Fiordland - New Zealand. Fiordland National Park Fiordland National Park

Having flown from Australia to New Zealand in the morning and checked into the hotel, we devoted our entire first day to exploring the city of Queenstown - New Zealand - The Land of Long White Clouds. Queenstown. Queenstown is located in the middle of the lower third of the South Island of New Zealand and from here it is very convenient to make excursion trips to different parts of this region.

And there is something to see here. The shores of the southern side of the island are very beautiful - they are indented by numerous bays, bays and fjords. There are interesting mountains and well-equipped trails with parking lots and shelters where you can wander for your own pleasure. But all this takes time. And we are running out of time - only 12 days for both New Zealand islands.

Road to the fjord Early the next morning Richard picked us up and we drove out to the Milford Sound fjord, one of the main attractions of the southern part of New Zealand.

The road from Queenstown to Milford is not close and is 286 kilometers. And even with good quality roads, it takes more than four hours one way. It is interesting that in a straight line (from A to B) there will be only fifty kilometers, but in these places all roads depend on the location of the mountain valleys. So our road twists and turns in different directions, winding up extra kilometers.

Having left Queenstown, the road climbed a small pass and the expanses of the South Island opened up before us.

Then it goes south, skirting a long appendix extending from Lake Wakatipu and finally breaks out into the expanses of a large plain, on which we saw the main wealth of New Zealand - millions of flocks of sheep.

Richard comments on the places we pass and says that during the trip we will stop at several points of interest from a tourist point of view. The first will be the small town of Te Anau, then the small lake Mirror Lake, then the interesting geological formation Chazm and a one-way tunnel.

Having stopped in the town of Te Anau, we cheered ourselves up from an early rise with a cup of coffee and walked along the embankment of the lake of the same name. Despite the early morning, there were a lot of people in the town - who, like us, made a stop on the way to the Milford Sound fjord, and many came here to do hiking trails in the surrounding mountains. In just a few days, walking along mountain paths, you can also reach the coast and fjords. Te Anau is the last settlement before the deserted road to Milford Sound.

Near the cafe there is a monument to some strange blue chicken bird with a red beak and paws. It turned out that this is a statue of the Takahe bird, which was previously considered extinct. But, fortunately, some lucky people found her alive and unharmed in the vicinity of this town.

At the exit from the town there are warnings about the need to fill up with gasoline both ways. There are only mountains ahead. We are entering the territory of the Fiordland National Park.

Our next stop is in a place with the loud name Mirror Lake. In fact, it is some kind of lake in a swamp. There are bridges along the lake. There was no wind and there was a mirror below us. But only from the water. It reflected the mountains standing nearby and sunken driftwood was clearly visible in the depths.

Walking along the shore, it seemed that I would now see Alyonushka, bending over a stone over the water. But - alas. But, seeing tourists, some fish swam too close to the surface of the water in the hope of a crust of bread, and all the fairy-tale mirror image was broken...

Then there was a stop at the interesting formation The Chasm. It’s even difficult to define it - probably an underground waterfall. Waterfalls are generally difficult to photograph, but this one is especially so. You can't approach him. The peacefully flowing Cleddau River suddenly breaks under the bridge into a narrow gap and disappears with a roar into the darkness. As a result of its millennia of activity, The Chasm has carved a complex canyon inside the rocks.

After walking a hundred meters along bridges laid directly above it at a height of many meters, we come to a place where we can see how water is already escaping from a rocky crevice. The famous New Zealand researcher David Henry Thoreau said, describing this phenomenon: “no stone craftsman using a diamond tool can do what water, air and time have done with their gentle touches.”

Let's move on. The road begins to climb up the mountain and goes past the sheer walls of the canyon. On the right the river roars, on the left, waterfalls fall from steep walls and from crevices. Soon we arrive at a large mountain crater. All around there are steep walls with snow-capped mountain peaks. The Homer tunnel is ahead. It has one lane and a line of cars stands in front of it, waiting for the signal to move.

