fiordland national park new zealand
The artistry and grandeur of nature are unsurpassed in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park.
The poet Rudyard Kipling called Milford Sound the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, but this is only one of many natural wonders carved and crafted through the centuries at the Fiordland National Park, tucked along the southwest edge of New Zealand’s South Island.
Established in 1952, Fiordland National Park is home to a number of spectacular vistas for visitors to enjoy. 12,607 square kilometres (4,868 square miles) are preserved, where mountains push skyward, deep and dark fjords have been etched by nature, and verdant valleys stretch far beyond the horizon. Nature’s handiwork is on display in its grandest, most exhilarating fashion.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fiordland National Park includes Milford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds. It’s also home to three of the world’s most renowned hiking treks: the Kepler, Routeburn and Milford Track.
Milford Track is probably the most famous hiker’s journey in New Zealand, traversing 53 kilometres (33 miles) through distant valleys and in the shadow of soaring mountains, beside crystal blue lakes and among ancient rainforests. It finishes at Sutherland Falls, the tallest waterfall in New Zealand and a wondrous sight to behold. Millennia ago, when glaciers crept across the land and created the finger-like fjords actually flooded U-shaped valleys left by these rivers of ice they also created other interesting formations. Visitors have been awe-struck with their splendour since indigenous peoples gathered there in ages past.
Today, visiting Fiordland National Park is a pilgrimage for lovers of natural beauty. Flights into the resort city of Queenstown are regular, and air services are available in Te Anau, the gateway to the park, Manapouri and Milford Sound. The two-hour drive from Queenstown to Te Anau is around 172 kilometres (107 miles). Car rentals are easy to find in Queenstown, and scenic drives enable motorists to view points of interest. Fiordland National Park may also be experienced via boat tour or chartered aircraft, offering different perspectives on the dark cliffs rising directly from the depths of the lakes.
Visits to Fiordland National Park should begin at the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre, where reservations can be made and itineraries planned. Rare species of plants and animals reside within the park, and the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is a favourite for those wishing to catch a glimpse of the Fiordland Crested Pengui (or tawaki) or the Kaka. The etched limestone caverns of Glowworm Caves reward adventurers with a spectacular subterranean waterfall. Fishermen angle for brown and rainbow trout in the Waiau River, along with cod, tuna and other saltwater species along the shoreline. Hunting is allowed, but a permit is required.
Milford and Doubtful Sounds exhibit their own charms, including the sheer cliffs, roaring waterfalls and occasional visits of bottlenose dolphins. Lake Manapouri is the second deepest in New Zealand, offering visitors a perfect opportunity for a boat cruise or kayak paddling.
Only 20 minutes’ drive from Te Anau, the village of Manapouri lies adjacent to the shimmering lake that shares its name. Both towns offer resort accommodations, economically priced rooms and other lodgings. Numerous restaurants and picnic areas provide diverse dining options, and popular local foods include lobster and venison.