Located at the southwest tip of New Zealand’s South Island, Fiordland National Park is a 1.2-million hectare protected area known for the magnificent fiords in Doubtful and Milford sounds carved by glaciers eons ago. There is a trail through the beech forest running along the sandy shore that offers fantastic views of the massive Mitre Peak. The rugged Earl Mountains located nearby are mirrored in the quiet surface of Mirror Lakes.
The Chasm Walk crosses bridges on the Cleddau River, offering breathtaking views of several massive waterfalls. The park, which has been established in 1952, includes a range of habitats that support a diverse and unique flora and fauna, many developed in isolation, resulting in endemic species that don’t exist anywhere else. One example is the Takahe, a bird that is much larger than its cousins that live elsewhere. Fiordland was also a home to Kakapo, the only flightless parrot in the world.
Fiordland National Park, Te Anau 9640, New Zealand, Phone: +6-42-49-79-24