Fiordland is magic. Often touted by vacationers as their favourite place in all of New Zealand (which is saying one thing as a result of all of NZ is epic), Fiordland is residence to so many distinctive experiences, uncommon wildlife, big mountains, historical rainforest, and pristine landscapes all alongside one of many wildest coastlines. Oh, and there are few individuals too.
Fiordland has earned her popularity over and over.
While I’ve shared a lot of my Fiordland adventures over time, it’s been some time since I’ve whipped up a pleasant overview of my favorites. Based on almost a decade of expertise, listed here are 16 issues to do in Fiordland: take pleasure in one of the best of one of the best.
1. Spend the evening on the water in Doubtful Sound
I’ve carried out nearly each Fiordland journey and exercise possible in nearly each season. And one expertise tends to lord over the remaining – an in a single day Doubtful Sound cruise with RealNZ.
Literally, I’ve by no means heard a nasty phrase about it, and so many individuals say it’s their favourite expertise of a New Zealand vacation. Doubtful Sound in a single day by no means disappoints. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to make two in a single day journeys to Doubtful Sound over time, as soon as in winter and as soon as in summer season, and so they had been equally spectacular.
On my most up-to-date journey, there have been two-night cruises in wintertime, and we awakened on our final day to contemporary snowfall and dozens of momentary waterfalls tumbling down the mountains, which didn’t appear actual.
Doubtful Sound has a singular story. It was the place of one among New Zealand’s first important conservation rulings. In the 1960’s it was proposed the increase the extent of close by Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri for hydropower, which might have destroyed a lot of the unbelievable ecology there. It’s additionally accessed by the Wilmot Pass, New Zealand’s most costly highway, which connects Lake Manapouri to Doubtful Sound for the facility plant. And it’s an unconnected highway to some other kiwi roads – fairly particular!
2. Go for a day journey cruise in Milford Sound
Milford Sound sits facet by facet on the high of the checklist of Fiordland experiences with Doubtful Sound. The solely fiord accessed by highway straight, it will get round a million guests per yr. Nestled alongside the west coast of the South Island, Milford Sound is a world-renowned pure marvel with towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and implausible wildlife.
You’ll undoubtedly see fur seals; if fortunate, you may meet the resident dolphins and uncommon Fiordland crested penguins.
Most individuals come on day journeys to do a day cruise with RealNZ across the fiord. You gotta get on the water to completely admire the dimensions of the place. However, you are able to do an in a single day cruise too. Milford Sound is unquestionably on the high of issues to do in Fiordland.
3. Take your time exploring the enduring Milford Road
There are some ways to reach in Milford Sound, and by highway has lengthy been my favourite. New Zealand has no scarcity of wonderful roads, many with spectacular views. But when you’ve pushed alongside the hanging valleys and crossed via the Milford Tunnel – nowhere tops it.
Many individuals head to Milford Sound as a day journey (3.5-hour drive a method from Queenstown or 1.5 hours from Te Anau), and for those who guide the Milford Sound day journey with RealNZ, their glass roof bus stops at one of the best spots on the way in which to your day cruise. Your different choice is to self-drive, which I extremely advocate.
Somewhat secret from me – guide a late afternoon cruise or drive on to Milford Sound after which do all of the highway stops in your method out. The daytrippers come over within the morning, and whereas they’re staggered, you usually can have all over the place to your self as soon as the afternoon hits, particularly in summer season when the solar units at 11 pm.
4. Strap on a pack and stroll the Routeburn Track, one among New Zealand’s Great Walks
I first walked the Routeburn Track method again when in 2016. We went the primary weekend the hut tickets dropped the worth for winter, and we completely froze our butts off. While it was undoubtedly spectacular, my pervading reminiscence is the chilly.
But like most of Fiordland, these freezing nonetheless nights that convey heavy frost at all times harken a brilliant and sunny, cloudless day. Though typically, it will probably take some time for the steep Fiordland valleys to obtain the daylight. But boy, after they do, it’s magic.
I just lately walked the Routeburn Track once more, which was even higher than I bear in mind. It’s one of many shorter Great Walks in New Zealand, and I discover it moderately simple. Clocking in at 31 kilometers, most individuals stroll it in three days. You additionally get a little bit of every part as you cross from Mt. Aspiring National Park into Fiordland. The trickiest half is that the beginning and end of the Routeburn are 5 hour drive aside. I at all times use Easy Hike to relocate my automobile for me.
5. Visit the native chook sanctuary, Punanga Manu o Te Anau
Fiordland is residence to a few of our most treasured, uncommon native chook species. It’s even residence to our solely native mammal – the bat. Many of the best conservation tales in New Zealand started right here, like rediscovering the kākāpō within the Sinbad Valley or the takahē within the Murchison Mountains – each believed to be extinct.
