NZPhotographer Issue 24, October 2019

Soaking Up Milford Sound
by Brendon Gilchrist
Let me tell you about the lessons I learned and
the sights I saw at one of the wettest places in
the world, happily soaking up (quite literally!)
all the moods and features of this characterful
place where nature rules and humans only visit to
admire the glory and power of this mystical place.
In a place so isolated and with no reception to
the outside world, Milford Sound sees almost 1
million visitors per year but it is not a true Sound,
it is a Fiord. Discovered by John Grono in 1812,
Milford Sound was originally named Milford Haven
as when John and crew entered the Fiord they
felt safe and sound from the weather that is out
in the Pacific Ocean – That is how it became a
Sound and not a Fiord even though both are
correct terms.
Wet weather for a cruise at Milford Sound would
typically be a tourist’s worst nightmare but not
for me, far from perfect weather was exactly
what I wanted and had planned for, purposefully
taking the 2pm sailing with Southern Discovers
when the weather forecast said the rain would
be at its worst! Why? Because I have seen and
photographed Milford in all conditions except in
the rain and was keen to see the Fiord in rough
waters and to capture the raw beauty that only
bad weather provides.
Usually, there are only a couple of permanent
waterfalls in the Fiord but on this day there were
many, making it one of the most spectacular
sights I have ever seen; the water tumbling out
of the sky, down the cliffs, and into the ocean –
You could almost see the life cycle of a rain drop!
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NZPhotographer