Fiordland National ParkPhotos |
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Information |
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Fiordland has 14 fiords, of which Milford Sound is the one that most visitors come to see. Part of the reason for this is because it is the most accessible as you can drive here. Doubtful Sound, the next most accessible, requires a booked tour as you need to traverse a road, a lake, and another road before you get to the fiord. This fiord has 365 islands and many more branches and arms than Milford. It is around 10 times larger than Milford, but the jury is out as to whether it is more scenic, many say it is. Both Doubtful and Milford rank as the most desirable destinations in New Zealand. Other fiords in the park can only be accessed by boat or viewed by a plane or helicopter. Some tour boats on Milford Sound poke their bows into some of the waterfalls allowing visitors to collect and drink what is reputed to be the freshest water in the world.
Besides Fiordland's spectacular fiords and steep coastal mountains, the park is also clothed in lush ancient forests, which are dissected by swift rivers. These rivers are the result of snow melt and excessive rainfall. Waterfalls are also common. Many of these waterfalls thunder into fiords such as Browne Falls, while others like Sutherland Falls plunge from lakes above into the valley floor below. Both these fiords rank among the world's tallest.
The park is also famous for its walks as these offer the best vantage points to the most pristine areas of the park. The most well known walk is the 'Milford' which was dubbed 'the finest walk in the world' by the London Spectator back in 1908. This title has stuck and is the phrase that you see on tourist brochures today that describe the walk. However this is not the only great walk here. Other walks in Fiordland include the Kepler, Hollyford, Caples, and Greenstone. The track that most rivals the Milford for scenery is the 'Routeburn' and it is truly magnificent. This track cuts through both Fiordland and neighbouring Mt Aspiring National Park, so there is a lot of variety in the landscapes onroute. It differs to the Milford in that it is more of an alpine walk, while the Milford primarily passes through valleys and in the lowland forests with one major ascent. This ascent known as the Mackinnon Pass, offers two great views, i.e., Clinton Valley and Arthur Valley. The Milford Walk also has the advantage of ending in Milford Sound.
In summer, average fitness is all that is required to do most of these walks even though they range from 3 to 5 days. More experience is needed in other seasons. Guided walks are available for many of these tracks. Not only is the accommodation better, you get meals too. Additionally, your pack is carried for you leaving you to walk with only your camera. Most of the tracks have excellent infrastructure. i.e., good bridges, walking platforms, stairs, and gravel paths where necessary. There are also a number of official short walks in the park including the beginning or end of some of the more extensive tracks including the end of the Routeburn or the Manapouri end of the Kepler.
Original versions of our photos can be purchased & web versions can be shared subject to conditions.
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