Rudyard Kipling called Milford Sound the “eighth wonder of the world” — and when you see the sheer granite peaks of Mitre Peak rising 1,692 metres straight from the dark waters, surrounded by cascading waterfalls and misty rainforest, you understand why.

Seals bask on rocks, dolphins play in the bow waves of cruise boats, and rare Fiordland crested penguins waddle along the shoreline. Even on rainy days (which are frequent), the hundreds of temporary waterfalls that appear make the experience even more dramatic.

Pro tip: Rainy days are actually the best — hundreds of temporary waterfalls cascade down the cliff faces. The drive from Te Anau to Milford through Homer Tunnel is spectacular. Book an overnight cruise to have the fjord to yourself after day-trippers leave.