is thrilling to see it from the air....

as well as the mountains ahead.

                                 WOW!

The glacier/ snow melted rivers.

   We were so thankful that the clouds had disappeared below

Looking down on Milford Sound.

Glaciers on top. New Zealand has over 3000 glaciers, most of which are on the South Island.

                   So many steep mountain tops

The headwaters of Milford Sound

An emerald lake in the high altitudes.

 

                   So many WOW moments!

                        So many peaks!

 Back to Queenstown and lots of green areas.

My handsome man

Our  motorcycle group of flyers today.

                What a GREAT adventure!

We were off again heading out of Queenstown towards the Tasman Sea. Two Wakatipu Club members, Gary Templeton  and Stacy Ditch, rode their motorcycles across the mountains with us to Cardrona.

So many curves....Larry and I enjoyed this road 

It was a bit foggy blocking the view.

       Jay taking off into the wild blue yonder.

ANOTHER NZ scenic view 

We stopped at another favorite spot...

Cardrona Hotel.

We ordered lunch and ate....

by the fireplace.

What a respite!

I enjoyed the art on display.

Established in 1863, the Cardrona Hotel is one of New Zealand’s oldest hotels, and is one of only two remaining buildings from the Cardrona Valley gold rush era. In it's hey-day Cardrona was a prosperous settlement and significant commercial hub for the area. 

During this period the hotel - one of four in the township - offered accommodation, livery services and an accommodation stop for itinerant travellers. The historic hotel facade is representative of this now vanished town and is an important part of New Zealand’s history.

Soon we were riding again towards Wanamaker.

What a scenic little town on Lake Wanaka.

            A final goodbye to our Wakatipo Club member who rode with us out of Queenstown.

Some more remarkable clouds.

We were off again heading to Haast.

A stop light.....an unusual sight for the hundreds of one lane bridges.

Most one bridges have courteous drivers who stop for each other.

Break time at .....

Lake Hawea

Plum gorgeous!

My Man....Mr. Adventurer

 Following the road along Lake Wanaka

Another WOW!

We took a break from riding and walked to Fantail Falls.

The ferns in NZ are quite healthy 

SURPRISE!

Larry and I had stopped here previously. During our first visit to New Zealand,

we really enjoyed the stacked rock art.

Sitting amongst the stacked rock art,

I became inspired to make one too.

We jumped on our motorcycles and followed Jay to Haast.

We stayed in Haast Beachfront Motel. 

The staff from The Hard Antler Restaurant came to the hotel to pick us up. 

How wonderful was that after a full day of riding.

There were plenty of antler beasts on display there.

             The rafters were full of antlers.

After a fine dinner we walked across the street to watch the sunset over the 

Tasman Sea.

WHAT A fantastic DAY!