We first visited New Zealand on our original global adventure in 2003, and spent the month touring the South Island in a rickety old camper van that had frankly seen better days.  One of the ‘must do’s’ at the top of my list was Milford Sound, the Fiordland of the south.  It is New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination and according to Rudyard Kipling, the eighth wonder of the world.  Unfortunately in 2003, the weather and events conspired against us, it being August and the height of winter in the southern hemisphere.  The narrow winding road to the fjords was decidedly snowed in and even our cunning plan to follow the snow plough didn’t get too far when the snow plough driver himself stopped, turned around and gave up in search of less snowy roads to plough.

And so Milford Sound has remained on my ‘to do’ list ever since.  I vowed to go back… and 20 years later, here we are.  Only this time it’s December and allegedly the height of summer.  Darren beat me to it by a matter of weeks, clocking up a couple of cheeky kayaking trips on his solo jolly. But sailing into first Doubtful Sound and then Milford Sound aboard Seabourn Odyssey, was really something else.  We spent the best part of a day cruising the fjords and enjoying the spectacular scenery, surrounded by towering peaks and cascading waterfalls.

We had our share of showers during the day, but given it rains here more than half of the days in a year, we thought we got off rather lightly.  

As the ship pirouetted one last time and set her sights on the open ocean, we headed for the hot tub and ordered a glass of champers to toast that we finally made it and to say goodbye in style!  The icing on the sailaway cake was the appearance of the most lovely rainbow.

The wide expanse of choppy water between New Zealand and Australia, i.e., the Tasman Sea made for a blur of sea days, actually a welcome rest after all those back to back port days.  This is where you get a really great opportunity to experience the Seabourn brand at its finest.  

Not forgetting we still had New Year to celebrate too.

Celebratory parties and excellent food and drink opportunities abounded.

And before we knew it, there was land ahoy and we were sailing past Tasmania (ooh, there’s another one for the bucket list).  Next up: Australia.