Fiordland National Park Area Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Fiordland National Park featuring mountains, a waterfall and a bay or harbour
Mitre Peak featuring a bay or harbour, mountains and a sunset
Milford Sound featuring a sunset, a lake or waterhole and mountains
Mitre Peak featuring mountains, a bay or harbour and a pebble beach
Fiordland National Park showing mountains, a bay or harbour and boating

Visit New Zealand’s largest national park to see fur seals, dolphins and penguins in the stunning fiords and lakes, and to hike over mountains and through valleys.

Fiordland National Park offers some of New Zealand’s most impressive outdoor adventures. Hike past snowcapped peaks, cascading waterfalls and mossy forests. Take a cruise down mystic-looking Doubtful Sound or Milford Sound, join a sea kayaking tour or go scuba diving in glassy lakes. The landscape hasn’t changed much from when the first Māori people came here to catch fish and find jade. In the park you can still find New Zealand’s rare flightless birds.

Discover picturesque Lake Te Anau on a kayaking trip, cruise or fishing charter. Head to the Te Anau Wildlife Centre, just a short walk from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, to see New Zealand’s kea and kaka parrots and takahē and weka (wood hens).

To admire Fiordland’s aquatic wonders, visit the Underwater Observatory at Harrison Cove. If you are a scuba diver and visiting in winter, put on a dry suit and explore the unique underwater landscape on a guided dive. Tannin-laden water from the mountains forms a dark layer on the seawater, creating an unusual habitat of black-coral colonies for reef fish and sea pens.

During the warmer months, gear up to hike the Milford, Kepler or Manapouri tracks. The Milford Track is the most famous and is 53.5 kilometres (33 miles) long. Hire a guide or register to go independently bring supplies for 4 to 5 days. Book ahead to get bunk beds in the rustic huts, with kitchen facilities, along the way.

The often wet and cold hike to the Mackinnon Pass is rewarded with views over the valley, snowy Mount Hart and Mount Balloon.

Fiordland National Park lies in the south-western tip of New Zealand. Lake Te Anau and its village are a 2-hour drive away from all the transport options and tour agents in Queenstown. From Te Anau, it’s 2 hours by coach to Milford Sound. Cruises over Doubtful Sound and some major hikes leave from Manapouri.

Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels

Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels

4.5 out of 5
77 Manapouri - Te Anau Highway, Te Anau
Stay at this 4.5-star eco-certified holiday park in Te Anau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
Thank you for your excellent service
"It was beautiful and comfortable. My husband forgot his camera at the property. The staff was so lovely to send their camera to the US. What an excellent service and hospitality! They went beyond what they do. Thank you for your superb service. We will stay again."

Reviewed on 10 Jul 2025

Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels
Lakeside Motel & Apartments

Lakeside Motel & Apartments

3.5 out of 5
36 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau
The price is ₹6,795 per night from 21 Jul to 22 Jul
₹6,795
₹7,845 total
21 Jul - 22 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star motel in Te Anau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Luxmore Jet and Fiordland National Park Visitor ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"The manager (possibly the owner) was lovely. We had a lake view room, which was beautiful once the fog lifted. It’s an easy walk to nearby restaurants, and we stayed for two nights on our way to and from Milford Sound—a great place to stop. The unit was clean and very well renovated, and we were ..."

Reviewed on 15 Jul 2025

Lakeside Motel & Apartments
Distinction Luxmore Hotel

Distinction Luxmore Hotel

4 out of 5
Corner Mokonui Street & Main Street, Te Anau
The price is ₹11,139 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
₹11,139
₹12,974 total
20 Jul - 21 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Te Anau. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10/10 – Incredible Stay! I stayed here with my two little kids and we had such a great time! The staff were absolutely amazing—so kind, helpful, and genuinely welcoming. Travelling solo with young kids can be tough, but they went out of their way to make things easy and comfortable for ..."

Reviewed on 12 Jul 2025

Distinction Luxmore Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Tukare Lookout

Tukare Lookout

3 out of 5
472B Te Anau Milford Hwy, Te Anau, Southland
Stay at this 3-star cabin in Te Anau. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Fiordland Astronomy and Fiordland Cinema are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (2 reviews)
"Great, beautiful design, views"

Reviewed on 13 Mar 2025

Tukare Lookout
Birchwood Cottages

Birchwood Cottages

3 out of 5
208 Milford Road, Te Anau
Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and room service. Popular attractions Fiordland Cinema and Luxmore Jet are located nearby.
9.2/10 Wonderful! (156 reviews)
"Lovely quaint cottages. Great value for money."

Reviewed on 12 Apr 2025

Birchwood Cottages
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Cities near Fiordland National Park Area