The new Southern Discoveries Milford Discovery Centre and Milford Deep Underwater Observatory are now open to the public.

Southern Discoveries operated the Milford Discovery Centre, and together with Milford Deep, New Zealand’s only floating underwater observatory, will provide a rich educational resource.

Southern Discoveries General Manager John Robson said the new centre brings a fresh learning element to visitors: “[Here] visitors of all ages can learn a thing or two about the national park and Milford Sound’s untouched, natural beauty with its unique native plant life and rare animal and marine species,” he said.

The Discovery Centre features information panels, videos, pictures and a guided tour which takes customers through an historical journey covering early European settlement and tourism, Maori history, the building of the Homer Tunnel and developments of the Milford Road and Milford Track.

Milford Deep is the only structure of its kind in the Piopiotahi/Milford Sound Marine Reserve where visitors descend more than 10m below the surface to observe the marine habitat.