We went at the tail end of winter. The drive in was absolutely spectacular, so many waterfalls cascading from the mountains as the snow melted, driving alongside a rushing river fed by them all. When we got to the entrance to the tunnel it was all snow, and the cheeky kea's showed off to all the cars that were queuing.

Coming into the sound we stopped our car due to a seal cub on the road. We had no idea what to do, the cub flopped into the bush. When we arrived at the sound we alerted a ranger who told us the mother seals leave the cubs alone regularly and it was OK. The ranger also told us there had been a landslide a week prior and they were expecting another one, we had about an hour or so to enjoy the sound but if we didn't leave soon we might have been locked in for a week as they were shutting the tunnel! Was a foggy day but took in some spectacular views and did a quick bushwalk. Absolutely unforgettable experience. I hope to visit again one day.