24 Jul 2021

Setting Sail on Northern Fiords Explorer

Our exploration of the remote Northern Fiords of Fiordland began under clear blue skies with an unseasonable warmth in the air as we gathered in Te Anau. Then it was time to hit the road for Milford Sound, driving through the Eglington Valley we were soon surrounded by majestic snow covered peaks rising about us, onwards through the Homer Tunnel we continued to the shores of Milford Sound, where our trusty expedition yacht Heritage Explorer was waiting.

All were soon aboard via our first introduction to Heritage Explorer's Zodiacs and we joined our Captain, Expedition Leader and crew for an introduction and briefing to life aboard and our upcoming adventure. It was then time to cast off the lines and set sail, hoping to get ahead of the impending frontal weather.

Sailing down Milford Sound and out into the Tasman Sea, we were inspected by curious Buller's Albatross before we had even left the sound. Our voyage south was pleasant enough with great views of the coastline under a setting sun and rising moon. Dinner was our reward for arriving in to the quiet waters of George Sound, where Captain Jamie found us a sheltered anchorage and we settled in for the night.

Image from file © Heritage Expeditions