Fiordland, New Zealand
Fiordland National Park stands as the crown jewel of Southland's hiking destinations. Renowned for its beautiful fiords where you can find ancient forests, dramatic peaks and marine life, Fiordland is the perfect place to get away when you want the peace and serenity of an area with very few inhabitants.
Things to know
Everyone knows already about the iconic Milford Track, dubbed by many as the finest walk in the world, and the nearby Kepler and Routeburn tracks also rival the Milford for this title. Hikers need to be prepared with warm wet weather gear and expect the weather to change in an instant. A Personal Locator Beacon can be hired from Department of Conservation offices and provides peace of mind for hikers as it makes it much easier for rescuers to find you, should you need it.
Doubtful Sound
Within Fiordland, Doubtful Sound is absolutely stunning. The Māori world for Doubtful Sound is Patea which means ‘place of silence’ – you will know why when you visit! This place is VERY difficult to reach. No one lives permanently in the area and it is only frequented by a few tourists and locals who take their boats out fishing and exploring. Most travellers opt to book a tour as to get there you need to take a boat, then a car just to reach the area. But once you get there, you will delight in all the marine life and birds that inhabit the area, and be wowed by the waterfalls that cascade down the surrounding hills into the water. Helena falls is one stunning waterfall you can walk to. Kayaking is also spectacular in this area.
