Homer Tunnel pierces Fiordland’s craggy peaks on the drive to Milford Sound. The Homer Tunnel is one of the most impressive road engineering feats on the South Island. The tunnel has stoplights on either side to regulate the one-way traffic. You’ll often have to stop and wait to get through the tunnel…but this is a GOOD THING, as this is jawdrop Fiordland territory!
At the Tunnel’s east side you’ll find sky-scraping peaks laced with waterfalls pouring down into a roadside snow field. Kea parrots flutter about the scene. People play atop the snow field. The impressive glacier-like snow field often has a fog-belching snow cave at its foot. Heaps of people walk down to take a photo at the snow-cave entrance, but few dare to set foot inside. For some silly reason people think walking atop the snowfield is safe, whereas walking into it would be dangerous. This beckoning snowfield cave is a WAY safer place than the Milford Road, but tourists seem afraid of it. Go figure.
If you’re in NZ for some true natural adventure, then lace-up the sandals, roll up the pant legs and in you go for an odyssey of wonders! The cave is only about 70m long, but dark and foggy enough to need a good flashlight. A waterfall often pours into the upstream end of the cave. Upon re-emerging out of the ice cave after a 5-minute look-see, you’ll smirk at the gaggle of snap-happy tourists who’ll look at you like some phantom of the ice. Shake your head at their timidity, shoo the Keas off your path, then continue on to find more of Fiordland’s amazing amazingness. Hurry, you’re in a frenzy!
FYI: Across the road there’s a DOC track that escapes the tourists to explore the sights ‘n’ snowfields on that side of the tunnel.
Comments
No more ice there, but a
This is a really cool