Are you looking to experience the beautiful New Zealand fjords?
You’ve come to the right place. New Zealand is home to fifteen named maritime fjords, all located in the southwest corner of the country’s South Island in a region called Fiordland.
Fiordland National Park is a World Heritage Area recognized for its outstanding natural environment. It’s home to some of the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world. From deep glacier-carved fjords and lush rainforests to rugged mountains, thunderous waterfalls and expansive glassy lakes. It’s a nature lovers dream.
Being one of only two places in the southern hemisphere where fjords can be seen, a visit to Fiordland is a must-do when visiting New Zealand.
Ready to discover New Zealand’s top fjords to visit and the best way to experience them? Let’s go.
Read later: The best beaches in New Zealand
Table of Contents
New Zealand Fjords Overview
While New Zealand’s fjords are similar in geography and offer impressive landscapes like those in Norway, there is one key difference and that is the spelling. In New Zealand, fjords are referred to as ‘fiords’.
Another interesting fact is that all maritime fjords in New Zealand use ‘sound’ in their names. This is because they were mistakenly labeled as sounds by British explorers many years ago.
A sound is formed by the flooding of a river valley whereas a fjord is a flooded glacial valley that filled up when the glacier melted. The New Zealand ‘sounds’ were formed by the erosion of glaciers that took place over thousands of years, so they are technically fjords, but their original names stuck.
Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound are the three most popular and accessible of the fifteen fjords. A visit to these three fjords is often included in the itinerary of large cruise ships. However, if you don’t plan on traveling around New Zealand on a cruise ship, they can also be visited from the mainland.
How to Visit the Top 3 Fjords in New Zealand
Let’s take a look at each of these fjords in New Zealand, starting with the most accessible and famous, Milford Sound.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is the most popular and accessible of all the New Zealand fjords. In fact, it is the only fjord in New Zealand that is accessible by road.
The drive to Milford Sound is one of the most scenic roads in the South Island. Most visitors drive themselves or take a guided tour from Queenstown (4 hours) or Te Anau (2 hours).
The English novelist, Rudyard Kipling, once described Milford Sound as the eighth wonder of the world. Once you see this 16-kilometer-long inlet of dark inky water with jagged mountain peaks, thundering waterfalls and forest-covered cliff faces it’s easy to see why.
Going on a cruise along Milford Sound is the best way to experience the full length of the fjord. You’ll glide past Stirling Falls, Bowen Falls and the famous Mitre Peak which rises a whopping 1700m from the water. If you’re lucky, you might even see wildlife such as dolphins, penguins and fur seals.
Cruises to Milford Sound
Browse some of the top rated fjord cruises to Milford Sound below:
You can visit the Underwater Observatory to see the rare black coral trees below the surface, go kayaking in one of the sheltered coves and explore Milford Sound by land on one of the scenic walking tracks in the area.
While it is possible to experience Milford Sound as a day trip from Queenstown, it’s a lot of driving for one day. With so much to see and do in Milford Sound, it’s worth spending a night there or in nearby Te Anau if you can.
Top tip: Be sure to bring a waterproof coat! As mentioned, it rains a lot, but that is the best condition to experience Milford Sound. When it rains you can see waterfalls come to life right before your eyes.
A unique feature of Milford Sound is its dark inky water which is created from the tannins that run down from the forest during rainfall. Being the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand, with over 6,800mm of rainfall each year, the top layer is fresh water with salt water that flows in from the Tasman Sea underneath. The consistently heavy rainfall and runoff of tannins stain the surface layer of the fjord creating an inky color.
Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is one of the largest and the deepest of all the New Zealand fjords. It has three separate arms that extend to the ocean. By comparison, Milford Sound could fit into just one of these arms.
Patea is its Māori name which translates to ‘the place of silence’ and once you get out there, you’ll see why. It’s more remote than Milford Sound and you’ll need to take a tour to access Doubtful Sound from the mainland. You can choose from a day tour or an overnight cruise.
