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All About Fiordland National Park | New Zealand's Rugged Southwest Corner Carved By Ancient Glaciers

A UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 12,600 km², Fiordland is New Zealand’s largest and wildest national park. It’s home to the famous Milford Sound, dramatic fjords carved by ancient glaciers, towering peaks, dense rainforest, and rare wildlife. Rudyard Kipling once called it the “eighth wonder of the world.”

Why visit Fiordland National Park?

Fiordland National Park
  • Famous fjords: Explore Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Dusky Sound.
  • Southern Alps: Mountain ranges soaring up to 2,500 m dominate the skyline.
  • Mirrored lakes: Lake Te Anau, Manapouri, Monowai, and Poteriteri.
  • Spectacular waterfalls: Including Sutherland Falls, one of the tallest in the world.
  • Unique wildlife: Kea parrots, Fiordland crested penguins, and rare insects thrive in lush rainforest.
  • Hiking wonderland: Home to 3 of New Zealand’s Great Walks — the Milford Track, Kepler Track, and Routeburn Track.
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Discover Fiordland National Park

Milford Sound cruise

Milford Sound

Majestic glacial fiord carved by ancient ice, boasting towering waterfalls, lush rainforest clinging to cliffs, and resident fur seals basking on rocks. Cruising its serene waters and hiking its hidden trails offer unmatched beauty and wildlife encounters.

Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
Sea entry into Dusky Sound in Fiordland National Park in the South Island of New Zealand
Guests on the Milford Track Guided Walk
Kepler Track

Plan your visit to Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park timings

Opening hours: May to October: 8:30am to 5pm; November to April: 8am to 5pm. Closed on Christmas Day

  • Summer (Dec–Feb): Warm (18–20°C), long days, best for hiking and kayaking — also peak season.
  • Autumn (Mar–May): Fewer crowds, golden landscapes, calm conditions for kayaking.
  • Winter (Jun–Aug): Snowy peaks, quiet trails, chance of Southern Lights — but some tracks may close.
  • Spring (Sep–Nov): Waterfalls at full force, wildflowers, great wildlife viewing.
Best time to visit Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park location

Address: Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand 9600

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The route to Fiordland National Park
Cruise passengers enjoying drinks with views of Milford Sound fjords.
  • Cruise a fjord: Sail through Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound, spotting waterfalls and wildlife.
  • Go hiking: Walk iconic tracks like the Milford Track or opt for guided day hikes.
  • Take a scenic flight: From Queenstown or Te Anau for bird’s-eye views of fjords, glaciers, and peaks.
  • Explore glowworm caves: Cruise Lake Te Anau to see limestone caves glowing with thousands of tiny lights.
  • Paddle or dive: Kayak fjord waters or scuba dive among rare black coral forests.
  • Cycle lakeside trails: Easy-grade routes around Te Anau and Manapouri, with bike rentals available.
Things to do in Milford Sound
Mackinnon Pass sign with mountain view on Milford Track, New Zealand.
  • Māori heritage: Early Māori used Fiordland for hunting and fishing.
  • 1952: Declared a national park.
  • 1986: Recognized as part of the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Geology: Formed by Ice Age glaciers; today, valleys, lakes, and fjords reveal layers of sandstone, limestone, and ancient metamorphic rock.
More about Milford Sound
Entrance to Homer Tunnel with traffic signs on the road to Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand.
  • Photography & drones: Non-commercial photography is fine, but drones need approval.
  • Weather: Highly unpredictable — pack waterproof layers year-round.
  • Driving: Roads are winding and remote; consider guided coach tours for ease.
  • Essentials: Bring food, water, insect repellent, and layers — no shops inside the park.
  • Pets & wildlife: No dogs allowed; feeding wildlife is prohibited.
  • Leave No Trace: Carry out all rubbish to protect this fragile ecosystem.
Plan your visit to Milford Sound

Things to do & see at Fiordland National Park

Take a cruise along the fjord

One of the most popular attractions at the Fiordland National Park is the cruises along the famous Milford Sound fjord. The cruise takes you close enough to see the glacier-cut waterfalls and has you sailing beside the resident penguins and furry seals. You could opt for a short 2-hour cruise, or even choose to stay onboard overnight.

