Fiordland Trail & Visitor Guide
Fiordland · New Zealand · Approximately 12,500 square kilometers (4,830 sq mi), New Zealand's largest national park and part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area.
Why Visit Fiordland
Fiordland National Park covers 4,868 square miles of New Zealand's southwest corner, a wilderness of deep fiords, hanging valleys, and rainforest receiving over 250 inches of rain annually. The park contains 14 fiords, three of New Zealand's Great Walks, and some of the oldest rainforest on Earth — trees over 800 years old stand in moss-draped groves. The extreme rainfall creates thousands of temporary waterfalls that cascade down near-vertical valley walls after storms.
Free Fiordland Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Fiordland audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Milford Sound, Milford Track, Routeburn Track, plus quieter spots like Hollyford Track and Lake Marian Track. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Milford Track53.5 km (one-way over 4 days) · Moderate; advance bookings required, guided or independent
Passes Mackinnon Pass (1,154 m) and Sutherland Falls (580 m), one of NZ's tallest waterfalls; ends at Milford Sound.
- Kepler Track60 km loop (3-4 days) · Moderate; alpine section exposed to weather
Ridgeline above the bushline with views over Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri; starts and ends near Te Anau.
- Routeburn Track32 km (one-way, 2-4 days) · Moderate; crosses into Mount Aspiring NP
Harris Saddle (1,255 m), Lake Mackenzie, and Earland Falls; links the Divide to Glenorchy.
- Key Summit (off Routeburn)6.8 km return (about 3 hours) · Easy to moderate day walk
Alpine bog wetland and views of the Hollyford and Greenstone valleys; accessible from the Divide on the Milford Road.
- Lake Marian6 km return (about 3 hours) · Moderate; steep, rooty climb
Hanging alpine valley lake ringed by peaks; trailhead off Hollyford Road near the Milford Road.
Must-See in Fiordland
- •Milford Sound — New Zealand's most visited natural attraction, a fiord beneath the 5,560-foot Mitre Peak
- •Milford Track — a 33-mile, four-day Great Walk through rainforest, past waterfalls, and over an alpine pass at 3,550 feet
- •Routeburn Track — a 20-mile, two to three-day Great Walk crossing alpine meadows between Fiordland and Mount Aspiring parks
- •Sutherland Falls — one of New Zealand's tallest waterfalls at 1,903 feet, accessible as a side trip from the Milford Track
Best Viewpoints
- •Milford Sound waterfront looking toward Mitre Peak (1,692 m)
- •Mackinnon Pass on the Milford Track (1,154 m)
- •Key Summit alpine wetland off the Routeburn
- •Harris Saddle on the Routeburn Track
- •Knobs Flat / The Chasm viewpoints along the Milford Road
Quieter Corners of Fiordland
- •Hollyford Track — a less-known 35-mile trail to the remote Martins Bay coast with seals and penguins
- •Lake Marian Track — a steep 3-mile return walk to an alpine lake reflecting the Darran Mountains
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
No general park entrance fee. The Department of Conservation (DOC) charges for Great Walk huts (Milford, Kepler, Routeburn), which require advance booking; Milford Sound boat cruises are operator-priced. Conservation hut and campsite fees apply on the backcountry network.
Getting There
Te Anau is the gateway town, about 2 hours (170 km) by car from Queenstown. Milford Sound is roughly 120 km (about 2 hours) further north from Te Anau via State Highway 94, the Milford Road. The road passes through the 1.2 km single-lane Homer Tunnel; carry chains in winter (often required May-November) and check NZTA/DOC road status before departing. Nearest airport is Queenstown.
Where to Stay
Te Anau is the main base, with hotels, motels, a DOC holiday park, and lodges; Manapouri offers additional options. Inside the park, accommodation is limited to DOC Great Walk huts (book ahead via DOC) and Milford Sound Lodge near the sound. There is no town at Milford Sound itself.
Best Time
Late October to April (NZ spring-autumn) for the Great Walks season, when huts are fully serviced and the Milford Track and Routeburn require bookings. December-February is busiest. Rain is possible any day in any month.
Safety
Sudden, severe weather is the top hazard. Fiordland receives 6,000-9,000 mm of rain a year; rivers and streams rise fast and can become impassable within hours, and alpine sections (Mackinnon Pass, Harris Saddle) are exposed to storms year-round. Avalanche risk closes the Milford Road in winter. Carry rain gear, check forecasts and DOC alerts, register intentions, and never cross flooded rivers. Sandflies are persistent; bring repellent.
Scenic Drives
- •Milford Road (State Highway 94) from Te Anau to Milford Sound, with stops at Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, the Homer Tunnel, and The Chasm
- •Hollyford Road spur to Lake Marian and Humboldt Falls trailheads
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