Springtime on the Milford Sound Road

By Alistair Child

Spring has sprung... and many other sayings. Its the feel good season, and it sure works for me. I am constantly amazed at the enormous changes that take place during the different times of the year and none more so than in Fiordland. Fiordland gets between 7 and 9 metres of rain per year. The forest floor is dry and many of the streams have dried up. But take a look during a spring storm. Over 200mm of rain will often fall in the mountains in one day. With some snow melt and it's all on, a wild place, no photo stops on those days, but if you could you would, the water falls, how can you explain to your friends back home. Never let the weather be a deterrent when going to Milford Sound.

During early spring there is lots of ice melt with a rise in the temperature and lots of growth. New ferns budding, alpine flowers blooming in late spring and young keas on the roadside. A great time to take a walk in the Fiordland bush with many birds, some very tiny. One would have to wonder how some plants and birds survive these storms that blast through. But they do, it's their environment.
The images below are all about spring on the Milford Sound Road.



The Alpine Mount Cook Buttercup  Ranunculus lyallii



A part of the Marian Rapids down the Hollyford Road



Fungus Growing in the Fiordland Bush  (Name not known, if you do, you can tell me)



A young Kea that would like to eat my camera. Don't Feed these Birds.
Nestor notabilis



One of the many Bush Fantails Piwaiwaka  Rhipidura fuliginosa



A male Tit.   A common little bird.  Petroica Macrocephala 



Rain and instant waterfalls on the Milford Road