The tunnel is about 2 kilometers long and is cut into the rock mass. The work in it has not yet been completed and it is uncomfortable to drive in it - water is flowing from the ceiling, there is no lighting inside, the asphalt has potholes. For most of it the road goes downhill. The tunnel is closed for the night and repairs are slowly being made.

Having passed through the tunnel, we found ourselves in a different climate - there was snow in places, despite the fact that it was hot. The road down went faster and after half an hour we arrived at the small harbor of the Milford Sound fiord (44°40’S, 167°55’E). The departure of our three-deck beauty “Milford Sovereign” is in half an hour.

Fjord cruise Milford Sound is one of 14 fiords located within the Fiordland National Park and Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. Milford Sound is the hallmark of New Zealand. In the Aboriginal Maori language it is called Piopiotahi. This is a narrow bay of the Tasmanian Sea about 15 kilometers long with steep and steep banks up to 1200 meters high. Like most fjords, it is shallow at the neck and deeper at the opposite end.

The fjord was formed during the last ice age, when a glacier, moving towards the sea, squeezed out a deep depression in the rocky ground. About 10,000 years ago, the glacier retreated and the Tasman Sea flooded the resulting basin. Among the mountain peaks surrounding Milford Sound, the most significant are Miter Peak (1692 m), The Elephant Mountain (1517 m) and Lion Mountain (1302 m).

Rain forests grow on the mountain slopes, clinging to rocks, and you can often see fur seals, penguins and dolphins frolicking in the water. The steepness of the slopes does not at all prevent all kinds of plants, intertwining with each other, to densely cover the rocks.

If we go ashore, we will find ourselves in the Mesozoic rainforest. Ferns and horsetails are as tall as a man, huge trees bear unprecedented fruits, and large lizards run under your feet. Oh, if only there were dinosaurs here! And all these miracles are due to the amazing humid climate. On the one hand, it is provided by the snow covering the mountains, and on the other, by the warm waters of the ocean, which have nourished the forest for millions of years.

These places are among the wettest on Earth. According to official data, there are 182 rainy days a year and during this time 6,813 mm of precipitation falls, which turns into streams of water that fall down in the form of waterfalls.

Only here, and even in Patagonia, where we were last year, glaciers descend almost to sea level. Here are virgin places and there are no traces of human activity. The banks are very steep and there is absolutely no place on them not only for settlements, but also for tents. And most importantly, there are no pastures for livestock. That is why the virgin primordial nature of these places has been preserved here. Episodes of the famous film “The Lord of the Rings” were also filmed in Milford Sound.

Finally, our ship slowly moves away from the pier and enters the waters of the fiord. Everyone immediately takes out their photographic equipment to capture all the beauty that lies ahead. And, of course, yourself, your loved ones - “I was here”! Immediately after leaving the harbor, a powerful waterfall, Bowen Falls, 160 meters high, appeared on the right.

The watery expanses of the fjord and sharp mountain peaks stretched ahead. Tourist boats drove on the same left side of the road as cars on the roads.

Not far from us there were several other ships from other travel companies, but they were much smaller than ours, and they were mercilessly tossed about by the waves. I don't envy their passengers. But we didn’t feel any pitching at all. In about an hour, the ship reached the exit to the Tasmanian Sea and turned around in the opposite direction.

The neck of the fjord is not very wide. This is probably why Captain Cook, sailing through these places twice, did not notice the entrance to this fiord. We were very lucky with the weather. There is not a cloud in the sky, but there is a very strong wind.

On the way back we go on the right side of the fiord. There are dozens of waterfalls here - from thin streams to wide streams. On one of the flat rocks protruding from the water is a seal rookery. Calmly, not paying attention to anyone, they lie in the sun and slowly turn over, exposing their other sides to the sun.

