It’s no secret that New Zealand’s South Island is extremely beautiful. In particular – the Fiordland National Park in the island’s southwest corner boasts many scenic waterways crying out for exploration. This region is easily reached via international flights to Auckland or Christchurch, followed by a domestic flight to Queenstown. Here’s a top five survey of NZ’s Sounds.
Milford Sound
New Zealand’s most famous and most popular fjord is Milford Sound, which was named after the Welsh waterway, Milford Haven. The Sound is reached easily by a direct road from the township of Te Anau and travellers who take the boat trip onto the waterway can spot two waterfalls year round – Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. Fjordland penguins breed in the area, while seals frolic in the waters. The true mystery of the Sound itself is its entrance, which is partly hidden from the ocean.
Dusky Sound
At 40 kilometres in length and eight kilometres wide, Dusky Sound is one of the largest waterways in the region. There are several islands that lie within in the Sound including Long Island, Cooper Island and Anchor Island – all of which add to the drama and interest of this popular destination. Travellers who access Dusky Sound by sea or air often sight seals and dolphins and if lucky, a whale.
Doubtful Sound
Long Sound
The appropriately named Long Sound is the largest marine reserve in the region at 3,672 hectares. Although highly rewarding to explore, visiting Long Sound can be challenging with a particularly narrow entrance. The waterway is home to the unique strawberry holothurians, a type of sea cucumber, as well as beautiful red corals, tube worms and rock crabs.
Sutherland Sound
Situated immediately south of Milford South, Sutherland South was established as a marine reserve in 2005 by the Guardians of Fiordland. This is the least visited waterway due to the shallow sill at the entrance that prohibits easy access by boats. Scientists believe the Sound is home to flounder, red decorative crabs and spiky dogfish.
About the Author: Lyndon Barnett is a copywriter with Flight Centre. He has travelled independently to 68 countries and extensively throughout Australia.