After a day of relaxing and exploring Queenstown, we left our hotel early in the morning to connect with Real Journeys for a nature cruise of Milford Sound. I was quite disappointed to learn that it was a four-hour bus ride from Queenstown to Milford Sound, but thankfully the driver used most of the time to teach us about the natural history of the island.
We stopped at the Te Anau visitor center for a welcome break, and I realized this would be a better place to stay if we return and plan another cruise on Milford Sound. A spectacular ride through the mountains took us to the boat harbor at Milford Sound where we were directed to the Milford Mariner.