While it’s uncommon or inconceivable to see among the uncommon species within the wild in New Zealand (many dwell on predator-free offshore islands or reside in areas of restricted entry), Punanga Manu o Te Anau/ Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is a spot the place you get the prospect to see a few of these guys up shut in a respectful method.
Running on donations, the sanctuary is free to the general public. The birds in aviaries right here have both been injured or can not survive within the wild, and others are a part of captive-rearing applications. The injured birds are rehabilitated and, if doable, launched again into the wild.
6. Hike as much as Lake Marian for a picnic lunch
While choosing a favourite day hike in Fiordland is tough, Lake Marian undoubtedly sits on the high of the checklist. She is gorgeous, and it additionally helps that it’s the primary place I ever noticed our uncommon blue duck, whio, within the wild.
An hour and a half steep slog up via the dense temperate rainforest will convey you out alongside the shores of probably the most picturesque alpine lake. The views are unreal in one among Fiordland’s best (and simply accessed) hanging valleys. On a relaxed day, the mountains are sometimes mirrored completely within the water beneath.
It’s simpler the fitter you’re, nevertheless it’s steep and muddy; it’s no stroll within the park.
7. Go kayaking within the rain in Milford Sound
I’ve stated it earlier than, and I’ll say it once more: Milford Sound is magical within the pouring rain. Fiordland receives an insane quantity of rainfall per yr. And whereas Milford is gorgeous on a sunny day, I feel it’s even higher when it’s moody. And one of the best? Pouring down with heavy rain.
Often lots of of momentary waterfalls cascade down the steep mountain faces to the fiord beneath. The peaks drift out and in of misty clouds.
Hop on a kayak journey with legends like Rosco’s Kayaks for a paddle round Milford and pray for rain and no wind. Then you’ll expertise Fiordland at its best. You can even kayak from the boat on the in a single day cruises in Fiordland with RealNZ.
8. Look for the cheeky, uncommon kea, New Zealand’s native alpine parrot, round Fiordland
Africa has issues with wild elephants destroying valuable farmland. Canada has grizzly bears. Australia has snakes. And New Zealand has the kea.
The solely alpine parrot, the kea, calls the alpine South Island residence. And you’ve the most effective possibilities of seeing these clowns down in Fiordland. The Homer Tunnel main into Milford sits round 1000 meters above sea degree. Since kea are inclined to dwell and cling across the alpine space, it’s a wonderful place to see them within the wild with out climbing mountains.
But be careful. They’re naughty and clever and can rip off the rubber round your automobile home windows and windshield wipers. They may even open your packs or throw your tramping boots off a cliff, given half the prospect. But it’s essential to not feed them. A fed kea is a useless kea.
9. Hop on a scenic flight above Fiordland
If you wish to actually admire the dimensions and enormity of the landscapes in New Zealand, it is advisable to get your self on a scenic flight above Fiordland.
If you haven’t been right here earlier than, you’ll rapidly notice there aren’t numerous roads within the distant a part of the nation, and Fiordland has only some. While the Milford Road is epic and a spot you shouldn’t skip, for those who’re brief on time or eager to splurge, there’s no place higher than hopping on a fixed-wing or helicopter flight to Milford Sound.
Many selected to fly to Milford Sound for his or her day journeys with RealNZ from Queenstown. You can even do helicopter flights which I really like much more than the small fastened wings. Fiordland Helicopters are actual legends, and so they function out of Te Anau with some implausible scenic flights across the space. They’ve been round because the deer wars of the 60s.
10. Walk alongside the gorgeous Kepler monitor or climb as much as Luxmore Hut on a day journey
The Kepler Track is one among New Zealand’s Great Walks and is well accessed from close by Te Anau. A 60-kilometer-long loop monitor and most of the people stroll it in summertime over three to 4 days. The surroundings is spectacular and different; you by no means get bored.
The monitor begins alongside the shores of Lake Te Anau, traversing lush forest earlier than climbing up via the bush to the Fiordland peaks like Mt Luxmore. The views are spectacular in any climate. If you solely have a day, you possibly can climb as much as Luxmore Hut and past to Mt Luxmore for some unbelievable views. It’s an awesome spot to observe for kea however be vigilant along with your belongings.
11. Go offline and spend per week on a ship in Dusky Sound
Last summer season, I spent 5 magical days off the grid in distant Dusky Sound with Wild Fiordland; an unbelievable native crew that takes visitors out on their lovely boat, the Breaksea Girl. Off the grid in a real paradise, you’ll spend your days’ kayaking, snorkeling, consuming, strolling, and exploring one of the crucial distant corners of New Zealand.
