Fiordland National Park

A mountain stream in Fiordland National Park.

The park has beautiful lakes.

Fiordland National Park, in the southwest corner of New Zealand’s South Island, is a United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific World Heritage Park. It derives its name from the many fiords along its coast.

The park is the largest in the country covering 3.75 million acres. It is also one of the biggest in the world. Te Anau is the main gateway to the park; much of Fiordland is inaccessible by road.

Fiordland also has some of the wettest conditions in the world, receiving an average rainfall of 30 feet per year. Consequently, the park has some beautiful lakes like Te Anau and Manapouri and spectacular waterfalls.

Fiordland is an isolated environment with a variety of habitats. This has helped to nurture and promote biodiversity. The park is home to 700 plant species. Rare birds also live here, including the takahe, a large flightless moorhen once thought to be extinct.

Accommodations in Te Anau include campgrounds and hotels. There are also backcountry huts in the park.

Hiking trails are available, offering short and long hikes. The Milford Track has been called the finest walk in the world and guided walks are offered along this route.

Other activities include mountaineering, scenic flights and fishing.