Fiordland

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Dock Bay Lodge	Fiordland Lodge Luxury Accommodation
Tikana Lodge
Fiordland is located on the south-west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. As one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of New Zealand, Fiordland has achieved World Heritage status and is often called the Sightseeing and Walking Capital of the world. The best base for exploring the Fiordland region is the attractive resort town of Te Anau. From here it is an easy two hours drive to Milford Sound and twenty minutes drive to Lake Manapouri and the start of a Doubtful Sound excursion. The road to Milford Sound is considered to be one of the world's finest alpine drives. You can explore Fiordland National Park by foot, sea kayak or boat, or take to the air and do it the flightseeing way. The Park covers 1.2 million hectares and showcases dramatic wilderness on a grand scale. Waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into pristine, forested valleys, sheer-sided fiords slide gracefully into the sea, rare native birds and sea creatures go about their lives in a near-perfect world. Famous walking trails in the region include the Milford, Kepler, Hollyford and Routeburn Tracks. In most cases you can head off on your own, and guides are available for some tracks. Milford Sound: "For thousands of feet upwards the eye looks upon straight cut rocky frontages, not worn smooth by time, or by wind or water, but as sharply defined and as fresh looking in all respects as if riven asunder but yesterday by the stupendous wedges of Titanic Masons." James Hingston 1883. The Maori were the first to attribute the creation of the fiords to a "titanic mason", Tute Rakiwhanoa who hued out the steep sided valleys with keen edged adzes. No other explanation seems to fit, as it is impossible to comprehend the sheer breadth of geological events that created this seemingly perfect sculpture, as sheer cliffs rise vertically upward from the ocean. Wet or fine Milford is incredibly grand. Mitre Peak magnetises photographers, and the fiord's sheer cliffs excite both admiration and apprehension. Milford is by far the best known of all of the fiords and the only one that can be accessed by road. It is approximately 16km from the head of the fiord to the open sea, which means visitors can comfortably travel the length of the fiord to open ocean and return on one of the many cruise options available in one and a half to two hours cruising time. For the ultimate Fiordland experience we recommend a scenic heli trip - a 4 hr heli adventure through the mighty Milford Sound, Sutherland Falls, Tutukou glacier and beyond. This consistently rates as the most memorable experience for our guests. Just ask for more details on the Fiordland heli trip. Doubtful Sound: Visitors feel humbled yet uplifted by the atmosphere of powerful solitude in the presence of superb physical grandeur of Doubtful Sound. Sometimes called “the Sound of Silence” there is a cloistered serenity within Doubtful Sound that contrasts with Milford Sound. The fiord is rich in flora and fauna, New Zealand Fur Seals and Fiordland Crested Penguins can be seen on many of the small islets in the entrance of the fiord. At 421 metres deep Doubtful is the deepest of the fiords and is long and winding with three distinct “arms” and several outstanding waterfalls in the area from Deep Cove to the open ocean, a distance of around 40.4 kilometres. With no road in to Doubtful Sound access is limited - However a popular addition to the Fiordland heli experience is to add Doubtful sound on. Just ask for more details on the Fiordland/Doubtful Sound heli trip. The Milford Road: The Milford road is a stunning alpine drive. Visitors need to allow plenty of time to stop at the numerous viewing points or short walking opportunities en route, just to get out of the car and drink in the spectacular scenery and the sheer scale of the landscape. At 119km (approx. 74 miles) from Te Anau to Milford Sound the sealed road takes a minimum of 2 hours driving without allowing for stops. Under Fiordland: Yet another unique feature of the Fiordland environment is life under the Fiord. Beneath the water, the mountains continue to plunge down as steep rock walls until they reach the floor of the fiord at depths of 100 - 450 mtrs. Few visitors are aware that below the tide line there exists a fascinating and unique world. A fresh water layer that sits on top of the seawater filters light to allow normally deep water dwelling species to exist very close to the surface. A visit to the underwater observatory or on a guided dive tour allows access to sights rarely revealed to human visitors.
Fiordland Activities
Caving New Zealand Climbing New Zealand Diving New Zealand Farm Tours New Zealand Food & Wine New Zealand Game and Sport Fishing New Zealand Glow Worm Caves New Zealand Golf New Zealand Hiking and Walking New Zealand History and Culture New Zealand Horse Riding New Zealand Hunting New Zealand	Jet Boating New Zealand Kayaking and Canoeing New Zealand Mountain Biking New Zealand Sailing New Zealand Scenic Flights New Zealand Spa Treatments New Zealand Swimming with Dolphins New Zealand Trout Fishing New Zealand Wine Regions New Zealand Wine Tasting and Wineries New Zealand
Events in Fiordland

SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS:

Choose a Walk and Discover Fiordland: Milford Track (53.9km) is often described as the finest walk in the world. It follows several glaciated valleys, ascends an alpine pass and traverses some spectacular scenery. The walk takes four days and involves boat travel at both ends. Both independent and guided walks are available on this track. Routeburn Track: (39km) starts from the divide between the eastern and western sides of the Southern Alps and ends in the beech forests some 80 km by road from Queenstown. Dramatic alpine views, lakes and changing forest types can be experienced over the summer season on this three-four day walk. You can walk independently or take a guide.

Kepler Track: (67km) starts and finishes at Lake Te Anau. You’ll see lake edges, mountain beech forest, exposed mountaintops and glacial valleys along with excellent views of the Southern Alps. This track offers independent walks only.

Hollyford Track: (80km) leads the walker from the sheer rock walls of the Darren Mountains down to the sand dunes of the Tasman Sea at Martins Bay. Experience the splendid isolation of the Fiordland bush, the bustling energy of the Hollyford River and the sand and windswept beauty of Martins Bay. Both independent and guided walks are available on this track.

Dusky Track: (90km) is best suited to those with experience. Various options allow the traveller to spend five to seven days following three major river valleys. Climb two passes culminating in the arrival at Fiordland’s largest and most extensive fiord - Dusky Sound. This track offers independent walks only.

The Surreal Beauty of Milford Sound: Milford Sound, described by Rudyard Kipling as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, was carved out during successive ice ages and, at its deepest point off Mitre Peak, plunges to a depth of 265 metres. The grandeur of Milford Sound can be appreciated from the air or water. Bowen Falls, hurtling 165 metres into the sea, and the Stirling Falls further down the sound, set amidst the towering cliffs and dwarfed by Mitre Peak, are truly spectacular after rain. Bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and Fiordland crested penguins are resident in the fiord and can be viewed up close from the launch cruises or kayak trips.

Doubtful Sound - Off The Beaten Track: You'll feel humbled yet uplifted by the atmosphere of powerful solitude in the presence of superb physical grandeur of Doubtful Sound. Sometimes called “the Sound of Silence” there is a cloistered serenity within Doubtful Sound that contrasts with Milford Sound. The fiord is rich in flora and fauna, New Zealand Fur Seals and Fiordland Crested Penguins can be seen on many of the small islets in the entrance of the fiord.

ACTIVITIES:

- Take a spectacular scenic heli flight over Fiordland National Park View crystal clear lakes, glacier carved fiords and endless snow clad mountains
- Cruise around Milford, Doubtful, Dusky or Breaksea Sounds. The pristine forest, sheer rock walls and tumbling waterfalls are a breathtaking sight. Local inhabitants include bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals and Fiordland crested penguins
- Sea and lake kayaking is an active way to explore Fiordland in a small, personalised group
- Try sailing on the picturesque Lakes of Te Anau and Manapouri
- Take the two and a half hour trip to Te Anau Caves and glow-worm grotto on the edge of Lake Te Anau
- Participate in a guided day walk on either the Milford, Kepler or Routeburn Tracks. Experienced guides explain the unique flora and fauna that you’ll see along the way.
- Milford Deep underwater observatory is situated in the middle of Piopiotahi (Milford) Marine Reserve - It enables visitors to view a completely natural and unaffected marine community without getting wet!
- Take a diving excursion on a cruise or as a full day guided trip from Te Anau. The visibility is great and the water warmer than you think!
- A little wilderness troutfishing? Brown and rainbow trout are all wild and self-sustaining with the average fish weighing one-two kilograms. Much larger fish are always a possibility

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