A large stream of the Stirling Falls waterfall appeared ahead, shining in the sun, and the captain steered the ship straight towards this watery radiance. Everyone on the bow of the ship was in complete delight! Cascades of stunning beauty fall from a height of 155 meters directly onto the deck, splashing those who are gaping. Beauty and stunning!

Then the ship moves away from the waterfall, freeing up this adrenaline-filled place for the next ship. It is impossible to describe the magnificence of this fjord in words. He is unrealistically beautiful. You can give 10 points. Somewhere, once upon a time, I read a test about female beauty: 9 points - you can hardly find a couple of minor flaws. 10 points – sheer perfection. You can endlessly, without stopping and without getting tired, look at the object of your adoration. Just like this fjord and these waterfalls.

And old Kipling was right, who visited these places at the end of the 19th century and called this fjord “the eighth wonder of the world.” Up to 1 million tourists visit it annually. And this despite the fact that the entire population of the country is just over 4 million! What is it like!?

The drive back to Queenstown was uneventful, apart from getting caught in a traffic jam of thousands of sheep being herded along our only road. All management of this huge herd was carried out by one shepherd and three dogs - the shepherd walked calmly along the side of the road, and the dogs drove the herd along the road, collecting and driving the lost along the way.

The last evening in Queenstown was spent on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, hand-feeding ducks and celebrating the birth of our Pavel’s grandson. The next day we leave hospitable Queenstown and go to conquer the icy peaks of the Southern Alps - New Zealand. The long road to the glaciers of the Southern Alps.

In the Appendix is ​​a documentary film by the author - “New Zealand - The Land of Long White Clouds” - 37 min. - overland.com.ua/films/new_…

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👁 Do you know? 🐒 this is the evolution of city excursions. The VIP guide is a city dweller, he will show you the most unusual places and tell you urban legends, I tried it, it’s fire 🚀! Prices from 600 rub. - they will definitely please you 🤑

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Fiordland National Park (New Zealand) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.

• Last minute tours to New Zealand

When it comes to unusual travels and natural beauties, the mind spontaneously comes to thoughts of fjords - stunningly beautiful places where sea bays cut into inaccessible rocks, revealing fantastic panoramas to the observer and plunging him into a state of serenity, harmony and peace. Fiordland National Park, located in the southwest of New Zealand, belongs to such places.

About the park

Fjordland National Park was created by the New Zealand government in 1952 to preserve the island ecosystem, and in 1986 it became one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And this is no coincidence, because these places have retained their pristine beauty and pristine state.

The greatest interest in Fiordland is its natural attractions: fjords, mountain peaks, waterfalls and numerous rivers.

There are quite a large number of fjords in the park, the largest and most picturesque of which are Dusky, Milford, Brexey, Doubtful, George and others. Lady Bowen, Stirling and Sutherland waterfalls deserve special attention. The average height of the mountain peaks surrounding Fiordland is approximately 1220 m above sea level, and in the very center several peaks rise into the sky: Lion, Elephant and the highest - Miter.

Flora and fauna

Oddly enough, human activity has hardly affected the flora of Fiordland. Almost the entire landmass here is covered with moist evergreen beech forests, laurels, legworts, myrtle trees, tree ferns and other plants. In total, the park has over 7,000 different species of flora, and 35 of them are very rare. The main feature of the “Country of Fjords” is that this is the only place on the planet where glaciers are almost close to the tropical forests.

As for the animal world, first of all we should mention birds, the exact number of species of which is still unknown here. Takahe, ueka rail, kakapo, jumping parrot, shooter, kea, mohua, southern kiwi - just a small fraction of the whole variety of birds. And albatrosses, petrels and even penguins live peacefully in the neighborhood.

“The Country of Fjords” is a place where incongruous things come together: tropical thickets give way to snowy peaks and huge glaciers, and colorful parrots live next to penguins.

Killer whales, sperm whales, humpback whales, fur seals and lions, leopard seals and elephants swim in the coastal waters. Also in the bays you can see Australian bottlenose dolphins and at least three species of dolphins. The most striking representatives of the fauna on land are couscous and wapiti deer.

