Fiordland National Park New Zealand - part of Te Wahipounamu South West New Zealand world heritage site - is famed for dramatic scenery, unique nature and wildlife, and three major walking tracks.

Pictures do not do it justice.

Yes, it really is that good.

Fiordland National Park New Zealand is an amazing region, and an absolute "must see" on any New Zealand holiday.

It's certainly one of our all time favourites.

Characterised by a series of spectacular "sounds" including the iconic Milford and Doubtful sounds, it is the largest national park in New Zealand, and was established in 1952.

Fiordland New Zealand is one of the southern hemisphere's great wilderness regions and in 1986 was awarded World Heritage status.

So grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy as we introduce you to the wonders of Fiordland National Park.

This stunning park is located in the south western corner of New Zealand's South Island.

The pretty town of Te Anau, located on the shores of Lake Te Anau, is the gateway to the southern wilderness area of Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound, is the departure point for many walking tracks, and is the location of the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. It is also the departure point for tours to the Te Anau caves. Take a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau before entering the caves where you explore further by path and small boat. The caves are home to thousands of glow worms, a truly beautiful sight. Well worth a tour.

Milford Sound is the only fiord accessible by road. And the drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau (around 120 kilometres) has to be one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Raging rivers, waterfalls, snow capped peaks, and the Homer Tunnel! The Homer Tunnel , which was opened in 1954 (after taking 20 years to build) stretches 1,270 metres through the mountains, and provides the only road access into Milford Sound. What an amazing drive.

Regular tours to Milford Sound also operate from New Zealand's "Adventure Capital" Queenstown New Zealand.

Although the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound is lengthy (about 4 hours drive each way), the scenery is spectacular. If you choose to visit from Queenstown, we highly recommend taking a coach tour . Sit back, relax, and let someone else do the driving for you.

From the head of the fiord, regular cruises take visitors past majestic Mitre Peak and 16km out to the open sea.

According to Wikipedia, more than half a million people visit Milford Sound each year, and it has been voted as the World's number 1 tourist destination. British author, Rudyard Kipling once declared it the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

I can highly recommend a cruise on Milford Sound. Towering peaks, plunging waterfalls, mist shrouded mountains, and unique wildlife combine to make Milford Sound perhaps the number one destination in New Zealand.

And while you are there, don't forget to visit the underwater observatory. Doubtful Sound - three times longer and 10 times larger than Milford Sound - is Fiordland's second largest fiord. Accessible by boat and plane, this remote wilderness area is renowned for its wildlife such as dolphins, fur seals, and penguins. Plunging waterfalls, deep still waters, rugged rainforests and misty peaks are all part of the Doubtful Sound experience.

You can learn more about tours of Doubtful Sound here.

Maori, the original inhabitants of New Zealand, and the first people to discover the beauty of Fiordland New Zealand, tell of the legend of this remote wilderness.

Maori legend has it that demi-god Tu-te-raki-whanoa used his Te Hamo (an adze) to carve the mighty fiords from solid rock. Beginning in the far south, Tu-te-raki-whanoa formed the coastline and adjoining islands. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) was his greatest achievement. The underworld goddess Hine-nui-te-po was worried that visitors would never leave this beautiful place so she released the "infamous" sandflies to encourage them to leave. Yes, sandflies are a problem in Milford Sound, but a good spray of repellant keeps them at bay.

Early Maori visited Fiordland New Zealand on hunting trips, and for greenstone / New Zealand jade - that was found at Anita Bay and at the mouth of Milford Sound.

The English explorer Captain James Cook and his crew, who spent five weeks anchored in Dusky Sound in 1773, were the first Europeans to visit Fiordland.

His maps and descriptions of the area attracted sealers and whalers who established New Zealand's first European settlements. From the mid-19th century on, surveyors, explorers and prospectors began exploring Fiordland's interior.

Fiordland New Zealand is a haven for native New Zealand birds, such as tui, kea, kaka, native pigeon, bellbird, tomtit and grey warbler, and the endangered takahe.

Perhaps the best known bird is the Kea. This gregarious alpine parrot is well known for its cheeky nature and unwelcome habit of attacking plastic and rubber fittings on cars. It delights in picking cars to bits with its strong beak. If you have a rental car, beware the Kea! You will see them throughout the region, and they are commonly seen in the parking area near the entrance to the Homer Tunnel.