Getting to Doubtful Sound is a journey in and of itself since you can’t drive directly to it. For this reason, Doubtful Sound attracts fewer crowds and provides a more off-the-beaten-path experience than Milford Sound.
Tours start from the visitor center in a town called Manapouri, a 20-minute drive from Te Anau, and the nearest inhabited place to Doubtful Sound.
Fjord Cruises to Doubtful Sound
Browse excursions and trips to Doubtful Sound below, one is even a helicopter tour!
The journey to Doubtful Sound starts with a scenic boat ride across the beautiful Lake Manapouri to West Arm. You’ll learn about the history and geology from the knowledgeable captain along the way.
Once you arrive in West Arm, you’ll board a bus for the drive over the Wilmot Pass, New Zealand’s most expensive and remote road, into Deep Cove where you’ll board another boat for your cruise in Doubtful Sound.
Your guides and bus drivers will share stories of the region and its development including the controversial Manapouri hydro power station. Not only does the area have a rich and fascinating history, but the wildness and beauty are breathtaking.
As you cruise through the arms of Doubtful Sound, you’ll notice the landscape is softer and more rounded compared to Milford Sound. The high amount of rainfall provides a lush habitat for native flora and fauna. You’ll hear native birdsong and likely see a range of wildlife.
Doubtful Sound is home to one of the southernmost populations of bottlenose dolphins as well as New Zealand fur seals which you’ll often see sunning on the rocks. Whales, albatross and the Fiordland crested penguin are also known to make an appearance on occasion.
While it is possible to see wildlife in Milford Sound, chances are much higher in the quieter and more remote Doubtful Sound.
A fun fact about Doubtful Sound is that it was originally named Doubtful Harbour by Captain Cook back in 1770. While he was sailing around New Zealand he came to this inlet and was doubtful it could be navigated by sail. So, he continued on and ended up in Milford Sound instead.
Dusky Sound
Dusky Sound is the largest and most complex fjord found in the southwest corner of New Zealand. It’s 40 kilometers long and eight kilometers wide, with over 350 islands and small islets inside the fjord.
There is no direct road access so the most common way to experience Dusky Sound is by sea or air, although experienced hikers may prefer the more intrepid journey along the Dusky Track.
It’s even more remote than Doubtful Sound and you’ll need to embark on a 4-day cruise expedition to access Dusky Sound from the mainland of New Zealand. It’s a true escape from civilization that not many people get to experience.
You’ll have the chance to visit historic sites and abandoned settlements and explore the coastline by kayak in one of the most remote and untouched parts of the country.
The expedition to Dusky Sound also starts from the Manapouri Visitors Centre (same as Doubtful Sound) where you’ll cruise across Lake Manapouri to West Arm. From here you’ll be transported by helicopter to Sunday Cove in Breaksea Sound, then cruise through the Acheron Passage to Dusky Sound.
You’ll spend the next couple of days exploring Dusky Sound including kayaking or tendering, weather permitting, to the remote islands, learning about its history and conservation efforts from expert guides.
You can also choose a 5-day expedition which includes a cruise through Doubtful Sound, Breaksea Sound and Dusky Sound.
If you are short on time, another way to access Dusky & Doubtful Sound is by taking a scenic helicopter flight. Flights last from just over an hour to two hours and fifteen minutes and include at least one landing. It’s a fantastic way to see the full scale and shape of the fjords nestled within the dramatic Fiordland landscapes.
Did you know? Dusky Sound is a breeding site for the endangered Crested Fiordland penguins and has been recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. As one of the best birdwatching spots in New Zealand, you may see other rare and native bird species during your journey through Dusky Sound along with other wildlife.
Final Thoughts
Experiencing the New Zealand fjords is a trip highlight for many visitors. The incredible landscapes, sheer heights and wildlife are difficult to capture in words or photographs. It truly is a destination that must be experienced to be believed. Whether you visit one or all three of these famous fjords, it’s bound to be a memorable experience.