Spectacular fjords and alpine peaks
With the snowy-peaked Southern Alps sloping down into deep blue waters and lushly forested shores bursting with wildlife, the spectacular Fiordland National Park area in the south-western corner of the South Island is known for its stunning vistas.
The star of the show, is undoubtedly Milford Sound, with its spectacular 1692m-high Mitre Peak (Rahotu in Maori). However, no photograph quite does justice to this majestic range of peaks or conveys the stillness and grandeur of the surrounding national park. Cruise, paddle or sail its untouched flooded valleys, or take to the well-marked trails by foot or bicycle where you can connect with this truly magical corner of the world.
While Milford Sound is the most well-known of the 12 major fiords on the west coast, the larger Doubtful Sound is also a highlight. It is only accessible via a boat trip over Lake Manapouri and then a trip across Wilmot Pass, but it’s well worth the journey, as the surrounding slopes are covered in lush rainforests and the fjord itself is home to bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, penguins and even Southern right and humpback whales.
One of the larger towns in the region, Te Anau, is set on the eastern shore of the largest lake in the South Island. It’s the ideal place from which to explore the national park, or set out on popular hiking trails like the Milford Track which takes you past Giant Gate waterfall, and the Kepler Track which offers you a unique look at the area’s native fauna and flora. There are also plenty of opportunities to enjoy water sports like kayaking, jet boat riding and fishing on Lake Te Anau itself.
Head into the neighbouring Mt Inspiring National Park and you’ll be able to embark on the Routeburn Track, rated among the world’s top classic hikes. The hike takes you along the Routeburn River gorge and through magical forests that date back 130 million years.
Highlights
Seeing the snowy-peaked Southern Alps from the water
Spotting the incredible wildlife that call the Fiordland National Park area home
Embarking on a world-class hike
![Black and white illustration of Ellie Khoury's headshot](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/392555/Ellie-Khoury_square-scaled-140x140-c.jpg)
Ellie Khoury
Travel Designer
I thoroughly recommend staying in Te Anau for a few days as this gives you access to not just Milford Sound but the much larger and lesser-visited Doubtful Sound. Staying overnight on a boat gives you an even more intimate experience once everyone else has gone home.
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Ellie-Khoury_square-150x150.jpg)
Ellie Khoury
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in the Fiordland National Park area
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Where else to go in New Zealand
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Auckland
New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches.
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Bay of Islands
Equally beautiful and historically significant, the bay is peppered with 144 vastly untouched islands that are renowned for their inviting clear waters, subtropical climate and diverse marine life.
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Coromandel
A classic Kiwi beach holiday destination made up of petite coastal towns, velvety white-sand beaches and native rainforests teeming with birdlife.
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Christchurch
Curious travellers will relish all the new eclectic hubs to discover in a city and region that is full of surprises, friendly locals and an inspirational community spirit.
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Dunedin and Coastal Otago
Dunedin is a university town and there is a good selection of lively restaurants and bars. It is also a great base from which to explore the Otago Peninsula with its rugged landscape, beautiful beaches and wildlife.
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Hawke's Bay
The North Island’s wine country is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions with golden colours stretching across arid plains.
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Kaikoura
With the swelling Pacific Ocean on one side and the snowcapped Kaikoura Range on the other – Kaikoura is a quaint peninsula village that is a base for discovering some of New Zealand’s best wildlife.
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Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
New Zealand’s highest peak, Aroaki Mount Cook, is an arresting sight dominating the skyline of the national park which surrounds it.
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Marlborough Sounds and Wine Region
Hop from vineyard to vineyard on the wine trail in this diverse, sun-drenched plateau and sample some of the country’s finest wines, most notably the internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc.
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Nelson and Abel Tasman
New Zealand’s sunniest region has a diverse geography ripe for exploring from golden sand beaches to dense forests, the clearest fresh water lake in the world and secluded, enticing rivers.
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Queenstown and Wanaka
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns, sitting on the tip of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. It’s a bustling hub of international and local visitors come to seek out one of the endless thrills on offer here from skiing, white water rafting, canyon swinging, jet boating, mountain biking and bungy jumping.
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Rotorua and Taupo
Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit – one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand.
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Wellington
Nestled on rolling green hills that spill down to a charming harbour, New Zealand’s capital is an epicentre of culture and creativity – renowned for its arts, gastronomy, heritage and bohemian character.
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West Coast and the Glaciers
The narrow strip of coastline squeezed between the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea plays host to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscape, which is quite some claim.
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When to visit
Fiordland National Park is a year-round destination, however there will be snow in the winter months of June to August.
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Snow
June - August
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