Whale watchers' delight on Southern Discoveries trips in Milford Sound

Hundreds of guests on Southern Discoveries’ cruises in world-renowned Milford Sound this week have been treated to a magical moment to remember.

Passengers on Scenic, Nature and Encounter Nature Cruises have been getting up-close and personal with dozens of humpback whales in the past week – more than staff in Milford have ever seen before.

“We’ve been absolutely inundated with groups of up to six or seven whales which have been putting on a great show daily for most of the cruises we operate,” said duty manager Karla Rodgers.

“They pass us every year on their migration route south but never have we seen so many. Our passengers have loved the experience as its moments like these that make their New Zealand trip, giving them something to treasure and remember when they go home.”

New boat host Jeremy Compton was working on Southern Discoveries’ Pride of Milford vessel when he snapped a stunning shot of a humpback whale breaching the moody Milford Sound waters. 

A humpback whale breaches the waters of Milford Sound in a stunning shot captured this week by Southern Discoveries. Photo © Jeremy Compton

Southern Discoveries operates daily nature cruises where specialist nature guides share their local knowledge, delving into the history, geology and wildlife of the fiord. The cruises are renowned for getting up close with wildlife so guests can see seals, dolphins and penguins, depending on the time of year.

Whale sightings are an added bonus at this time of the year, and a breathtaking sight for visitors to New Zealand.

Department of Conservation marine and freshwater ranger Chloe Corne, based in nearby Te Anau, said she was thrilled to hear the news about whale numbers and sightings.

“Over the last few years we’ve had increasing numbers of reports about humpback whales along the Fiordland coast, and there’s been some evidence to suggest that at least some of the sightings may be from the population that breeds along the east coast of Australia,” she said.

“The Fiordland coast is a very productive marine environment, and humpbacks have been seen feeding on krill along the coast, off Milford, Dagg and Dusky Sounds in the past.

“They seem to be stopping off in Fiordland for a ‘quick snack’ during their southwards migration towards their summer feeding grounds around Antarctica.

“The numbers and sightings are good indicators that the humpback whale population is recovering, which is great news.”