New Zealand’s Milford Sound never takes a rain check.

Milford Sound/Piopiotahi truly is a year-round destination. Come rain or shine, the untamed beauty of New Zealand’s wild Fiordland National Park is undeniable. During heavy rains, Milford Sound is moody, quiet and brooding. And on a clear, sunny day? The entire fjord, from the water’s depths to the mountain peaks, turns its vibrancy up to 11.

A symphony of waterfalls

Don’t let wild weather rain on your South Island parade. Many travellers and locals agree that Milford Sound is most bewitching during a downpour. Thick mist rolls across the landscape, shrouding the surrounding peaks and valleys behind a hazy veil. Rain patters against the rainforest canopy — a soothing backing track to the roar of multiple waterfalls. Stirling Falls, one of the few permanent waterfalls in Milford Sound, is in full swing with torrents of whitewater plummeting from a height of 151 metres. Meanwhile, an upsurge of transient cascades materialises during consecutive days of rainfall.

Sunshine on the sound

Mitre Peak is the indisputable emblem of Milford Sound, and you can admire it in all its glory when silhouetted against a bold, blue sky. Sunlight bounces off the surface of the fjord, and its surrounds awaken during the warmer months, with local wildlife emerging from their hiding places. Train your eyes to the rocky foreshore to glimpse a New Zealand fur seal sprawled out on a sun-warmed rock. On a cruise, listen for the splash of a playful dolphin as it races alongside your vessel. And inland, stay alert for the high-pitched call of a native kea, the only true alpine parrot species in the world.

Words by Felicia Arhontissas