Note that visitors can not only admire nature, but also relax in the park: fly on a light aircraft, swim in a kayak or boat, dive underwater, ride a bike or jeep, go fishing or visit an underwater observatory.

Practical information

To get to “Fiordland” you first need to get to the town of Te Anau, and then to the Milford Sound fjord by car (you can rent it in Te Anau) or to Lake Manapouri by bus. Another option is to fly to the city of Dandida, and from there to the town of Glenorchy, which is next to the park. Visiting the park is free.

Covering an area of ​​1260 hectares, Fiordland Park is New Zealand's largest national park and is located in the southwest of the South Island. This vast area is home to some of the country's most scenic landmarks, including Milford Sound, Sutherland Falls, Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau.

In 1990, Fiordland was included in the UN World Heritage List and was named Te Wahipounamu - "the place of jade", due to the largest jade deposits in the area.

Fiordland is one of the wettest regions of New Zealand - it rains here 200 days a year. Huge masses of water, discolored after flowing through forests and many layers of rotten foliage, flow into the fiords. This water then acquires a yellow-brown color and forms a layer above the seawater that fills the fjords, and thus only greenish light penetrates the surface.

The hilly terrain, isolation and humid climate created a natural habitat where many species of plants and animals, dating back thousands of years, existed peacefully here. The takahe bird, thought to be long extinct, was rediscovered in Fiordland in 1948. Fiordland was also the last refuge of the flightless parrot, the kakapo, a species for which a separate program was created to restore its population. ()

Takahe

They were hunted by local Maori tribes for their plumage. By the time Europeans arrived on the islands, it was believed that the birds had been completely destroyed.
Only in 1948, an amateur naturalist from a small New Zealand town, Jeffrey Orbell, after almost a year of systematic searches in the area of ​​Lake Te Anau, discovered a small colony of birds.
The birds were photographed, banded and released. The New Zealand government decided to declare this area a nature reserve.

Fifty takahes lived peacefully. But since there was a threat in the form of voracious weasels and possums, a nursery was created as a safety net.
The nursery was built on Mount Bruce, one hundred and thirty kilometers from Wellington. It was decided to get takahe eggs and place them under the bantam chickens.
The most diligent hens were specially selected. They trained them like paratroopers. We chose one, but misfortune happened: a box with a chicken and training eggs fell out of the car. However, I was lucky - not a single egg broke. When they opened the box, they saw a ruffled hen covering the eggs with her body.
The operation began successfully, two chicks hatched in due time, from which the revival of Tahake began.
Rare takahe birds can be seen in their natural habitat, Lake Te Anau.

Kakapo

This is a representative of the genus of owl parrots or, as they are also called, kakapo. The number of these birds barely reaches 125 individuals, which makes them the rarest birds on the planet.

The only parrot that leads a twilight and nocturnal lifestyle. During the day, it hides in burrows or rock crevices. At night, it comes out along well-trodden paths to feed on berries or plant juice (chews leaves and shoots without tearing them off). ()

New Zealand is a country of volcanoes and geysers, rain forests, snow-capped mountains and pastures. The inhabitants of this island country are proud of its unique nature and make a lot of efforts to preserve ancient species of plants and animals that are not able to independently adapt to human influence. A third of the country's area (more than 5 million hectares) is occupied by protected areas, including 14 national parks, covering all the natural landscapes of the two islands, from the mangroves in the intertidal zone of the North Island, the volcanoes of the Central Plateau, to the fern forests and fjords in the south.