Since Dusky Sound is usually solely accessed by helicopter, you may also get your repair for scenic flights too. If you’ve been to Fiordland earlier than or for those who’re after an additional particular journey of a lifetime, that is the journey for you.
Since 2015, RealNZ has been engaged on a long-term challenge to take away predators from Cooper Island – the third-largest island in Dusky Sound to protect it as one of the crucial intact ecosystems on the earth.
12. Find the enduring Milford swing at sundown
I’m not fairly positive when the Milford swing on the waterfront grew to become a factor, nevertheless it’s simple to see why it’s so common. It’s an epic spot with epic views and the right place to let your hair right down to stream within the breeze for Instagram.
Facing straight out in direction of the enduring and mighty Mitre Peak, it’s comparatively simple to seek out. Just stroll alongside the Forest Walk footpath alongside the foreshore of the fiord from Freshwater Basin. Crossing the little bridge, follow the correct. There’s a small opening out onto the sandy seashore space (tide pending) the place you possibly can stroll out and see the swing in your proper. It’s not marked, however you possibly can simply discover it.
It’s a type of follow-your-nose conditions, finest visited throughout low tide. I used to be there within the summertime at sundown and had the entire place to myself, besides for about a million sandflies.
13. Look for whio, our uncommon and elusive blue duck
Whio/Blue Duck are among the rarest geese on the earth and are solely present in New Zealand. Fiordland is among the locations you’ve a extremely good likelihood of seeing them within the wild. The whio (pronounced “fee-oh”) was discovered all over the place in New Zealand, and now they’re nearly gone.
There are lower than 3,000 whio left, and they’re 20 occasions extra endangered than kiwi. They are most threatened by launched animals, like weasels and cats, which might simply kill them. In reality, with out our assist, 90% of whio nests fail within the wild. RealNZ helps DOC’s Whio Blue Duck Recovery Program, particularly in Fiordland.
I noticed my very first whio within the wild on the waterfalls on the Lake Marian Track. Known because the white water rafting duck, whio love to hang around in fast-moving mountain rivers.
14. Go botanizing within the Borland Valley
Clicking in at 1.2 million hectares, Fiordland is big, and most of it’s inaccessible besides by helicopter, boat, or our personal two toes. But the Borland Valley is among the few areas with highway entry, although it’s not at all times for the faint of coronary heart. Unsealed, slender, and steep, it’s not really helpful for campervans, and 4WD is often one of the best. The highway was constructed to take care of the facility traces to the West Arm Power Station in Manapōuri.
But it’s the biodiversity of this a part of Fiordland that’s magnificent! Road entry as much as nearly 1,000 meters makes this distinctive alpine setting far more accessible than others in Fiordland. It’s additionally residence to one of the crucial botanically numerous alpine environments in New Zealand.
While this a part of Fiordland perhaps doesn’t get as a lot consideration because the flashier Milford Sound, I discover it equally, if no more, lovely and thrilling.
15. Climb Gertrude Saddle and search for rock wren
One of my favourite day hikes in New Zealand is the enduring Gertrude Saddle, which leads you to the saddle of the Gertrude Valley, trying down into Milford Sound. The view is epic, nevertheless it’s a difficult tramping monitor. There have been many accidents and deaths on this monitor over time.
You must climb up, typically with chains, and stroll on substantial rock slabs which might be slippery in something however dry climate. It’s additionally comparatively simple to overlook a path marker and get bluffed out, leading to fatalities. Finally, it traverses many avalanche chutes, so it shouldn’t be tried in winter.
But for those who’re a assured hiker with a head for heights., there’s nothing higher than the Gertrude Saddle route. And together with the views, it’s additionally a implausible place to search for the uncommon rock wren/tuke, our solely true alpine chook (kea nest within the bush).
16. Dive beneath the waters of Fiordland on the lookout for black coral
Scuba diving is one among my favourite journey spots, and I’ve dived in lots of locations world wide, all of which had been tropical. But after listening to about how implausible diving in Fiordland was, I knew I needed to get down right here. I additionally knew it will be about as removed from tropical as I may probably get.
Fiordland’s underwater habitat is extremely distinctive. Home to the uncommon black coral, crayfish, fur seals, and greater than 150 fish species. Thanks to its insane quantity of annual rainfall, Fiordland has a phenomenon the place a number of meters of freshwater sits on the floor of the saltwater, darkened by the tannins of the forest because it tips right down to the fiord. This darkish freshwater layer permits deep-dwelling black coral (white, go determine) to dwell close to the floor.
Diving with Descend Diving in Milford will convey you to one of the crucial outstanding dive websites.
What did I miss? Share your favourite issues to do in Fiordland – I’m eager to listen to. Comment beneath!
