The road from Te Anau to Milford was constructed as a tourist drive, and it’s worth doing.  The focus tends to be on Milford Sound at the end, but the road itself is beautiful. Here are some of the lovely mature beech forests en route.

One of the odd things about the bush in New Zealand-something we take for granted elsewhere is the lack of animals. In Australia there are always some creatures to see – kangaroos, devils, native cats etc.  But here there are none a few intoduced species such as deer, rabbits and possums, but you rarely see them.  The forests are essentially empty to the casual visitor.  Apart from birds, which are plentiful, it’s like an empty house.