Book a Milford Sound cruise

Take a guided walk in the park

New Zealand has nine great walking tracks, of which three begin from Fiordland. Spend the day walking through the Milford Track, Kepler Trac, or Routeburn Track and enjoy the diversity of the park up close. You could also opt for a guided walking tour, where your guide would introduce you to the local flora and fauna of the region.

Book guided tours of Milford Sound

Hop on a scenic flight

From nearby towns such as Queenstown, you could hop on a scenic flight that would fly you over the famous fjords, and you can catch a glimpse of glaciers, Mitre Peak, lakes, waterfalls, and ice plateaus from up above. You can also choose to land at Milford Sound and board a cruise along the fjord.

Book scenic flights to Milford Sound

Explore the local caves

Take a magical cruise along Lake Te Anau toward the Glowworm Caves. The limestone caves, sculpted by water eons ago, are now home to hundreds of worms that glow in the dark, making it a unique sight to witness.

Opt for water activities

If you’d like to get up close with nature in the fjord, you can rent a kayak and cruise along the deep trenches with nothing but glaciers and penguins around you. You could also opt for a scuba experience at the fjord and witness the diverse marine life that thrives below the surface.

Cycle along the park

Fiordland National Park has numerous trails that go along lakes, through forests, and more. These trails are wide enough for cyclists and trekkers alike and are generally categorized as a Grade 2 easy level. You can rent bicycles or e-bikes in the nearest town.

History of Fiordland National Park

Early Māori tribes began visiting Fiordland for hunting, fishing, and gathering, and eventually were one of the first settlers in the region. Due to its difficult terrain, only the most resilient settlers survived in the region. The National Park was officially constituted in 1952 and a few years later in the 1960s, Fiordland was the center of attention due to a conservation battle between the government and the people, which was finally settled in favor of the people. In 1986 due to its natural beauty, the park was named a World Heritage Site and today spans over 1.2 million hectares of rainforests, lakes, peaks, and fjords.

​Know more about Milford Sound and Fiordland

Topography of Fiordland National Park

Tourist photographing the mountains surrounding Milford Lake

During the ice age, large parts of New Zealand were covered in glaciers and ice caps. As the glaciers retreated, they cut through the rocks, forming the valleys, deep lakes, and fjords we see today. The high valleys and incessant rainfall have also made the region abundant in waterfalls. Fiordland also has some of the oldest rocks in New Zealand, especially the hard crystalline metamorphic rocks. As the area is close to the alpine fault where two of Earth’s plates meet, Fiordland has large deposits of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone.

Fiordland National Park visitor tips

  • Photography at the park: Non-commercial photography is permitted at the National Park, however, given that the region is regulated by the Department of Conservation, any commercial or recreational drone activity must be pre-approved. 
  • Weather conditions: Fiordland National Park is known for its unpredictable weather conditions throughout the year. Do make sure to pack waterproof clothing and/or extra warm clothes for any eventualities. 
  • Opt for a guided transfer for ease: Roads to Fiordland can be winding and steep. Leave behind the worry of driving and opt for luxury coach transfers so you can sit back and enjoy the views. 
  • Carry your essentials: If you plan on staying overnight, make sure to carry essentials such as medication, sunglasses, a camera, insect repellant for the sandflies, layers, comfy shoes, and a trusty water bottle, as purchasing them on-site might be tricky. 
  • Pets: Given the region’s protected nature, dogs and pets are not permitted inside the National Park without special permission.
  • Wildlife feeding: As you come across various forms of wildlife in the National Park, it is forbidden to feed them as you would be interfering with their natural cycles. 
  • Littering: Littering is prohibited in the National Park. Follow a Leave-No-Trace (LNT) mechanism when traveling through the region.

​Plan your experience

Frequently asked questions about Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vast national park, encapsulating lakes, rainforests, waterfalls, mountain ranges, and more.