Southern Discoveries

02/09/2024

Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. 🌿📸

In honour of Conservation Week here in Aotearoa New Zealand, we invite you to immerse yourself in the beauty of our landscapes.

Explore, learn, and connect with the land. Every step you take is a chance to appreciate and preserve the natural wonders that make New Zealand extraordinary.

As you plan your next adventure, consider ways to minimise your impact and contribute positively to the environment.

Volunteer for local conservation projects, educate yourself and others about sustainable practices, and always strive to leave our national parks as pristine as you found them.

📸 Fiordland Outdoors.

28/08/2024

26/08/2024

Self-care Day: Seal Edition 🫧 When seals clean themselves in the water, they use a technique called "aquatic grooming." This helps them remove parasites and maintain their fur's insulation and buoyancy, which is critical for survival in cold water.

20/08/2024

Looks like we missed the boat on World Photography Day but these shots from Paul Michael Photography are too good to keep to ourselves.

Do you have an epic photo from your visit to Milford Sound?
Share it with us in the comments. 📸

15/08/2024

So, you’re itching to visit Milford Sound but the idea of spending hours on the road isn't for you? We’ve got the absolute dream solution for you:

✨Coach - Cruise - Fly✨

Our incredible flight partners make getting to/from Milford Sound a breeze. Enjoy the best of both worlds—take a leisurely coach in and soar out with a scenic flight. Dreamy, right?

14/08/2024

🫶🚢

11/08/2024

Why head to Norway when some of the world’s most spectacular sounds are nestled in the rugged southwest of the South Island? Tamatea Dusky Sound has to be experienced to be believed. Any time spent there gets under your skin in a way that a true adventure should.

To find out more, check out: https://www.fiordland.org.nz/visit/further-into-fiordland/

📸 Josh James and the Kiwi Bushmen |
📍 Tamatea Dusky Sound

07/08/2024

Meet ‘an Insurance company’s nightmare’. Storytime… 🦜

You can never ever trust a Kea. They are real opportunists and very intelligent.

If you're travelling in a vehicle with soft rubber on the outside... you're a target! Left unattended in Kea country, these birds will descend upon the vehicle with great joy.

They'll pull the rubber out of the windscreen wipers, and pick out all the rubber from around the windscreen so the windscreen falls out. Any soft pliable material on the outside of the vehicle that they can get their beaks onto, they will.

A while ago there was a coach parked up near Milford Sound and the driver had one of the locker doors on the side open and a Kea got in there, picked up a courier parcel, and flew off into the bush with it.

Inside that courier parcel was someone’s passport.

The owner of that passport, who happened to be a manager in our company, was not a very happy camper.

Our immigration department is still on the lookout for a Kea travelling with a false document. 🙃

05/08/2024

Oh, look at that — some fresh snow and a few clouds this morning in Milford Sound, captured perfectly by our we**am. Because, of course, the best way to experience New Zealand’s most stunning natural wonder is through a pixelated lens while you’re scrolling through social media in your pajamas. 🙃

Check out the we**am:
https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/

04/08/2024

It rains about 230 days of the year in Milford Sound and did you know that if it goes 10 days without rain, it's considered a drought? 💦💦

29/07/2024

29/07/2024

Forever mist-ified by nature! 💦 On our Cruises, everyone gets a front-row seat to New Zealand’s best waterfall show.

24/07/2024

Driver: “I’m an expert at identifying birds.” 🦜

Guest: “Ok, what about that one over there?”

Driver: “Yes, it’s a bird.” 🙃

Our drivers have years of experience going between Queenstown and Milford Sound, which means they have a wealth of knowledge about all of the wildlife you could ever care to spot!

Whether you’re casually taking note of your surroundings, or you’re visiting Fiordland just for its birdlife, identifying birds by sight and sound is a highlight of a visit to Southland.

From Kea’s and Kaka’s to Tuis and Bellbirds, there are many species to discover and we’ll talk about many of them on our coach trip.

📲 Download our multilingual coach commentary app on your device before you go to listen at your own pace.

23/07/2024

It's such a joy to look back on Robin Roberts' visit to Milford Sound earlier this year. Take a peek at what it's like to cruise with us...

The "GMA" co-anchor paid a visit to the majestic region, with its deep waters surrounded by towering mountain peaks, to explore what some call the unofficial Eighth Wonder of the World.

18/07/2024

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.” - Dory

Have you ever wondered why dolphins swim with boats?

Curiosity, social interaction, and playfulness are some of the reasons. Dolphins are intelligent and social creatures that are often attracted to the movement and sound of boats.

Dolphins might swim alongside boats to ride the bow wave or wake, which can be fun and energy-saving for them.

Additionally, some dolphins have learned that boats can disturb fish, making it easier for them to hunt.

Now you know 🤷‍♀️

15/07/2024

Did you know that most of the marine life in Milford Sound hangs out in the top 40 metres? It’s because down below, it's lights out!

