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As a result of Milford Sound's high rainfall and the density of salt water, the surface of Milford Sound is a layer of freshwater containing tannins from the surrounding rainforest. [22] This filters much of the sunlight which enters the water, allowing for a variety of Black coral to be found at depths of as shallow as 10 metres (33 ft), significantly closer to the surface than usual.
The name “Milford” was given to the area by the Welsh explorer John Grono in 1812, who named it after his homeland of Milford Haven in Wales. The name “Sound” was later added to it by James Cook, who incorrectly assumed that it was a sound instead of a fiord. A fiord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial ...
- Milford Sound was incorrectly named. A sealer, named John Grono, was the first European to visit the area now known as Milford Sound in 1823. He named it after Milford Haven, a long and narrow inlet in Wales.
- Milford Sound is actually a fiord. That’s right, Milford Sound should actually be called Milford Fiord! A sound is created when a river valley fills with seawater, while a fiord is a glacier-carved valley that is also flooded by seawater.
- It’s called ‘Piopiotahi’ in Te Reo Māori. Piopiotahi = piopio (a native bird) + tahi (one). Māori pūrākau (legend) explains that a piopio bird flew into Milford Sound while mourning the passing of the cheeky demigod, Maui.
- It’s the only fiord in New Zealand accessible by road. The Homer Tunnel provides access by road to Milford. This marvel of engineering was completed in 1953 after almost 20 years.
In Māori legend, Milford Sound was formed by Tu-te-raki-whanoa. He was an atua (godly figure) who was in charge of shaping the Fiordland coast. Chanting a powerful karakia (prayer), he hacked at the towering rock walls with his toki (adze) called Te Hamo and carved it from the earth. The Māori name for Milford Sound, Piopiotahi, means “a ...
Milford Sound is one if the wettest inhabited places on the planet. On average, in Milford Sound it rains 200 days a year. Milford Sound collects around 7.5m of rainfall, which is about twice that of the Amazon (3.5m). Don’t be put off by the rain though, more rain just means more waterfalls cascading down the mountainside.
(adze) Te Hamo. Milford Sound is said to be his finest work. The popular origin of why Milford Sound was called Piopiotahi by local Maori was that it came from a native thrush, the piopio, now thought extinct. Legend has it that when mythical adventurer Māui died a single piopio flew to the sound in mourning.
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Situated on the west coast of the South Island, Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is a must-see with its towering peaks, cascading waterfalls and jaw-dropping views. Famously described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is b reath-taking in any weather - with its fiord's cliffs, mountainous peaks and ...
