Then we started driving towards Te Anau along the main highway. We had been told that there was a lot of gravel on the scenic route between Balclutha and Te Anau and the hire contract states no driving on gravel roads.
The drive took us across farming and grazing land until we reached our destination at the very picturesque Te Anau. Set on a lake the town is so clean and well maintained and the water was so calm and the town so quiet, it was surreal, we didn't want to leave.
We booked our cruise on Milford Sound for tomorrow morning and then started driving to the furthest DOC campsite along the road, so that we didn't have as much ground to cover in the morning.
First stop was Te Anau Downs which is the start/finish point for the Milford Track, basically a small jetty and barge.
Second stop was Eglinton Valley with views in the direction of Milford Sound.
After that we stopped at Mirror Lakes which are just as they sound, weather permitting. On this day the weather wasn't permitting but it was such a peaceful place, the sounds of the birds and the running water.
Our campsite was Cascade Creek with the steep cliffs of the Fiordland as a backdrop and the river running past our back door. It was a drizzly afternoon but we sought refuge under the pine trees and still enjoyed the afternoon. We took a stroll around the 45 minute Lake Gunn Nature Walk and meandered back along the crystal clear river before fighting off the evenings sand flies.
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