Mitre Peak Milford Sound

Mitre Peak is far and away the most famous landmark at Milford Sound. The highest peak in the fiord, it gets its name from how its shape resembles a bishop's mitre. When we set out on our cruise in the mid-morning, the fiord was completely enclosed with fog and you couldn't see Mitre Peak at all. However, by time we reached the Tasman Sea and turned back, the fog was lifting until clear blue skies were revealed.

Milford Sound from the Shoreline

This photo of Milford Sound was taken from the shoreline. I really like how the driftwood, reeds, and tree on in the foreground add interest.

What do you think of this photo? Please feel free to post a comment. I'd appreciate it.

Cruising Milford Sound

Boat Cruising New Zealand's Milford Sound

I took a lot of photos on my trip to New Zealand in February but have published only a few of them so far. Here are a few more from Fiordland National Park which is a World Heritage park located at the southwestern corner of New Zealand's South Island. The most famous of the fiords is called "Milford Sound". A sound and a fiord are similar in that they are deep narrow waterways that extend for miles in from the sea. The distinction is in how they were formed. Fiords were carved out by glacial action during the last Ice Age, whereas sounds are carved out by the action of rivers. Milford Sound is actually a fiord, but was misnamed by Captain James Cook on one of his two voyages of discovery around New Zealand.

Stirling Falls Milford Sound 2

Milford Sound Stirling Falls

The boat was able to pull up pretty close to the base of Stirling Falls because of the great depth of the fiord at this point.

Milford

Black and White Photo Mitre Peak

Black and White Photo Mitre Peak

The vantage point from which I took this photo of Mitre Peak was from such a classic angle that I made this black and white version of the photo to emphasize it's place in New Zealand iconography.

Milford Sound

Mitre Peak Milford Sound New Zealand

Mitre Peak Classic Angle

This is a classic angle on Milford Sound's "Mitre Peak", the icon of the Sound. I can recall paintings by early New Zealand painters that capture this very outlook. For that reason, in the next post you'll find the black and white version of the photo that I made to emphasize the timelessness of this image.

Mitre Peak

Stirling Falls Milford Sound

Stirling Falls Milford Sound New Zealand

Stirling Falls are one of two permanent waterfalls that cascade into Milford Sound. Stirling Falls descend from 155 metres above the fiord. They were originally named after a seaman by the name of Captain Stirling. The deepest part of Milford Sound is 1,280 ft below sea level and is located in the vicinity of Stirling Falls.

When we first set out on our cruise of Milford Sound the weather was very misty making for conditions that were far from ideal for photography, but the outcome is to give these photos a very aged look, as if they are a century old.

Canon EOS 20D
1/250s at f/9
ISO200
70-300mm lens at 300mm
(c) John Corney 2007

Mitre Peak Milford Sound

Mitre Peak Milford Sound Fiordland National Park New Zealand

The most famous landmark at Milford Sound is the tallest peak known as "Mitre Peak", so named because its shape is reminiscent of a bishop's mitre or ceremonial hat. Mitre Peak has long been painted and photographed throughout New Zealand's European history. Mitre Peak is on the left side of this photo.

Canon EOS 20D
1/5000s at f/3.5
ISO200
18-55mm lens at 18mm
(c) John Corney 2007

Mitre Peak

Milford Sound Fiord New Zealand #2

Milford Sound Fiord New Zealand #2

When I took this photo on a recent trip to Milford Sound in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, the mist had almost cleared. But just enough was hanging in the sky still when I took this photo to add some extra interest to the picture.

Canon EOS 20D
1/400s at f/13
ISO200
18-55mm lens at 51mm
(c) John Corney 2007

Milford Sound

Milford Sound Fiord New Zealand #1

Milford Sound Fiord, New Zealand #1

Milford Sound is the heart of Fiordland National Park and the most-visited of the fiords. Mistakenly named a "sound", Milford Sound is actually a fiord, meaning it was carved out by glacial action during the last ice age rather than by the action of rivers, which is the difference between a fiord and a sound.

After sailing out to the Tasman Sea and turning back in, the fog began to lift until the sky was completely clear by time we disembarked. Here the last of the fog is still lifting from the lake surface.

Canon EOS 20D
1/320s at f/13
ISO200
18-55mm lens at 54mm
(c) John Corney 2007

Milford Sound