The road and pullovers on the western side of the Homer Tunnel offer some of the most dramatic, high-altitude scenery along the Milford Road. Emerging from the dark granite tunnel, the roadside pull-offs reveal a raw, glacier-carved alpine basin that drops steeply toward Milford Sound and through the Cleddau Valley, putting you face-to-face with sheer, intimidating rock walls.

While a clear day offers staggering views, this side of the tunnel is at its absolute best when it is pouring with rain. Fiordland’s famous rainfall instantly transforms the dry granite cliffs into a roaring theater of hundreds of temporary, misty waterfalls cascading thousands of feet down the mountain faces all around you.

These rocky pullovers are also legendary spots for encountering kea. These remarkably intelligent, cheeky alpine parrots love to hang around the tunnel traffic, frequently hopping along the stone barriers or inspecting vehicle roof racks.

Keep in mind that this high-altitude basin is a serious avalanche hazard zone, so you must only park in the designated bays on the tight switchbacks. Give the kea plenty of space and never feed them, as human food is highly harmful to their health.

Photography info: Don’t let rainy, moody weather stop you—it creates the ultimate Fiordland shot. You'll want a wide angle lens to capture most of the majesty.