The flightless alpine takahe was thought to be extinct until the 1950s when a small group was rediscovered in Fiordland's Murchison and Stuart mountains. Since then, a breeding programme has helped increase the population, and DOC continues to carefully monitor the only wild population of about 160 takahe. Marine life thrives in the fiords, home to bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, Fiordland crested and little blue penguins, and visiting whales. Scenic cruises and kayak tours explore the fiords and wildlife in its natural habitat.

Milford Sound's high annual rainfall and distinctive narrow shape creates a fresh water layer on top of the seawater, allowing deep-water dwelling species to exist at a much shallower depth. Milford Sound Underwater Observatory and guided dive tours give visitors a glimpse of rare species such as the red and black corals.

Click on the following link for information on a wide range of Milford Sound tours.

New Zealand is regarded as one of the premier walking / tramping / hiking destinations in the world. And Fiordland ranks as perhaps the best region in New Zealand for those wanting to see this magnificent country on foot.

Three of New Zealand's nine Great Walks are in Fiordland New Zealand. The Kepler, Routeburn and Milford tracks are regarded as some of the world's best walks.

Milford Track - a four-day 53.9km hike between Lake Te Anau and Sandfly Point in Milford Sound - is one of New Zealand's famous tramping routes. Walkers can choose to be independent or guided, but numbers on the track are restricted and accommodation must be reserved. Boat access is required at both ends.

Routeburn Track , a 32km traverse of Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national park, takes about three days to complete. Access is less restricted than Milford Track, and camping is permitted. Much of the Routeburn is accessible to day walkers.

Kepler Track , a 67km journey through Fiordland national park, starts and finishes at Lake Te Anau. The Kepler is one of New Zealand's safest back country tracks. It has no river crossings, is well marked and well provided with huts. The complete loop takes three to four days, and is suitable for moderate outdoor and fitness ability.

In addition to the Milford, Kepler, and Routeburn Tracks, Fiordland National Park New Zealand is also home to a number of shorter walks. The Department of Conservation (DOC) have an excellent FREE 39 page pdf booklet available, which details these great walks. You can download it here.

Te Anau has a full range of accommodation. Everything from campgrounds and backpacker lodges, to luxury hotels, and is a good option if you don't fancy the long day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown or Dunedin.

If you are visiting Doubtful Sound, the nearest accommodation is located at the village of Manapouri.

Accommodation in Milford Sound is limited to the Milford Sound Lodge and the Mitre Peak Lodge (Mitre Peak Lodge is generally available only to walkers on the Milford Track). You can read about them on Trip Advisor.

For something different, you also have the option of overnight accommodation on several cruise boats that operate on the sounds.

And if walking/tramping/hiking is your thing, the Department of Conservation (DOC) administer a wide selection of campsites and 60 back country huts. You can check them out at the DOC website.


Luxury Accommodation in Fiordland National Park New Zealand - Spoil Yourself

Fiordland National Park New Zealand is home to Fiordland Lodge.

Located in a stunning setting overlooking Lake Te Anau, Fiordland Lodge offers guests serenity, luxury, and fine dining, all within five kilometres of Te Anau.

Ten beautiful suites and two traditionally constructed log cabins offer guests the perfect environment in which to relax.

Set in 40 acres, Fiordland Lodge guests can choose from a wide range of activities such as fly fishing for brown and rainbow trout, hiking, hunting, and bird watching.

* Fiordland National Park New Zealand is the nation's biggest national park and covers five percent of the country's total land mass.

* Lakes Manapouri (440 metres)and Hauroko (462 metres) are New Zealand's deepest lakes.

* Lake Te Anau (342 square kilometres)is New Zealand's second largest lake, after Lake Taupo NZ (616 square kilometres) on the North Island.

* Milford Sound, with more than 8m of rain annually, is one of the wettest places on earth. But don't let that stop you from visiting. When it rains, the waterfalls rage down the towering cliffs, and the mist adds to the feel of Milford.

* Homer Tunnel, the only road access to Milford Sound, took nearly 20 years to complete. When you visit, you will understand why.

Fiordland National Park New Zealand - don't miss it.

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