National park in 🇳🇿New Zealand

Fiordland National Park

Fjords and rainforest, both deeper than you think

Deep 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.

5
out of 5

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.

Average temperatures during the day in Fiordland National Park.
July
5°
Aug
6°
Sep
8°
Oct
10°
Nov
12°
Dec
14°
Jan
15°
Feb
15°
Mar
13°
Apr
11°
May
7°
Jun
5°

What people say about Fiordland National Park

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The most beautiful national parks in the world

Article from November 2024 with 45 places

Fiordland National Park in New Zealand is the epitome of beauty. Located in the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand, Fiordland National Park is a huge area of rugged and wild terrain that includes some of the most spectacular sights on the planet. From shimmering rivers, to thick forests, to majestic mountains, Fiordland National Park will blow your mind with its unrivaled beauty. One of the most stunning spectacles in Fiordland National Park is the Milford Sound, an eight-mile fjord with sheer cliffs that plummet to the sea below and waterfalls thundering down its sides. This incredible piece of nature will make you feel like you are in a whole new world. With some of the world’s rarest wildlife, stunning views of the Southern Alps, and countless hikes and walking trails, Fiordland National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks in the world.

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Lord of the Rings filming locations

Article from February 2023 with 11 places

Untouched nature visited by Frodo and Sam

Parts of The Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed in Fiordland National Park, located in the southwest corner of New Zealand’s South Island. Fiordland was chosen as the filming location because it is a remote and rugged area that is relatively untouched by humans. The area is made up of dense rainforest, deep valleys, and tall mountains.

Parts of Lord of the Rings that were filmed in Fiordland National Park include the Misty Mountains, the Elven Forest, and the Ford of Bruinen. Specific scenes filmed in Fiordland National Park include when Frodo and Sam are crossing the Dead Marshes and Misty Mountains. The Marshes were filmed at Lake Mach, a deep lake surrounded by steep mountains and lush rainforest. The lake is also known for its clear blue-green water, which provided the perfect visual setting for this scene.

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