Fiordland National Park

Established as a National Park in 1952, the stunning Fiordland National Park spans over an impressive 1.2 million hectares of New Zealand. It is one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of the country and features breath-taking fiords, spectacular waterfalls and snow-topped peaks.

The vast variety of habitats within the Fiordland National Park support a vast range of wildlife, and many plants and animals have evolved to be unique to the area. The Fiordland is a must-see to visitors in the area, offering everything from beautiful walking routes to getting up close to the rare wildlife.

The Three Great Walks
New Zealand is home to 10 great walks that have each been chosen for their outstanding beauty, and the Fiordland National Park houses three of these great walks:

Kepler Track: A circuit walk that starts and ends in Te Anau. It covers mountain peaks, rivers, beech forests and lake shores throughout the three or four-day route.

Milford Track: Starting from Lake Te Anau, this one-way journey will take about four days to complete. The route travels along Clinton River, reaching to Arthur Valley which is home to Sutherland Falls, New Zealand’s longest waterfall. The walk continues through the rainforest and by Lake Ada, where there is then a boat journey back to Milford Sound.

Routeburn Track: Perfect for soaking up the alpine scenery, this three-day track offers stunning views across glacial lakes.

Wildlife In Fiordland National Park

The Fiordland is home to many different creatures, and you can spot some beautiful animals throughout the National Park. The Kea bird is the world’s only alpine parrot and are notoriously cheeky animals that can be found within the park.

Fur seals are often lounging on the rocks around the water in the sounds, and bottlenose dolphins enjoy gliding alongside boats. Fiordland crested penguins or little blue penguins can also be seen heading to shore.

Milford Sound

No visit to Fiordland National Park is complete without seeing one of the sounds. Milford Sound is the most popular among visitors because of its easy access from the road. The huge pointed peak fiords are the remains from glacial carving and experiencing Milford Sound from the water is a great way to truly appreciate the magnificence of the stunning steep fiords.