Fiordland National Park
Fjords and rainforest, both deeper than you thinkDeep fiords carve through mountainous terrain on New Zealand's South Island, where ancient rainforests shelter rare wildlife like kiwis and takahe in this UNESCO site.
Fiordland National Park covers 12,607 square kilometers in the southwestern corner of New Zealand's South Island. Walk beneath 800-year-old beech trees on the Milford Track, watch bottlenose dolphins swim alongside your boat in Doubtful Sound, or take a morning cruise past Mitre Peak's 1,692-meter summit. The park's 14 glacier-carved fiords create deep waterways where thousand-meter cliffs plunge into dark waters and waterfalls cascade from snow-capped peaks.
Access Routes to Fiordland National Park
Start your journey in Te Anau, located 171 kilometers from Queenstown. Drive north on the Milford Road (State Highway 94) through Eglinton Valley and the Homer Tunnel to reach Milford Sound. Regular buses run from Te Anau, while Air Milford and Southern Alps Air operate flights from Queenstown and Te Anau.
Weather Patterns and Seasonal Changes
Rain falls 200 days per year in Fiordland, with annual rainfall reaching 7 meters. Winter (June-August) brings stable weather with clear, cold days and occasional snow. Summer temperatures reach 30°C with frequent rain. Spring brings stronger winds and changing conditions, while autumn stays mild until May.
Milford Sound Activities
Milford Sound extends 19 kilometers inland from the Tasman Sea. Vertical rock walls rise directly from the water, with Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls flowing year-round. After rainfall, hundreds of temporary waterfalls appear. Join a morning cruise to see fur seals sunbathing on rocks and penguins hunting for fish, or paddle close to the shoreline on a guided kayak tour beneath the towering cliffs.
Multi-Day and Day Walks
Three Great Walks cross the park on well-maintained tracks with overnight huts. Walk the Milford Track's 53 kilometers from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound over 4 days, crossing Mackinnon Pass at 1,154 meters. The Kepler Track creates a 60-kilometer loop near Te Anau, climbing above 1,400 meters. The Routeburn Track connects with Mount Aspiring National Park over 32 kilometers.
Wildlife and Plants
Beech trees and podocarps up to 800 years old grow throughout the park. Look for takahe in the Murchison Mountains' grasslands, where 200 of these flightless birds live. Kākāpō parrots inhabit specific protected zones, while kea often fly near Homer Tunnel. Bottlenose dolphins swim in the fiords throughout the year. Between July and November, you might see Fiordland crested penguins building nests on rocky coastlines.
Doubtful Sound Environment
Doubtful Sound reaches 421 meters deep and branches into three arms: Hall, Crooked, and First. To get there, take a one-hour boat across Lake Manapouri followed by a bus over Wilmot Pass. While Milford Sound receives 2,000 daily visitors, fewer than 50 people explore Doubtful Sound each day, creating calm conditions for watching dolphins and seals in their natural habitat.
