Fiordland

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Why visit Fiordland?

Fiordland National Park covers the remote south-west corner of New Zealand's South Island, a wilderness of glacier-carved fiords, rainforest, waterfalls and mountains. It is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, and its most famous fiord, Milford Sound, is one of the country's best-known sights.

The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound along the Milford Road passes the Mirror Lakes and goes through the Homer Tunnel; at the end, cruises and kayaks head out beneath Mitre Peak and waterfalls such as Stirling Falls, with seals and sometimes dolphins. Doubtful Sound is larger and quieter, reached by boat across Lake Manapouri and a road over Wilmot Pass. Three of New Zealand's Great Walks are here: the Milford Track, the Routeburn Track and the Kepler Track. Te Anau is the main base, with glowworm caves across the lake. Fiordland is one of the wettest places in New Zealand, which is why the waterfalls are so spectacular after rain. Bring layers and insect repellent for the sandflies.

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Everything for your Fiordland trip

Book flights, stays, tours and more — all in one place

Hotels Flights Travel insurance Activities Tours & day trips Attractions Car rental eSIM Airport transfer Experiences Scooters & bikes Luggage storage Flight delay refund

More options: Kiwi.com · Oojo · seats.aero · Arangrant · eSky · lastminute.com · Megabon · QEEQ · AutoEurope · Hertz · GetTransfer · Suntransfers · Saily · Yesim · GigSky · Klook · EF Ultimate Break · EF Adventures · AirHelp Plus · CruiseDirect · Travelpro

Local partners in Fiordland: Club del Sole · ICON Collection · Baglioni · COMO · UNA Italian Hospitality

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Popular experiences in Fiordland

The things travellers book most here. You pay the same price as booking direct.

Food & drink toursCooking classesDay tripsSkip-the-line ticketsWalking toursEvening & night toursBoat trips & cruises

Top tours & activities in Fiordland

Find hotels in FiordlandMore experiences on Klook

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When to go to Fiordland

The best months for Fiordland are January, February, March and December. Highs then sit around 13°C, crowds are medium at peak, and a week here is expensive.

Jan
14°
low 5°
20 wet days
Feb
14°
low 5°
14 wet days
Mar
12°
low 4°
18 wet days
Apr
8°
low 3°
20 wet days
May
6°
low 1°
23 wet days
Jun
4°
low -1°
17 wet days
Jul
2°
low -2°
21 wet days
Aug
3°
low -2°
21 wet days
Sep
5°
low -1°
20 wet days
Oct
7°
low 0°
22 wet days
Nov
10°
low 2°
20 wet days
Dec
12°
low 4°
23 wet days
Highlighted = best monthsNumber = average daytime highBar = how wet the month is

Temperatures and wet days are measured, not estimated: ERA5 reanalysis for 2021-2023, at Fiordland National Park, Southland. Source: Open-Meteo.

Planning Fiordland

Best time to visit FiordlandMonth by month, measuredWhere to stay in FiordlandWhich area suits youHow many days you needWhat fits in a short or long stay

Fiordland — common questions

When is the best time to visit Fiordland?

The best months for Fiordland are January, February, March and December. Highs then sit around 13°C, crowds are medium at peak, and a week here is expensive.

What is the weather like in Fiordland?

January is the warmest month, with daytime highs around 14°C. July is the coolest, around 2°C by day and -2°C at night. May is the wettest, with about 23 wet days. Figures are measured averages, not estimates.

What is Fiordland known for?

Fiordland is best known for nature, mountains, adventure and wildlife. The things people come for: Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Milford Track, Te Anau glowworm caves.

Who is Fiordland best suited to?

Fiordland works particularly well for couples, groups of friends, solo travellers and first-time visitors. That is based on what there is to do there, not on who books it most.

What can you book in advance in Fiordland?

The experiences that sell out first are food tours, cooking classes, day trips, skip-the-line tickets, walking tours and night tours. You can check availability and prices on our booking partners below — you pay the same as booking direct.

Food toursCooking classesDay tripsSkip-the-line ticketsWalking toursNight tours

Do I need a visa for New Zealand?

That depends on your passport and how long you are staying, so there is no single answer. TonyPlan has a visa and entry checker — put in your nationality and it tells you what applies to you.

Check visa requirements

Get the Fiordland guide as a PDF

Why to go, the best months with real measured temperatures, which area to stay in, and what flights cost right now — in one file you can read on the plane. Free.

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Free tools for your Fiordland trip

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