Milford Sound rainy day
A downpour around the New Zealand tourist spot can turn a few waterfalls into hundreds.
You might wish for a rainy day when visiting New Zealand’s Milford Sound. A downpour can multiply the number of waterfalls cascading down the surrounding mountainsides into the hundreds.
The region gets about 182 days of rain a year, and is known as the wettest place in the country. Despite its name, this South Island wonder is actually a fjord, formed by glacial erosion rather than the sea’s invasion.
Either way, the scenery is spectacular and there are many ways to savour it. Take a cruise or a scenic flight for grand vistas, or enjoy more personal encounters with fur seals, dolphins and penguins from a kayak.
Energetic types can tackle the multiday 53km Milford Track, which has drawn hikers for more than 100 years. Fiordland National Park is a four-hour drive from Queenstown.