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Fiordland

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A place where legends and myths mingle with the overwhelming presence of an awe-inspiring landscape of forest and fiords.

A dramatic land of rivers, lakes, mountains and forests, carved thousands of years ago as glacial rivers ground valleys through granite mountains. Water still dominates the landscape as abundant rainfall feeds spectacular waterfalls, tumbling rivers and precious bogmires that contain unique and endangered flora and fauna. One of the largest national parks in the world, Fiordland is also part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Immense landscapes enthral on the journey from Te Anau through glacial carved valleys to the deep waters of Milford Sound and unforgettable Mitre Peak.

DO IT. Cruise on stunning Milford Sound or Lake Te Anau, hike in Fiordland National Park, see Ata Whenua, a cinematic journey through Fiordland, take a scenic plane flight over the rugged fiords, sea kayak on Doubtful Sound, sweat it out on the 60 kilometre Kepler Challenge Mountain Run in December.

Destinations

Doubtful Sound Remote waterway reached from Lake Manapouri.
Milford Sound The only one of the sounds that can be reached by road.
Te Anau Regional centre, base for discovering Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park.

Getting there and around

Air The nearest domestic airports with scheduled services are Queenstown and Invercargill – Queenstown has domestic and trans-Tasman flights, while Invercargill provides domestic flights only. Chartered flights may land at Te Anau/Manapouri airport. Various operators offer charter connections between Queenstown and Te Anau, and there are numerous flight-seeing options.
Road Te Anau is located on State Highway 94. It is 2 hours, 30 minutes from Queenstown and 2 hours from Invercargill. Regular coach services operate to and from the region. It is a two-hour, 30-minute drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound. A guided tour will ensure you get the most out of this region – leaving you free to absorb the stunning scenery.

Insider's tip

The best angle for a great photograph of iconic Mitre Peak is from the Milford Hotel at the head of the Sound.

The road to paradise

Milford Sound was inaccessible by road until the Homer Tunnel was completed in 1953. The tunnel took more than 20 years to complete; it is 945 metres above sea level and 1.2 kilometres long. Download a copy of Driving to Milford Sound at www.nzta.govt.nz.

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Fiordland National Park

Deep in the heart of southwest New Zealand, the park is a vast wilderness of mountains, glaciers, deep lakes and pristine rainforest.

Milford Sound

Soaring forest-clad cliffs and roaring waterfalls surround the waters of Milford Sound – this is one of New Zealand’s top tourist attractions and was described by Rudyard Kipling as “the eighth wonder of the world.”

Te Anau

A lovely resort village offering excellent restaurants, shopping and accommodation on the shores of Lake Te Anau (the largest lake in the South Island).

Mitre Peak

One of New Zealand’s most recognisable icons, Mitre Peak, rises from the south shore of Milford Sound.

Fiord wildlife

The fiords are a unique environment containing some of the world’s largest populations of black coral trees, some of them up to 200 years old, as well as seals and dolphins.

Te Anau glow-worm caves

Situated on the western shores of Lake Te Anau and accessible only by boat, the Te Anau glow-worm caves are a fascinating wonderland.

 

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