At Homer Tunnel we stop to look for Rock wren a member of the endemic New Zealand wren family and also hope for sightings of Kea. At Milford Sound we do an overnight trip on a boat heading down to the mouth of the sound and anchoring in a secluded bay with the opportunity of seeing Fiordland Crested penguins. Milford Sound is spectacular with near vertical mountains plunging straight down and waterfalls cascading over bluffs into the sea. 23 Sept. Milford Sound - Queenstown. Leaving Milford Sound we travel on to Queenstown NZ's adventure capital.
Afternoon is free for resting, shopping or other activities.
During the evening we take a trip on a paddlesteamer to a working sheep station for a BBQ and show. Queenstown - Mt. Cook. Our destination today is Mt Cook village at the base of NZ's highest mountain. En route we get a chance to observe the many hydroelectric power stations in the Waitaki Valley and visit a captive rearing unit for the highly endangered Black stilt, an endemic wader. We also look for black stilt in the wild and also the Wrybill.