The Fiordland National Park is not only the largest national park in New Zealand, but one of the largest in the world.

In contrast to the coastline at the north of the South Island, where the Marlborough Sounds offer a gentle landscape of bush-clad hills and meandering sea passages, the sounds of the Fiordland National Park in the south are rugged, glacier-carved fiords with deep waters and precipitous sides. Inland, behind the jagged coastline, is an unspoiled region of bushy hills, deep lakes, and high mountains covering some 12,000sq km, where rare species of wildlife have managed to survive undisturbed. The high annual rainfall produces many dramatic waterfalls. The most northerly of the fiords is Milford Sound, and the road leading there is one of the scenic highlights of New Zealand. Don't be surprised in late spring if you drive through the remains of an avalanche. You can also fly to Milford, or walk along the Milford Track over four days. Most of the other fiords are inaccessible other than by sea. A launch trip on Milford Sound is highly recommended and takes about two hours. The spectacle of the sheer cliffs rising 1,200m out of the water provides awesome photographic opportunities. Visit Milford Underwater Observatory for a fascinating glimpse of the unique ecology of the fiords. The trip to Doubtful Sound via Lake Manapouri and the Wilmot Pass is also a must. Cruises of up to five days can be taken to some of the sounds. The gateway to Fiordland National Park is the township of Te Anau, situated beside Lake Te Anau (the South Island's largest lake).