Things to do in  Fiordland National Park

With its jagged sea cliffs, plunging glacial valleys, and thundering waterfalls, it’s easy to see why Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most visited natural wonders. The headline act of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park is a vast coastal wilderness, fringed by ancient forests and home to fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, rare black coral, and Fiordland crested penguins.

Sprawling along New Zealand’s southwest coast, Fiordland National Park represents the country at its most photogenic: jagged mountains, rugged glacial valleys, and glittering fjords. This UNESCO World Heritage Site harbors some of New Zealand’s most impressive natural wonders, including Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Lake Te Anau, as well as rare Fiordland penguins, dolphins, seals, and sea lions.

The Mirror Lakes are a collection of small lakes in South Island’s Fiordland National Park. As the name suggests, when the air is still their surface acts somewhat like a mirror, reflecting the Earl Mountains surrounding them. The short walk to the lakes is a popular way to break the journey between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

With a stark profile and dramatic location, Mitre Peak’s bare summit towers 5,551 feet (1,692 meters) above Milford Sound. The flanks of Mitre Peak drop steeply into the water, affording spectacular views of the mountain, whether you’re cruising past the base, kayaking in Milford Sound, or swooping by on a scenic flight.

Soaring peaks dive into lush forests on the 4-day Milford Track, New Zealand’s most famous hiking trail. Often called the “finest walk in the world,” the Milford Track travels through the UNESCO-listed Fiordlands, a dramatic setting crisscrossed by a network of suspension bridges, winding waterways, narrow trails, and open valleys.

The Hollyford Track might not have the profile of Fiordland’s Great Walks, but it’s no less impressive. This low-altitude walk runs through the Hollyford Valley, part of the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, and alongside the roaring Hollyford River, past towering mountains and crystal-clear lakes all the way to Martins Bay.

The short, easy Mirror Lakes Walk is a great place to break up the trip between Te Anau and Milford Sound, on the Milford Road. As its name suggests, you’ll see the reflections of the Earl Mountains on the small lake’s surface, when the weather conditions are right. The short walk is wheelchair accessible and takes about 10 minutes, there and back.

In southwestern New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, this remote sound remains one of the least modified areas of the mainland. There’s no road access, though cruise ships often pass through, because it’s actually the largest and longest of Fiordland’s sounds. Otherwise, it’s off the main tourist circuit.

Located on the Fiordland’s Milford Road between Te Anau and Milford Sound, the Lake Gunn Nature Walk is an ideal place to pull over, stretch your legs, and be immersed in nature. The easy, accessible 0.8-mile (1.4-kilometer) loop trail passes through mossy beech forest, and a short side track leads to a stony beach with great mountain views.

The Mavora Lakes Conservation Park is a rugged, remote area of lakes, mountains, forests, and grasslands in Southland. It’s centered on two lakes: North Mavora and South Mavora. You need permission to take a vehicle into the park, but permits are free. It’s a great place to camp, fish, mountain bike, and enjoy other outdoor activities, especially in the summer.