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Welcome to Milford Deep Underwater Observatory, Milford Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand. Enter this unique structure to view a rich marine ecosystem unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Milford Sound offers a unique marine environment with many, (usually deep water) rare species, living quite close to the surface, due to a tannin-darkened fresh water layer that lies on top of the fiord. The Underwater Observatory is nestled in Harrison's Cove, beneath Pembroke Glacier, amongst towering mountains of Fiordland National Park. Here visitors descend 10.4 metres, the equivalent of a four storied building, leading down beneath this world famous fiord. Once down in the spacious viewing room, people are able to view, from within a metre, intimate and undisturbed life in a vibrant underwater community.

Visitors are continually amazed and fascinated by what they see: Rare Red and Black Coral, Butterfly Perch, Anemones and Sponges, Scarlet Wrasse, Snake Stars, Crinoids and Zoanthids, and other deep water species.

Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, is New Zealand's finest fiord. This long, deep valley, now filled by the sea, was carved by a succession of glaciers over millions of years. The fiord's walls rise vertically some 300 metres from the sea floor to the surface and continue more than 1700 metres above the fiord. The scenery is spectacular with sheer walled mountains, hanging valleys, remnants of ice age glaciers, cascading waterfalls, and the deep brooding waters of the fiord.

Milford Sound is approximately a four-hour drive by car or bus from Queenstown and just under two hours from Te Anau. The scenery on the drive through to Milford Sound is outstanding. Direct scenic flights operate from Queenstown and Te Anau into Milford Sound – weather permitting. The aerial views are also superb.

All of the launch companies that operate in Milford Sound offer a full cruise of the fiord and a visit to the Milford Deep Underwater Observatory as part of their product range. However it is important to ask for a Milford Deep cruise as not all cruises necessarily stop there.

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