Fiordland & Southland

Hidden deep within Fiordland National Park and often cloaked in shifting mist, Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is New Zealand’s most famous natural showstopper for good reason. Granite peaks rocket straight out of inky water, rainforest clings to near-vertical walls, and waterfalls crash down from hanging valleys hundreds of metres above. Whether you catch it under a bluebird sky or in the moody drama of rain, the place hits you in the chest. It looks like a movie set because it has been one—Middle-earth vibes included—but the real magic is how raw and alive it feels in person.

If Milford Sound is the showstopper, Doubtful Sound (Pātea) is the mysterious sibling that rewards those willing to venture a little further. Remote, wild, and almost untouched by mass tourism, it’s a place where silence roars louder than crowds and scale sneaks up on you. Granite walls vanish into cloud, rainforest clings to improbable slopes, and waterfalls thread down from somewhere beyond sight. You don’t just see Doubtful Sound; you feel it working on your senses—calming, humbling, and, in the best way, making you feel small.

Nestled on the edge of Lake Te Anau and ringed by serrated, snow-dusted ranges, Te Anau is far more than a pit stop on the way to Milford or Doubtful Sound. It’s a walkable lakeside town with real heart—equal parts adventure gateway and place-to-exhale—where you can spend the morning on an alpine track, the afternoon gliding across mirror-still water, and the evening under some of the darkest skies you’ll ever see. Whether you’re chasing a Great Walk, a glowworm galaxy, or a quiet coffee with a world-class view, Te Anau delivers.

Hidden away on the southeastern edge of the South Island, the Catlins is a region where rugged coastlines, misty rainforests, and thunderous waterfalls meet small-town hospitality. It feels gloriously off-grid—in the best possible way. Gravel roads curl past windswept bays, honesty boxes sell home baking at farm gates, and phone reception fades to a whisper so you can actually switch off. If you’re the kind of traveler who values solitude, wild scenery, and authentic Kiwi charm, the Catlins will quietly sweep you off your feet.

At the bottom of the South Island, where land leans into the Southern Ocean, you’ll find Invercargill—New Zealand’s southernmost city—and the salty, windswept port town of Bluff. Many people pass through on their way to Stewart Island/Rakiura, but slowing down here pays off. These places are honest, welcoming, and full of stories: wide streets and Scottish heritage in Invercargill; sea spray, oysters, and big horizons in Bluff. Come for a day or two and you’ll leave with more than a tick on the map—you’ll have a feel for the deep south.

Just an hour’s ferry ride south of Bluff lies one of Aotearoa’s most untouched gems. Stewart Island / Rakiura is 85% national park, a place where podocarp forest presses to the water’s edge, beaches curve away into mist, and the night sky looks close enough to touch. It’s not a destination for cramming your days with checklists. It’s where you let your pace drop, tune into birdsong, and remember what unhurried travel feels like.