The South Island is home to New Zealand's largest national park, Fiordland. The park occupies the northwestern corner of the island; its length is 230 kilometers and its total area is 1200 thousand hectares. It was created in 1952, and now this territory is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This park has very high levels of annual rainfall, which is generally typical for the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The Milford Sound fjord area receives 6,526 mm of rainfall annually, with 180 rainy days per year (data for the period from 1969 to 1998). But humidity decreases rapidly towards the east. Te Anau already has 1200mm of rainfall per year. Temperatures are moderate, especially in low latitudes, with an average maximum temperature in January of +18.8 C, and in July the minimum temperature is +13 C. Fiordland is a sharp transition from the ocean coast ecosystem to high mountain peaks and sheltered valleys. The mountains protect the interior of the island from rain, while their windward side experiences all the vagaries of the weather.

The main natural attractions of the famous park are the Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound fjords, Lake Te Anau. An ancient Maori road runs through the park, as well as several other walking trails open to the general public.

These fjords are a true paradise for seabird watchers. Above the ocean you can often see albatross, whose colony is located nearby on the island of Solander, as well as see other representatives of the order of tube-nosed birds, prions (their other name is whalebirds) and several species of petrels nesting or migrating in millions from the northern regions of the Pacific Ocean to nesting grounds on Antarctic islands. One of the rarest penguins in the world, the New Zealand crested penguin breeds on coastal islands, as does the little penguin, common to New Zealand.

The lakes of Fiordland National Park are also worth visiting. Lake Manapouri is a great example of how people can wisely use the forces of nature while preserving its beauty. Its first name was Roto-ua, which translated from the Maori language means “rainy lake”, later the lake began to be called Moturau (“many islands”), and the etymology of the modern name is unknown.

The serene, deep waters of Lake Te Anau are fringed to the west by lush virgin forest. It is the largest lake in the South Island and the second largest in New Zealand. Excursions to fjords and other lakes begin from here.

Forests cover the entire territory of Fiordland Park - from the valleys to the very edge of the tree zone and the mountains. These are predominantly beech forests. The herbivores possum and red deer, brought here by the first colonialists, have spread to almost all parts of the park. They turned out to be the most important factor in changing the forest biotope. Deer trample down bedding and eat rare plant species, and possums not only feed on plant fruits, eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds, but also spread tuberculosis.

The main treasure of Fiordland's forests is birds. It is home to the world's only population of takahe. These large flightless birds of the rail family were considered extinct, like many other birds of New Zealand, which became easy prey first for the Maori, and then for dogs and other predators brought to the island. However, in 1948, scientists discovered these birds in the Murchison and Stuart mountains. The population was immediately protected and now numbers approximately 120 individuals.

The park is a protected breeding ground for endangered species such as the kiwi, kaka parrot, weca rail, New Zealand falcon and mohua (warbler family).

Fiordland was also the final resting place of the world's only flightless parrot, the kakapo. Now these unique, nocturnal birds are bred on coastal islands where there are no predators.

Fiordland has been preserved in its pristine beauty due to its extremely mountainous terrain. The Darran Mountains, reaching 2746 m, are covered with glaciers. But south of Darran, the height of the mountains does not exceed 2000 m and gradually decreases to 1000 - 1200 m. The underlying rock is mainly granite, gneiss and diorite with remains of Tertiary limestone in some places in the east. These volcanic mountains (formed in the Ordovician, approximately 450 million years ago) are among the oldest in New Zealand. They are also the most resistant to erosion, and traces of the last Ice Age, when their entire central part was covered in ice, are still visible. Glacier tongues flowing from the highlands mainly in the west and east have carved out fjords and lakes (Te Anau, Manapuri, Hauroko, etc.), located symmetrically on the eastern and southern outskirts of the park. The result was a combination of deep valleys, sheer cliffs (sometimes up to 1500 m in height) and steep slopes. The depth of lakes and fjords exceeds 400 m, so the bottom of some lakes is below sea level.

The nature of Fiordland National Park has remained virtually unaffected by human activity, which is so destructive in other areas of the globe. European settlements did not appear here for a long time; only the Maori tribes hunted birds, fished in the sea and mined punama (jade) in the rivers. Later, whalers and fur seal hunters found refuge in these places; they founded small settlements in the fjords.

