A walking and hiking paradise, Fiordland is guaranteed to awe with its tranquil sounds and glacier-carved landscapes. To give you a taste of what to expect from your visit to Fiordland, here's an overview of great itinerary ideas I've collated for you.
One of the southern hemisphere's great wilderness regions Fiordland has achieved World Heritage status for its stunning natural features and exceptional beauty. It's also known as the walking capital of the world and is a highlight for many that travel to New Zealand. Highlights can include:
Fiordland Cinema has daily exclusive screenings of Ata Whenua - Shadowland along with a selection of the best current releases 🎥
encounter tranquil forest scenes of the Hollyford Track on a good, valley-based day walk for families on the 4-6 hour Hidden Falls Track 👟
ascend through lush forest into a unique alpine herb field offering panoramic views of mountains, alpine lakes and bush clad valleys far below on an incredible day out on the renowned Routeburn Track 👟
enjoy tramping the beautiful Lake Marian Track- an alpine lake in a beautiful hanging valley 👟
get out and explore the landscapes while walking the picturesque Kepler Track, an easy 1/2 day guided family-friendly hike on a well graded trail taking you around the south end of beautiful Lake Te Anau 👟
enjoy the thrill of jet boating down the majestic trout filled Waiau River, to the serene Lake Manapouri, step foot into ancient beach forests and be wowed by beautiful scenery aboard Fiordland Jet
rain or shine, wet or fine, Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is incredibly grand - Mitre Peak magnetises photographers, and the fiord's sheer cliffs excite both admiration and apprehension 📸⛰️⚓
gaze at fish and other wildlife at Milford Sound Underwater Observatory offering views of the fascinating underwater environment - discover species of black coral found at depths of 500 metres in the ocean 🐟
Gertrude Saddle Lookout is an adventurous guided day hike from Te Anau - its unrivalled alpine terrain affords spectacular views of Milford Sound from the summit 👟
horse ride over farmland and be greeted by other friendly horses and farm animals with Westray Adventures, or take a truly memorable quad bike tour enjoying 360 degree panoramic mountain views 🐴
if you like to get out into the wilds, away from the crowds but still amongst stunning Fiordland scenery, then Lake Monowai may be the best spot for you, especially if you like to fish or go boating 🛥️🎣
go on a paddling adventure with Rosco's Milford Kayaks, offering a variety of trips suitable for the first-time paddler through to the seasoned kayaker - a great way to experience Milford Sound 🛶
taste the magic of the world-famous Milford Track with a day walk designed for people with limited time, or those who would rather walk for just a single day 👟
seeing Fiordland National park from above with Southern Lakes Helicopters scenic flights are an unforgettable addition to your New Zealand trip
a good short walk option for those with children, wander the Lake Gunn Nature Walk through red beech forest, enjoying glimpses of the birdlife of the Eglington Valley and the surrounding mountains 👟
carved by glaciers, remote Doubtful Sound deserves its Maori name, Patea, the 'place of silence' - aside from haunting birdsong, and boats gliding through this fiord, you'll be humbled by its beauty 📸⛰️⚓
Wairaurahiri Wilderness Jet adds the element of grade 3 whitewater rapids to the thrills of jet boating, and is a great way to see experience Lake Hauroko 🌊
an almost compulsory stop on the Milford Road is the short and easy Mirror Lakes Walk where you'll wander among small lakes with lovely reflections of the Earl Mountains 👟
hidden beneath the mountains on Lake Te Anau's western shores is an underground network lit by hundreds of Glow Worm Caves - one of the best places to see them on New Zealand's South Island 👨👩👦👦
The Chasm is a series of gushing waterfalls, the sheer force of the water is impressive to see and the rocks look unnaturally smooth despite being sculpted by nature
FIORDLAND AT A GLANCE 🛏️ minimum 2 night stay recommended 📅 visit any time of year
📍 6 out of 10 visitors include Fiordland in their New Zealand itinerary
🌦️there is a chance of rain 5½ days each week on average each year
👨👩👦👦Family fun is limited mainly to nature walks and experiences - not a lot to entertain 🍽️Food + Wine experiences in this region were almost always mentioned as a highlight 🏳️🌈 LGBTQI+ friendly 👍
This part of New Zealand is home to:
Largest town: Te Anau
Popular places: Milford Sound, Manapouri, Doubtful Sound, Milford Track, The Road to Milford, Hollyford Track, Knobs Flat, Fiordland National Park, Mitre Peak, Kepler Track, Routeburn Track and more...
Accessible by:
🚗 self-drive on a road trip
✈️ board a plane to land at Te Anau (TEU) or Milford Sound Airport (MFN)
🚌 take a bus from Dunedin, Southland or Queenstown
