New Zealand Guide
Fiordland
For all New Zealand's scenic grandeur, no other region can match the concentration of stupendous landscapes found in its southwestern corner. Fiordland is a place of superlatives, boasting New Zealand's two deepest lakes, its highest rainfall and some of the world's rarest birds. This hasn't gone unnoticed at the United Nations, which has gathered pretty much the whole area – along with the Mount Aspiring National Park and parts of south Westland and the Aoraki Mount Cook area – into the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.
The Fiordland National Park, which incorporates almost the entire region, is New Zealand's largest. It stretches from Martins Bay, once the site of New Zealand's remotest settlement, to the southern forests of Waitutu and Preservation Inlet, where early gold prospectors set up a couple of short-lived towns. Its 12,500 square kilometres embrace a raw and heroic landscape, with deep, icy and mountain-fringed lakes in the east and a western coastline of fifteen hairline fiords.
Highlights
1 Te Anau Watch the inspirational film Ata Whenua: Shadowlands, shot from a helicopter above the region's landscapes, then book a heli-flight to see the bird's-eye views for yourself.
2 Milford Sound Cruise Milford's world-famous waters on a day-trip, overnight, or dive beneath the surface to see rare red and black coral.
3 The Milford Track Brave the rain and the sandflies to find out why this beautiful four-day tramp is the New Zealanders' favourite.
4 Doubtful Sound Experience scenic grandeur and superb wildlife on a par with Milford Sound but without the bustle; even better when seen at sea level from a kayak.