There are only two boats operating in the fjord, at opposite ends and out of sight of each other, allowing tourists to experience a sense of solitude in the middle of unspoiled nature. The annual rainfall here is 762 mm and above, but even on a rainy day the fjord is still beautiful, water streams pour out of nowhere, and their sound disappears in a mysterious haze.

Off the coast and in the open ocean you can admire humpback and southern whales, sperm whales and killer whales. New Zealand fur seals are numerous: their colonies are scattered along the entire coast, the largest is on Solander Island. Sometimes southern elephant seals appear here, and leopard seals - when migrating from their breeding grounds in Antarctica. New Zealand sea lions, whose most numerous colonies are located on the Auckland Islands (hence their second scientific name - Auckland sea lions), have recently begun to settle here in small groups.

The trees are common up to an altitude of approximately 1000 m above sea level. Above this line there are herbaceous communities of tussocks, formed mainly by turf-like marks. 35 species of mountain plants are endemic to Fiordland, and most of them grow in the Tussok area. These are a number of species of cereals, celmisia, olearia, acyphylla and buttercups.

The Doubtful Sound fjord, the deepest (421 m), longest (40.4 km) and, according to some, the most beautiful New Zealand fjord, can only be reached by boat. When the engine turns off, travelers are enveloped in the age-old silence of one of the most remote and beautiful corners of the planet. Captain James Cook, the first European to explore the coastline of the South Island, suggested that it was a strait, but he was probably in a hurry and could not verify whether this was true. Therefore, he gave the fjord such a name (translated from English as Doubt Bay).

As you know, Rudyard Kipling considered Milford Sound the eighth wonder of the world, but New Zealanders do not agree with his opinion - they put it in first or, in extreme cases, in second place. Hundreds of meters up, as far as the eye can see, rocks rise, completely undamaged by time, wind, or water, as if the river only yesterday made its way through these mountains. The Maori believed that these fjords were created by the giant mason Tute Rakiwanoa, and you are more likely to believe this legend than scientists exploring the geological events that led to the appearance of perfect sculptures - rocks rising vertically from the ocean. Whether in cloudy or clear weather, Milford Sound is incredibly majestic. The 16 km long fjord is fringed by vertical granite cliffs up to 1,220 m high, and waterfalls cascade from the mountain ridge. In the center of the fjord is the pointed peak of Miter (1695 m), and its reflection in the mirror-like calm waters is one of the most famous and photographed views in this corner of the planet.

Fauna of Fiordland National Park. There are approximately 3000 species of insects found in Fiordland, 10% of which are endemic. The brightly colored alpine moths are especially diverse here. Other species include the scri weeta (hairy alpine grasshopper) and 20 species of giant weevils.

You can also find flocks of young nestor kea here, attracted by human activity. These parrots are famous for their bloodthirsty tendencies. There is a popular belief among farmers that they kill sheep by piercing their skulls with a strong beak. If there have been such cases, they are rare, although even unlucky tourists suffer from the beaks of nestor kea.

The national park also includes common birds such as white-eye, fantail, New Zealand tui, New Zealand frugivorous pigeon, petroica flycatcher and makomako. There is also an endemic to New Zealand - the shooter wren. This small bird is remarkable in that it quickly masters human-modified biotopes, unlike other species with narrow distribution areas.

Another unique feature of the fjords is their underwater world. Steep cliffs go to a depth of 100 - 450 m. A layer of fresh water located above the salty sea water scatters light, and therefore deep-sea animal species usually live in these places near the surface. By visiting the underwater research observatory located here, you can see pictures rarely seen by the human eye.

This national park is also home to many species of marine mammals. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are home to pods of playful bottlenose dolphins, and common common dolphin and dusky dolphin can also be found here. And in Te Waewae Bay nearby you can also spot Hector's dolphins.

