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Mount Aspiring National Park

This is the third largest national park in New Zealand, stretching from the dense rainforests of Fiordland across braided river valleys and alpine meadows to the heavily glaciated Southern Alps. The pinnacle of the Park is Mt Aspiring and this peak is much loved by local and international climbers, and photographers.

Visitors don’t have to be mountaineers to enjoy the delights of the Park (although any one of a dozen world-class local guides can accompany them to the top). Many gentle walking tracks meander through its open valleys, or visitors can fly overhead and gaze down on river flats, forested ridges and glaciers.

Recommended base

The township of Lake Wanaka provides some of the easiest access into the Park.

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland is a World Heritage Area and the largest National Park in New Zealand. The Park covers 1.2 million hectares/ 2.9 million acres and has natural wilderness on a grand scale. Waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into pristine, forested valleys, and glacier-carved fiords indent its coastal boundaries.

Things to do in the National Park:

Walks

Three of New Zealand’s nine "Great Walks" are found in Fiordland National Park as well as a number of other notable tracks. These walks require between three and five days to complete and can be accessed either independently or by way of a guided trip. For those with less time, a range of shorter walks can be taken and one-day guided tours of the Milford Track and Routeburn Kepler.

Freedom walking (Independent)

Independent walking is for clients who prefer a lower cost, no frills walking experience and who are experienced bush walkers.

Independent walkers utilise Department of Conservation (DOC) accommodation facilities or campgrounds. Freedom walkers carry their own gear and need to purchase hut passes. The Milford Track and Routeburn track need to be booked in advance.

Guided walking

Guided Walking offers clients the opportunity and security of experiencing a track with a trained guide who has intimate knowledge of the walking track, region, history and wildlife. International travellers do not have to bring specialist equipment with them as this is usually supplied by the guiding company.

Many companies only require the client carry a day pack with sufficient water and snacks, while luggage is transported for them.

Guided walk operators provide all meals and comfortable lodge facilities, a highlight being civilised bathrooms and showers. The lodges are usually separate from independent walkers’ huts, which have more basic, communal living.

Walkers on a guided experience can walk at their own pace - there is absolutely no pressure to walk as a group.

For further information on guided walking in New Zealand visit www.walknewzealand.com or www.newzealand.com

Great walks

Milford Track www.milfordtrack.co.nz

• 54 km/ 34 mile, four-day walk
• Season: Nov - Apr
• Grade: Medium/Difficult
• It involves boat travel to and from the Track. The track starts at the head of Lake Te Anau and finishes in Milford Sound
• Prior bookings are essential
• Bookings open in early July for the following season
• Guided and independent options are available

Routeburn Track www.routeburn.co.nz

• 32 km/20 miles, two/three-day walk
• Season: All year for independent walkers and Oct - Apr for guided walkers. Best walked Nov - Apr.
• Grade: Medium/Difficult
• Guided and independent options are available
• Prior bookings for independent walkers are required for the use of huts or campsites

Kepler Track www.doc.govt.nz Go to explore, then tracks and walks, then Great Walks

• 67 km/42 miles, three/four-day walk starts and finishes near Lake Te Anau
• Season: All year, but best walked Nov - Apr
• Grade: Medium/Difficult
• Independent option only available
• No prior bookings are required but walkers should notify the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre their expected time of return.
• Operates all year round

Recommended bases for Great Walks

Te Anau is a starting point for all three walks. Transport can be arranged from Te Anau to the start of the tracks. The Routeburn can also be started from Glenorchy (accessed from Queenstown). Queenstown is often the departure point for guided trips on these tracks.

Other notable tracks in Fiordland National Park

Hollyford Track www.hollyfordtrack.co.nz

• 56 km/35 mile, four-day walk one way
• Season: All year, but best walked Nov - Apr
• Grade: Medium
• Guided and independent options are available
• Visitors will experience the relative isolation of the Fiordland bush, dramatic views of mountains, lakes and the beautiful Hollyford River, and then the sand and windswept beauty of Martins Bay
• Operates all year round

Greenstone Track

• 37 km/23 mile, 2-3 day walk
• Grade: Easy
• Guided and independent options are available
• The Greenstone valley was an ancient Māori Trail. Tribes from Fiordland used the valley to reach the rich greenstone sources in Lake Wakatipu. They returned laden with stone to make tools and weapons. Today it is a common medium for sculpture and the fashioning of jewellery
• Combines with the Routeburn to create the Grand Traverse

Dusky Track

• 90 km/56 mile walk is isolated and suitable for those with experience and seeking a challenge.
• Season: All year but not recommended over the winter months
• Grade: Difficult
• Various options allow the traveller to spend five/seven days following three major river valleys. Climb two passes culminating in the arrival at Fiordland’s largest and most extensive fiord - Dusky Sound

For more information on these walks visit www.doc.govt.nz

Recommended bases

Te Anau is a recommended base for these tramps and transport can be arranged to the start of the tracks.

Transport to and from tracks for Independent walkers

Full transport services are available in the summer season to the start of all tracks in the Fiordland area, with a limited service available during the winter months. For transport operator details visit www.fiordland.org.nz

Trips to Milford and Doubtful Sound

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is the most famous and accessible of the glacially carved fiords on the South Island's lower western coast.

Visitors can access Milford Sound in a number of ways:

• Self-drive: the road to Milford is a wonderful alpine drive.
• Coach: coach trips leave daily from Te Anau and Queenstown to Milford Sound. Regular stops are scheduled for photos and sightseeing and there is on-board commentary. Coach tours connect with boat cruises on Milford Sound.
• Air: Visitors can take scenic flights to Milford Sound from Te Anau, Queenstown and Wanaka. Scenic flights connect with boat cruises on Milford Sound.

Activities in the area

• Boat cruises: boats cruise the full length of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea, and stop at various points of interest along the way to view waterfalls and marine life. Cruises leave from the main wharf at Milford Sound.
• Milford Deep Underwater Observatory: a facility designed to educate visitors about unique marine life under Milford Sound www.milforddeep.co.nz
• Guided kayaking tours: paddle among towering cliffs and waterfalls to encounter seals and dolphins.
• Guided diving trips: to see black and red corals living in depths of less than 20 metres.

Doubtful Sound

The deepest of all the fiords, Doubtful Sound has ancient rainforest and abundant wildlife. Virtually untouched by man, the Sound is a wonderful place to visit. Captain James Cook sighted the entrance to Doubtful Sound on his first voyage to New Zealand in 1770. He called the place Doubtful Harbour. Today one of the most popular of all Fiordland excursions is the return one-day trip from Manapouri to Doubtful Sound.

Modern launches leave Pearl Harbour at Manapouri (20 minutes from Te Anau) and cross Lake Manapouri to West Arm. Increasingly popular with visitors to Fiordland are overnight cruises on Doubtful Sound, ranging from one to multiple nights.

Recommended base for Milford and Doubtful Sounds:

• Backpacker or camping ground accommodation or an overnight boat cruise is the only option for travellers wanting to stay at Milford Sound.
• There is no land-based accommodation at Doubtful Sound other than Department of Conservation huts on the walking tracks. The only other option is an overnight or mult-day boat cruise.
• Whilst day trips from Queenstown are an option via coach or a combination of fly/drive, it is recommended in order to make the most of this extraordinary area visitors overnight in Te Anau or Manapouri - these townships are much closer to Milford and Doubtful Sound than Queenstown. Lake Manapouri and Manapouri township is a 20 minute drive from Te Anau.