Fiordland is simply stunning, with one of the most beautiful national parks we’ve ever been to. As well as the world-famous Milford Sound, Fiordland is home to three of New Zealand’s Great Walks, hundreds of breath-taking fjords and an incredible view at every turn. This may be one of the wettest places in the world, but when you see all the waterfalls that suddenly cascade down the mountains, you’ll be praying to the weather gods that the rains never stops!
Quick Summary
Top Tip: Makes sure you spend at least one night at Milford Sound as a day trip will not do this wonder justice.
When to go: Fiordland’s weather is unpredictable and wet all year round. There is the danger of the Milford Road closing due to snow and ice in the winter, but this time of year also brings snow-capped mountains and much fewer crowds. Having been in both summer and winter, we believe that winter is the best time to visit, as you are more likely to have clear skies and stable conditions.
Peak Season: November - April (summer school holidays)
Off Season: May - October
Best of Fiordland
If you are looking for one of the quietest Great Walks in pristine wilderness then Stewart Island's Rakiura Track should be high on your list. The trail at the very South of New Zealand is an easy track that can be walked by anyone of average fitness.
Everything you need to know about the stunning Routeburn Track: what to expect, transport, distance, elevation, difficulty, information on the huts and how to make the most of this amazing hike.
Everything you need to know to hike the Milford Track: how to book the hike, difficulty, what to expect, what the huts are like and a comprehensive guide to the finest walk in the world.
Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s unmissable destinations with jagged mountain peaks, endless waterfalls and electric blue rivers that have to be seen to be believed. We’re sharing all the best things to do there based on personal experience over several trips, including hidden gems like the secret glow worm colony and where to get the best views.
The Milford Sound Swing became a bit of an Instagram sensation and it’s hardly surprising with a view like that! It’s not as easy to find as you might expect though, so we’ve written a detailed guide on exactly how to get there, as well as the best time of day to visit.
We’ve visited Milford Sound in summer and winter and can give you the full low down on the pros and cons of a winter trip. We’re covering everything you could possibly want to know from first hand experience. If you’ve been weighing up whether visiting Milford Sound in winter is worth it, this guide will give you a definitive answer.
The Key Summit Track is a great day hike along the iconic Routeburn Track. It’s a relatively easy climb through beautiful mossy forest to panoramic mountain views. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk, including track conditions and difficulty.
Everything you need to know before embarking on the Hump Ridge Track New Zealand including what to expect, what the huts are like, costs, elevation, difficulty and what you’ll need to pack for this incredible walk.
The age old question: which of the Routeburn, Milford or Kepler Track should you do? We love them all, but we’ll also tell you which of the three is the best.
Stewart Island is an adventure and nature lover's paradise and is home to many incredible things to do as well as the Great Walk: The Rakiura. We've compiled a few photos of our stay there to inspire you to make the trip to this beautiful part of New Zealand.
The best things to do on Stewart Island - the last stop before Antarctica and a glimpse of what mainland New Zealand used to be like. This guide will tell you the best places to see wildlife, the stunning beaches and hiking trails for a great trip to Stewart Island.
The fourth of our 9 Great Walks was the Rakiura Track, Stewart Island's Great Walk. If you're looking for a Great Walk that's really off the beaten track with the potential for seeing kiwi, then this is the trail for you.
We're only three trails into our 9 Great Walks in 9 Weeks and we're already wondering if the Kepler Track is going to be the best, it's that good. Situated in the stunning Fiordland National Park, the trail goes through forests into a ridgeline that gives million dollar views. But don't just take our word for it, see our photos below.
It's a controversial statement, but the Kepler Track is our favourite of the three Great Walks of New Zealand we've done so far (edging out the Routeburn and Milford). Want to know why we loved it so much? Well here's our account of the trail.
Of all the Great Walks in New Zealand, the Milford Track is the most popular and the most famous. However, just in case you didn't know about the aptly described "finest walk in the world", then check out our 53 photos for some inspiration!
The second of our 9 Great Walks was The Milford Track, something we'd been wanting to do for a decade now. Before starting the 9 Great Walks in 9 Weeks challenge, it was probably the hike we were looking forward to the most. It's an iconic track and we've heard about so many others doing it. However, we weren't quite so sure how much we were going to enjoy it when we saw the forecast...
Finally, after all the planning and waiting, the first of our 9 Great Walks was here, and we were beyond excited to be starting with the World famous Routeburn Track. It’s a hike we’ve both wanted to do for years and we couldn’t think of a better way to start our big challenge.
Like the idea of hiking from sea level to 1,000 on day one alone? Then the Hump Ridge Track in New Zealand is calling for you, a 3 day hike that take you through New Zealand's Fiordland National Park.
The Kepler Track truly is one of the Great Walks in New Zealand and is one of our favourites. The ridge lines and views all the way through are stunning! We’ll tell you all about the elevation, difficulty, how to book onto the trail, description of each hut and everything you need to know about this epic hike.