Fjordland National Park

Created in 1952, Fjordland is the largest national park in New Zealand, and one of the largest in the world – stretching 143 miles from northeast to southwest, and at its broadest 50 miles across, covering an area of 3,000,000 acres. Fjordland National Park is also the largest area of wilderness in New Zealand. There are only three roads in the park (one with public access), and only a few tracks, although three of the country’s Great Walks (the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks) are located within its boundaries. Fjordland remained wild because it is mountainous and extremely rugged. Fiordland is submitted to very high rainfall weather pattern characteristic of the west coast of South Island. Temperatures are mild, at least at low altitude. Forests cover all of Fjordland National Park from valley bottom up to the treeline. Most of these forests are beech. Wildlife includes forest birds, sea birds, marine mammals, among others.