Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest national park, with glacier-cut fiords, heavy rain and waterfalls, and walks from day trips to multi-day tracks.
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Fiordland sits in the far south-west of New Zealand's South Island. At about 12,607 square kilometers, it is the largest of the country's 13 national parks. Glaciers carved its deep fiords, the most visited being Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, and Doubtful Sound / Patea. The park is part of Te Wāhipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Area established in 1990. Rain is very heavy, often more than seven meters a year, so waterfalls appear in the fiords after rain and the scenery changes with the weather.
Most visitors head for Milford Sound, reached by Milford Road (SH 94) from Te Anau. Boat tours and kayaking are the main activities there. Walkers come for the Milford, Kepler and Routeburn tracks. The Milford Track needs advance booking, especially in the summer peak season. Expect wet, changeable weather, sandflies and river crossings on the walks. Te Anau is the closest town, and Manapouri is the only other settlement nearby.
Fiordland National Park in five
- Book the Milford Track the day bookings openIn the Great Walks season, 1 November to 30 April, huts must be booked and the track sells out fast. Bookings open months ahead, so check the Department of Conservation page for the opening date.Milford Track
- Walk it one way in 4 daysThe Milford Track runs in one direction only, over 3 nights in huts. You reach the start by bus to Te Anau Downs and a boat; there is no road access.
- Drive the Milford Road earlyFrom Te Anau the road to Milford Sound takes about 2 hours without stops. There is no fuel after Te Anau, and in winter chains may be required.Queenstown
- Pack for sandflies and rainFiordland is one of the wettest places in the country, and the sounds are at their most dramatic in rain. Bring insect repellent and a proper rain jacket.
Things to do in Fiordland National Park
See all attractions in Fiordland National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- No park entry fee; cruises, huts and campsites are paid
- Permits
- Great Walk hut bookings required 1 Nov–30 Apr Read more
- Season
- Great Walks season Nov–Apr; the sounds are open all year
- Nearest town
- Te Anau, about 2 hours from Milford Sound
- Getting there
- About 2 hours by car from Queenstown to Te Anau
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Great Walks, warmJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Great Walks, warm
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Great Walks, dryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Great Walks, dry
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Great Walks, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Great Walks, quiet
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Season endsAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season ends
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cool, quietMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 144 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, snow on passesJunePartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow on passes
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh6°Low1°ColdestJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest
- AugustRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, avalanche riskAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, avalanche risk
- SeptemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low2°Snow on passesSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow on passes
- OctoberRain16 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low4°ChangeableOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 175 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Changeable
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Great Walks openNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Great Walks open
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Great Walks, busyDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Great Walks, busy
Average daily high and low in Te Anau, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Fiordland National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Fiordland National Park
06:24 PM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today15°8°98%Tuesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed14°10°100%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu14°9°100%Thursday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri14°9°100%Friday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat17°8°67%Saturday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 67%.
- Sun14°6°63%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Mon18°8°60%Monday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated 02:55 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.779 NZD
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Fiordland National Park
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Rules for Fiordland National Park, checked
Plan around Fiordland National Park
Both islands, entry rules and the best months
Read the guideQueenstownThe usual base, about 2 hours to Te Anau
Read the guideBest time to visit New ZealandGreat Walks season and the wettest months
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for hiking and weather cancellations
Read the guideNZeTA explainedWho needs one and what the visitor levy covers
Read the guideMilford SoundThe Milford Road, cruises and the best time to go.
Read the guideFiordland National Park FAQ
Do I need to book the Milford Track?
Yes, in the Great Walks season from 1 November to 30 April. Book huts and the boat and bus transport to both ends before you go.
How much are Milford Track huts for international visitors?
For the 2026 to 27 season, NZ$152 per adult per night, with the walk taking 3 nights. Check the Department of Conservation page for child and New Zealand resident rates.
Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound?
Milford is reachable by road and busier. Doubtful Sound needs a boat across Lake Manapouri and a bus over a pass, so it is quieter and takes a full day.
Is it worth visiting Milford Sound in the rain?
Yes. Rain brings hundreds of temporary waterfalls down the cliffs. Flights may be canceled, but the cruises usually run.
How do I get from Queenstown to Milford Sound?
By road it is about 4 hours each way via Te Anau, so many visitors stay a night in Te Anau. Coach and cruise trips run daily, and scenic flights cut the time when weather allows.