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand's largest, was founded in 1952. It is located in the northwestern part of the South Island. Its length is 230 kilometers, the total area is about 1200 thousand hectares. A rare bird is found here - the wingless plume. It was considered extinct until 1947, when about 100 individuals of these birds were discovered on the shores of Lake Te Anau, near Milford Sound. Almost as rare is the land-dwelling kakapo, or owl parrot. It looks like an owl and spends daylight hours in burrows. It is believed that this bird cannot fly. Before he was taken into custody, he was also on the verge of extinction.

The largest National Park is Fiordland, located in the northwestern part of the island.

Nature and landscapes of the National Park

In order to preserve the unique nature of the island state, its rich flora and fauna, the New Zealand government decided to create the Fiordland National Park. This event took place in 1952, and in 1986 Fiordland was included in the UNESCO List of Protected Sites and is considered part of the World Heritage Site.

Traveling to Fiordland National Park is like a fairy tale. The nature of these places is generous in beauty and delights; you can often see absolutely incompatible things. For example, in the territory of Fiordland, tropical forests and snow-covered glaciers, exotic parrots and funny penguins exist side by side.

The Darran mountain range, which arose in the area more than 450 million years ago, deserves special attention. Its highest point is considered to be a peak at an altitude of 2746 kilometers. Darran has remained unchanged for many centuries, scientists explain this by the resistance of the mountain range to erosion.

Fiordland National Park is famous for its fjords, which are divided into large and small. The most beautiful are considered to be Milford, Doubtful, George, Brexi, Dusky.

The undisputed decoration of the Park are the permanent waterfalls: Stirling, Lady Bowen, Sutherland. After the rains, many small waterfalls form, but the wind blows them away, and the water of many of them does not have time to touch the ground.

Flora of Fiordland Park

The flora of Fiordland National Park is rich and diverse. This is facilitated by the remoteness from civilization and people, and a favorable climate.

Most of the Park's territory is covered with evergreen forests formed by beech. Some trees are up to eight hundred years old. In addition, here you can see laurels, leggings, rosaceae, myrtle trees, vines, shrubs, ferns, mosses, and lichens.

The forest ends and the mountain steppe begins, in which aciphylla, olearia, hionochloe, fescue, coelmisia, bluegrass, and buttercup grow.

The valleys of the Park are covered with numerous swamps, with characteristic vegetation.

Fauna of the park

Even more impressive is the fauna of the National Park, which is represented by different species of animals.

The most numerous family is birds, among which there are many endemics: southern kiwi, yellow-fronted jumping parrot, rock wren, weca rail, crooked plover, shooter, yellow-headed mohua. Endangered species: kea, kahe, kakapo. The fjords are inhabited by penguins, albatrosses, and petrels.

The sea giants that live in Fiordland include killer whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales. Colonies of fur seals, lions, leopards, and elephants settled on the coast. In the bays you can observe bottlenose dolphins, dark dolphins, and white-sided dolphins.

There are over three thousand insects in Fiordland Park; fireflies and fungus gnats are very interesting.

The underwater world of the Park fascinates with its beauty. Fresh water is located above the sea layer, so fish live near its surface. If you go on a boat trip, you may well see and, on occasion, touch some of the inhabitants of the local waters.

Rest in the Park

In addition to observing the beauty and inhabitants of the Park, tourists are offered a wide variety of recreation. If you wish, you can take a sightseeing flight over Fiordland, take a boat ride on one of the lakes in the park, and visit a research observatory located under water. Active recreation includes sea kayaking, scuba diving, cycling, car safaris, and fishing.

Helpful information

Fiordland National Park is open all year round. You can enter its territory for a fee. The administrative center is located in the city of Te Anau, which deals with all coordination issues. The city also has many comfortable hotels and modern restaurants serving national cuisine, and car rentals are available.

How to get to Fiordland?

The most convenient way to get to Fiordland in New Zealand is from the town. You can do this in a way convenient for you: by sea or by highway. The city has an international airport that accepts flights from abroad. Neighboring Glenorchy has a small airport specializing in domestic passenger traffic.