With around 230 days of rain a year, the water turns a moody brown from all the tannins and nutrients washed in from the forest. After heavy rain, you might even find up to 10 metres of fresh water floating on top. Imagine how dark it gets down there!

Want to see the real deal? Dive into the depths (safely and without getting wet) with a visit to our Underwater Observatory.

(PS: the black square is just for dramatic effect. The real underwater world is much cooler.)

12/07/2024

Driving down to Milford Sound? Help keep our Kea safe. 🦜

It’s absolutely gutting to share the news that five kea have been hit and killed by vehicles on the Milford Road since April.

What's equally as sad is that these deaths could have been avoided if people followed these simple rules.

- Slow down around kea.

- Take care as you pull away from stopping areas; kea don’t move out of the way as fast as you would think.

- Never drive away if a kea is on your vehicle.

Lastly and most importantly...

DON'T FEED KEA! - Not only is human food bad for them but feeding disrupts their natural foraging and draws them towards the road where they are at risk of being run over. Sadly, that is what occurred here.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3VUvSrQ

11/07/2024

Yep, we still lose our minds when we see dolphins! 😆🐬 How's that for timing?

10/07/2024

The Sun has set on Te Anau for now after Lulu Sun’s Wimbledon exit.

10/07/2024

Awesome to have Sara and Tony from FareDrop join us in Milford Sound for a Cruise & Kayaking trip. Waterfalls, rain, and dolphins - Milford Sound really turned it on! 💦🚣‍♀️

Our First Impressions of VAN LIFE in New Zealand (Queenstown to Milford Sound)SIGN UP HERE to start saving money on your next trip: https://faredrop.app/yt_s...

09/07/2024

New Zealand has an iconic sheep-to-person ratio. 🐑

As of June 2023, there were approximately 24.4 million sheep in New Zealand. With a population of about 5.3 million, there are 4.6 sheep per person.

While this is on the decline, it does mean that you’re sure to spot at least a few (hundred) sheep on your drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound.

Learn more quirky facts about New Zealand and Fiordland from our awesome coach drivers when you choose to day trip with us.

07/07/2024

The ultimate family adventure is here. Experience Milford Sound in July and get 10% off select Cruises and Day Trips.

https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/specials/

04/07/2024

We get asked this question a lot! And the answer is YES! Our kayaking trips are super popular - and even more spectacular in winter. 🚣‍♀️

Take your time, slow down and soak in the incredible sights and sounds of Milford Sound and its precious marine reserve. Kayaking trips depart daily.

www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/kayaking

02/07/2024

But first, let me take a seal-fie. 📸

When you spot these creatures from afar, they look nothing more than overcooked chicken nuggets. But venture closer to Seal Rock and you’ll see what the fuss is about.

While it may seem like the Fur Seals are just lounging around up there, they're actually taking a well-deserved break. Imagine how tough it is to scoot up a vertical rock with just flippers!

Seal Rock is one of their favourite spots in Milford Sound. It’s bathed in sunshine and fortunately for us, it's also the perfect height for snapping great photos!

01/07/2024

Not into skiing? No worries, we won't hold it against you. But hey, if you’re heading to Queenstown this winter, let us give you the inside scoop on some fun alternatives. Trust us, there's more to this place than just falling down a mountain! 🙃🏔️

If you’re not the biggest fan of skiing or snowboarding there are still endless ways to enjoy the adventure capital of New Zealand.

28/06/2024

Watch as seven content creators explore New Zealand's South Island with Urban Armor Gear, pushing themselves to their furthest limits.

Watch as seven content creators explore New Zealand's south island, pushing themselves to their furthest limits. With , , , ...

26/06/2024

Tomorrow is Matariki ✨ Māori New Year.

We exist to celebrate our surroundings and bring other people along on the journey of appreciating and protecting the whenua (land) that we call home in Aotearoa.

Discover the origin story of Matariki and its significance to us here in Piopiotahi.

Southern Discoveries is the original Milford Sound cruise operator and provides the most options for exploring this iconic and internationally-renowned natural attraction. In Queenstown we offer the longest lake cruise, the iconic Mt Nicholas Farm Experience and the scenic Station 2 Station Cycle Tr...

17/06/2024

What do you call a waterfall that isn’t falling…? 🤔

This photo was taken by a guest on a very windy day and some of the waterfalls were seen being blown back up.

16/06/2024

Heading to Queenstown this winter and thinking of hitting the road? Well, buckle up and don't forget to sign up for the Queenstown Lakes District Council daily Winter Road Report.

Because who doesn't love an early morning email about road conditions and closures? It's like a weather forecast but for roads.

Sign up here:
http://www.qldc.govt.nz/.../transport.../winter-road-reports

If you plan to visit Milford Sound, we highly recommend hopping aboard our Coach and leaving the driving to the experts. 🚌

12/06/2024

Wait for it... 😜