In the height of summer, the hottest hours of the day are from about 3.30 pm. Top Things to Do in Fiordland National Park, Southland Region: See Tripadvisor's 53,078 traveller reviews and photos of 39 things to do when in Fiordland National Park. Much later, European sealers and whalers took shelter in the fiords and built a handful of small settlements, these being New Zealand’s earliest European settlements. A guide or your driver often provides a commentary, pointing out significant or interesting sights. The carving action of the glaciers has succeeded in cutting off islands from the mainland, leaving two large uninhabited offshore islands, Secretary Island and Resolution Island, as well as many smaller ones. The most recent expansion of Fiordland National Park was the 1999 addition of the 482 square kilometres (186 sq mi) Waitutu Forest. Milford Sound was described by Rudyard Kipling as the Eighth Wonder of the World; take a scenic … All of these lakes exhibit the topography typical of glacier-carved valleys, with Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri in particular having several arms similar in look to the fiords on the west coast of the park. Join the local children and families at any of the beaches for a BBQ and an evening swim. Access to Fiordland is restricted to the Milford Road/SH 94, which runs north from Te Anau. A trip into Piopiotahi / Milford Sound is a spectacular event with snow to low levels. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. The largest of New Zealand’s fourteen national parks, Fiordland National Park makes up a significant part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site. Cruise in Doubtful Sound. However, these islands are still occupied by stoats, rats or mice, compromising their suitability as bird sanctuaries.[22]. Top Hotels in Fiordland National Park Vacation Rentals in Fiordland National Park Base yourself in Te Anau to maximise your stay! The air is crisp and fresh, and snow is seen on the mountains. Other tall waterfalls in the park include Browne Falls, Humboldt Falls, Lady Alice Falls, and Bowen Falls, as well as countless temporary waterfalls in the fjords that come alive following rainfall. The retreat of the glaciers after the ice age left behind U-shaped valleys with sheer cliffs and as a result Fiordland's coast is steep and crenellated, with some of the 15 fiords reaching as far as 40 kilometres (25 mi) inland. [24], Fiordland National Park is the most popular national park in New Zealand for international visitors. Fiordland National Park is one of New Zealand’s treasured natural icons and is internationally recognised as part of the wider UNESCO World Heritage site, Te Wāhipounamu (Place of the Greenstone). Free parking. Fiordland National Park awaits: its adventures, parks, and more! [36][37]. Favorite family attractions include Te Anau Wildlife Centre and Luxmore Jet. After rediscovery of the takahē in the Murchison Mountains in 1948, a special area of 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi) was set aside in Fiordland National Park for its conservation, with the population reaching a milestone of 300 birds in 2016. Doubtful Sound also offers boat tours. [10] Other notable fiords include Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. Established in 1952, Fiordland National Park offers stunning fiords, spectacular waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, ancient rainforests clinging to the mountain sides, and shimmering lakes. Fiordland National Park Tourism: Tripadvisor has 53,054 reviews of Fiordland National Park Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Fiordland National Park holiday resource. The latter three can also be walked in and out as day walks, whereas access to both ends of the Milford Track is only via boat and is regulated and must be pre-booked, in particular during the summer peak season. Early Māori visited Fiordland for hunting, fishing and gathering takiwai  (a unique form of New Zealand jade or pounamu). A vast expanse of Fiordland was made a scenic reserve in 1904 and then a national park in 1952. This page was last edited on 16 January 2021, at 11:15. Several large lakes lie wholly or partly within the park's boundaries, notably Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri, both on the western boundary of the national park, as well as the southern lakes Lake Monowai, Lake Hauroko, and Lake Poteriteri. Find out what the weather is in Fiordland right now. Fiordland National Park, covering over 1.2 million hectares, is New Zealand 's largest national park and one of the largest in the world. Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. [30] At the northern end of the park, the Darren Mountains contain several peaks rising to over 2,500 metres (8,200 ft),[11] with views of Mount Aspiring / Tititea to the north in the neighbouring Mount Aspiring National Park. Aside from these major tramping tracks, which also offer guided walks, dozens of lesser known tracks are maintained by the Department of Conservation, ranging from tracks requiring intermediate skills, such as the Hump Ridge Track and the Lake Marian track to advanced multi-day hikes like the Dusky Track and several routes that should only be attempted by experienced trampers. a narrow winding gravel road runs along the Borland and the Grebe Valley, providing access to three tramping tracks and to a campsite at Lake Manapouri's South Arm. Located in southwest New Zealand, Fiordland National Park is a beautiful park, named for its many fiords, which were carved by retreating glaciers. #2 Best Value of 83 places to stay in Fiordland National Park. Trampers on these remote tracks also face three-wire bridges, tree falls, and rough terrain where mud can be knee-deep.[29]. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. The #1 Best Value of 83 places to stay in Fiordland National Park. Late autumn brings the crispness of early morning frosts and mist. Along the Milford Road from Te Anau there are also camping grounds and several short walks, some of which are even accessible by wheelchair. As the name suggests, Fiordland National Park is famous for its beautiful … From mountain […] Daylight hours start to shorten, and although the native forest remains green, the exotic trees in the townships start to change to vibrant colours. Plants and animals have evolved to be completely unique to this area. 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