Located in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island one finds the largest of all 13 national parks: Fiordland - one of the country's wildest regions and home to remarkable water-flooded landmarks. Ever since its establishment in 1952 the park has been an attractive adventure spot for tourists of all kind due to its numerous fiords, steep cliffs and twisty waterways. Today, the park covers an area of 12000 km2 - around 10% of New Zealand’s land mass.
Altogether 14 fiords form a rugged 200 km long coastline stretching from the Te Waewae Bay up to the famous Milford Sound, creating unique scenery and one of the biggest natural habitats for many of New Zealand's endemic species. Its incomparable landscapes tell the story of the earth's evolutionary formation which were recognised by the UNESCO to become a World Heritage Area in 1986.
Fiordland has been nicknamed the "Walking Capital of the World" since it is home to a few so-called "Great Walks" such as the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Track. These tracks are recommended to get a full wilderness experience and to see Fiordland's diverse landscapes that range from lowland rainforest and waterways, up to alpine lakes and mountain tops peaking over 2000 meters.