© Lonely Planet Publications 287 Fiordland National Park Fiordland National Park, the largest slice of the Te Wahipounamu-Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area, is one of New Zealand’s finest outdoor treasures. At 12,523 sq km, Fiordland is the country’s largest park, and one of the largest in the world. It stretches from Martins Bay in the north to Te Waewae Bay in the south, and is bordered by the Tasman Sea on one side and a series of deep lakes on the other. In between are rugged ranges with sharp granite peaks and narrow valleys, 14 of New Zealand’s most beautiful fiords, and the country’s best collection of waterfalls. The rugged terrain, rainforest-like bush and abundant water have kept progress and people out of much of the park. Fiordland’s fringes are easily visited, but most of the park is impenetrable to all but the hardiest trampers, making it a true wilderness in every sense. The most intimate way to experience Fiordland is on foot. There are more than 500km of tracks, and more than 60 huts scattered along them. The most famous track in New Zealand is the Milford Track. Often labelled the ‘finest walk in the world’, the Milford is almost a pilgrimage to many Kiwis. Right from the beginning the Milford has been a highly regulated and commercial venture, and this has deterred some trampers. However, despite the high costs and the abundance of buildings on the manicured track, it’s still a wonderfully scenic tramp. There are many other tracks in Fiordland. The Hollyford, on the park’s northern edge, is steeped in history and has excellent fishing holes. At the park’s opposite end is the Dusky Track, a true wilderness tramp. FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK FIORDLAND NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS Viewing the three leaps of Sutherland Falls ( p297 ) on the Milford Track Photographing the seal colony at Martins Bay ( p302 ) on the Hollyford Track Climbing Mt Luxmore ( p305 ) for views of Fiordland National Park on the Kepler Track Tramping across the wooden viaducts along the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track ( p311 ) TELEPHONE CODE: 03 www.fiordland.org.nz www.hikesouth.com 288 FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK •• History www.lonelyplanet.com Fiordland 0 50 km Fiordland 0 30 miles Fiordland – Maps Southwest New Zealand 1 Milford Track p295 Big Bay (Te Wahipounamu) World Heritage Area 2 Hollyford Track (South) p300 Mt Aspiring 3 Hollyford Track (North) p301 Martins Bay 3 (3035m) 4 Kepler Track p304 Mt Webb 5 Dusky Track pp308–9 (1158m) 6 Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track p314 Lake McKerrow Lake Milford Alabaster Poison Sound Sound Mt Tutoko (2746m) Mitre Peak Milford (1692m) Sound Mt Earnslaw 1 (2819m) Lake 2 Sutherland Ada Sound Paradise Bligh Sound Hollyford Lake Glenorchy George Sound Quill Mt Anau T A S M A N (1958m) SH94 S E A Lake Alice Mt McDougall David Peak Lake Queenstown (2036m) (2050m) Wakatipu Caswell Sound Tooth Peak Charles Sound Mt Pisgah Lake Countess (2050m) (1556m) Hankinson Te Wahipounamu Peak Walter Peak Nancy Sound Southwest New Zealand (1829m) (1815m) World Heritage Area Thompson Sound North Secretary Mt Irene Te Anau Mavora Doubtful SoundIsland (1879m) Downs Lake F I O R D L A N D South N A T I O N A L P A R K Mt Lyall Mavora (1905m) Lake Te Anau Lake Jane Peak (2035m) 4 Spire Peak Te Anau Dagg (1696m) Sound Lake Manapouri Deep Cove 6 West Arm The Key Breaksea Manapouri Five Rivers 5 SH94 Island Mt Crawford Flat Mtn (1695m) (1768m) See Mt Aspiring National Mt Ward Park Map (p258) (1713m) Breaksea SoundResolution Supper Spence Peak Lumsden Island Cove (1634m) Takitimu Forest Monowai Anchor Cooper Green Blackmount Island Lake Waiau Island Long Riversdale Island Lake Dusky Sound Monowai Ohai River Lake Oreti River Widgeon Lake SH96 Wreys Hauroko Caroline Peak Bush (1722m) Clifden Orawia Chalky Inlet Lake Winton Poteriteri Chalky Island Otautau Preservation SH99 6 Fairfax Inlet Coal Island Tuatapere Te Waewae Te Waewae Riverton Bay Orepuki Colac Bay HISTORY Dusky Sound was Tamatea, after the legend- In comparison with other regions, little is ary explorer who travelled the length of the known of the pre-European history of the main islands in the canoe Takitimu. Maori in Fiordland. There is evidence of The most significant find in the Fiord- a permanent settlement at Martins Bay, land region was made in 1967, when the and possibly summer villages throughout remains of a Maori sitting burial were dis- Fiordland, which were used for seasonal covered in a small, dry cave on Mary Island hunting expeditions. The Maori name for in Lake Hauroko. It was the best-preserved FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK FIORDLAND NATIONAL.