Fiordland Itinerary
Milford Sound
An ideal way to explore the region is to undertake the 2.5hr drive to Milford Sound via Milford Road (self-drive and coach tours options available).
Milford Road, considered one of the finest alpine drives in the world, wends its way past a series of wonders down Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys through majestic mountain beech forest. Highlights en route include the Mirror Lakes, the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Lake Gunn Nature Walk, which provides a pleasant 30-minute diversion. Stop at Pop's View for a vista of the rainforest clad Hollyford Valley, home to one of New Zealand's great walks, the Hollyford Track.
Continuing to Milford, the road leads through the Homer Tunnel, an impressive 1200m long tunnel traversing the ridge below the Homer Saddle, with a one-in-ten gradient. Another 17km on is Milford Sound, famous for its much-photographed Mitre Peak, which rises dramatically from the sound.
For a close up view of the sound, choose from one of the many cruise options. All cruises include lunch, and take in such scenic highlights as Stirling and Bowen Falls, the Tasman Sea, frolicking dolphins and basking fur seals. Cruises call at the Underwater Observatory at Harrison Cove, with a chance to see anemones, black coral and feather stars. There are also guided kayaking and diving options, and some cruise companies provide overnight options.
Te Anau Te Anau is the hub of Fiordland and
Manapouri, and its beautiful setting alongside Lake Te Anau makes it one of the nation's most picturesque holiday resorts. It is famous for its numerous walking tracks which provide access to the area's dramatic beauty, including the Dusky, Greenstone/Caples, Kepler, Hollyford, Milford and Routeburn Tracks. Be sure to visit the Te Anau glow worm caves, a short 30 minute boat trip across the lake. The caves are geologically active and the only ones of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
