Fiordland Region

This rugged countryside with its deep fiords is situated in the southwest corner of the South Island. Once a sealing area, Fiordland is now almost deserted except for hikers, visitors and fishermen. Fiordland National Park also provides some of the best tramping opportunities in New Zealand.

Mitre Peak in Milford Sound

Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park and is your ideal base to explore nearby Milford and Doubtful Sounds. The town centre of Te Anau is well known for its fine restaurants, bars and accommodation. Visit the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre and Museum, the Wildlife Bird Park, Underground Trout Observatory or Ivon Wilson Park. Enjoy swimming, yachting, skin diving, water skiing, horse trekking, and salmon/trout fishing or hire kayaks, paddle boats or canoes to check out the lakefront. Take a scenic boat cruise on Lake Te Anau, explore the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves or photograph the magical Mirror Lake (situated on the Te Anau and Milford Highway). As well as being a popular holiday destination Te Anau has world renowned walking tracks such as the Milford, Routeburn, Greenstone Caples and Kepler on its doorstep.

Milford Sound, known as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, is the most accessible Sound in Fiordland National Park. Take a Milford Sound Red Boat Cruise (daytime or overnight) or hire kayaks to discover the majestic scenery including Mitre Peak and the stunning Bowen Falls. Milford Sound has New Zealand’s highest annual rainfall but in return you will see some amazing waterfalls. You might be lucky enough to see seals, dolphins and the Fiordland crested penguin or visit the underwater observatory in Harrison’s Cove to view Milford Sound’s wonderful marine life.

Manapouri is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful lakes and home to the country’s biggest underground power station. The Monument viewpoint, a guided tour of the power station, fishing, tramping or kayaking are just some of the attractions. Take a day trip to Doubtful Sound which includes a lake cruise, the Manapouri Power Station, a drive over the Wilmot Pass and the wild beauty of Doubtful Sound. Further south (on State Highway 95) you will enjoy the isolation of Lake Monowai, Borland Lodge and New Zealand’s deepest lake, Lake Hauroko.