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Fiordland National Park

New Zealand’s Wildest Water World

Fiordland National Park in New Zealand’s South Island showcases dramatic landscapes shaped by glaciers and rain. Towering mountains rise alongside deep blue fjords carved over thousands of years. The area supports diverse wildlife including native birds like the kiwi and kea parrot. Rainforests thrive here with moss-covered trees and lush undergrowth. Rivers wind through valleys creating waterfalls that cascade into clear lakes. Visitors can hike trails, take boat tours to see marine life or simply enjoy quiet moments watching mist rise from forested slopes.

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National Park in New Zealand

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.4

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	3
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is spoken everywhere, from visitor centres to accommodation and tour operators. All signage, maps, and information are in English, so international visitors will have no trouble communicating or getting help.

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Last update: 27 Oct 2026

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Fiordland National Park Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

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Read how our scores work

Famous for fjords and wilderness hiking. Cruise dramatic fjords, trek rainforest trails, kayak quiet waters and photograph towering waterfalls.

Place score

8.7

Best at:

Mountains

Natural sites

Waterfalls

Hiking

Trekking

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

♻️ 7

Sustainability

New Zealand – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type I Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	New Zealand Dollar (NZD) £1 ≈ NZ$2.34
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted across New Zealand, and credit cards are commonly used, especially in urban areas and tourist spots. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not expected in New Zealand, though it is appreciated for exceptional service. 5-10% in restaurants and small tips for taxi and hotel staff are common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in some designated areas but may be restricted in others. Consumption of alcohol in public places may require a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in many public areas, especially indoor spaces and public transport.

Waitangi Day (6 February)	A national holiday celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 111 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Ola
Other:	New Zealand is known for its stunning landscapes, from beaches and mountains to national parks and cultural experiences.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

⛈️

Jan

⛈️

Feb

🌧️

Mar

🌧️

Apr

🌧️

May

☁️

Jun

🌧️

Jul

🌧️

Aug

🌧️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

🌧️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct. - Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Great Walks (Milford, Routeburn, Kepler) run late October to April, huts must be booked months ahead

Milford Road often closed for avalanche risk and snow, usually May to September, check conditions before driving

Fiordland has some of the world's heaviest rainfall year-round, Milford Sound waterfalls most dramatic after rain

Seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere: summer December to February, winter June to August

Don't miss

🛥️ Cruise through majestic Milford Sound and spot playful dolphins
🥾 Hike the world-famous Milford Track through lush rainforest
🪶 Scenic fly over dramatic fjords and hidden alpine lakes
🛶 Explore Doubtful Sound’s remote wilderness by kayak
📸 Capture mirror-like reflections at serene Lake Marian

You've been here?

Why travel to Fiordland National Park?

Fiordland is a paradise for anyone who loves wild places and grand landscapes. You can cruise the legendary Milford Sound, kayak in Doubtful Sound or hike one of the world-famous Great Walks like the Milford, Kepler or Routeburn Tracks. The park’s network of trails, lakes and fiords means you’re never far from a jaw-dropping view or a close encounter with dolphins, penguins or rare native birds. Stargazing here is unforgettable, with some of the darkest skies in New Zealand. But be ready for nature at its most untamed: Fiordland is remote, weather is famously wet and unpredictable (bring rain gear!) and sandflies can be a nuisance in summer. Some tracks are challenging and require good fitness or multi-day planning. Still, if you're up for adventure and don't mind getting a little soggy, Fiordland is one of the world’s great natural wonders.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Doubtful Sound
2 Tamatea / Dusky Sound
3 Department of Conservation Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre
4 Lake Hauroko
5 Milford Sound

🎡Places for activities

1 Kepler Track
2 Milford Track
3 Routeburn Track

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Milford Sound
This dramatic fjord features towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and deep glacial valleys. Visitors explore by boat or kayak through pristine waters surrounded by lush rainforest and rugged mountains on New Zealand's South Island.
2 Darran Mountains
3 Doubtful Sound
4 Tamatea / Dusky Sound
5 Lake Manapouri
6 Lake Te Anau
7 Mitre Peak
8 Sutherland Falls

🎈Events

Fiordland Film Festival
Kepler Challenge Mountain Run
Birdwatching weekends
Guided Great Walks season (October–April)
Local conservation events
Stargazing nights
Photography workshops
Te Anau Winter Festival
Outdoor adventure races
Community markets in Te Anau

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Book Milford Sound cruises early. They fill quickly year-round.
Drive Milford Road slowly for stops at Mirror Lakes, The Chasm and Homer Tunnel views.
Pack rain gear always. Fiords receive over 6 meters of rain annually with sudden downpours.
Visit Te Anau Visitor Centre first for Great Walk hut tickets, track conditions and weather forecasts.

How to travel to Fiordland National Park

Fly into Queenstown or Invercargill, then drive or take a bus to Te Anau (the main gateway). State Highway 94 leads to Milford Sound. Scenic flights and coaches also run from Queenstown. There’s no public train service and roads can be narrow and winding – drive carefully, especially in winter.

Access summary

From Queenstown Airport (ZQN): Drive or coach to Te Anau, about 2–3 hours.
From Te Anau: Drive or bus to Milford Sound trailheads, around 2 hours.
From Invercargill: Southern Scenic Route drive toward Te Anau/Fiordland, usually 2.5–3 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Fiordland National Park

Accommodation ranges from lakeside hotels and motels in Te Anau and Manapouri to backpacker lodges, holiday parks and DOC huts on the tracks. Milford Sound has limited options (a lodge and some camping). Book well ahead for Great Walks huts and peak summer.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels

Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park

8.4

Parklands Motel & Apartments Te Anau

8.9

Distinction Luxmore Hotel Te Anau

8.2

Explorer Motel and Apartments

9.0

Distinction Te Anau Hotel & Villas

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Fiordland National Park

Most visitors base themselves in Te Anau or Manapouri, with guided tours, buses and boat trips to the main sights. Milford Sound is the only fiord accessible by road; others require boat or flight access. Hiking is the best way to explore the interior, with well-marked tracks and DOC huts for overnight stays. Local shuttle services connect trailheads and towns.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+1 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 1% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-15 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to NZD) is 15% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Queenstown, New Zealand - 74 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£53	£135	£359
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£20	£54	£113
🍝 Food per day	£29	£74	£219
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£7	£28

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£32
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.95
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£31
🤧 Cold medication	£3.40
💇 Basic haircut	£11.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Fiordland is very safe, with low crime and well-marked trails. The main risks are weather-related: heavy rain, flooding and hypothermia. Always check forecasts, carry proper gear and tell someone your plans if hiking or boating.

Health & Medical

Basic medical care is available in Te Anau and Manapouri. The park is remote, so bring any necessary medications and a first aid kit. Sandflies can be bothersome — use repellent. Emergency help is available but may take time to reach remote areas.

Accessibility

Main viewpoints and some short walks are accessible, but most tracks are rugged and not suitable for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility. Weather can make paths slippery or impassable. Guided tours and cruises are good options for less mobile visitors.

Tap water

Tap water in Te Anau, Manapouri and DOC huts is safe to drink. In the wild, use water filters or boil water from streams and lakes. Always carry enough water for hikes, as some routes are remote.