Where the Wild Things Are
Adventure capital to the end of the road
7 destinationsQueenstown is where people come from all over the world to do things that scare them, and the road west out of it runs into some of the emptiest country left anywhere. Fiordland gets metres of rain a year, which is exactly why the walls of Milford run with waterfalls. Keep going south and you hit the coast, where the road stops and the wildlife takes over.
Ben Lomond Track
Ben Lomond is the big peak above Queenstown that most people see from the gondola and wonder about. The track goes all the way to the top at 1748 metres with views that cover Queenstown, the Remarkables, and most of Central Otago on a clear day. It is a long day out and the top section is steep and exposed, so check the forecast before you go.
Skippers Canyon
A narrow, dramatic gorge above the Shotover River reached by one of the most famous and hair-raising roads in the country, carved into the cliff by gold miners over a century ago. The road is so tight that rental cars are not insured on it, so most people go with a guide, and the views straight down into the canyon are unforgettable. Rugged, remote and full of gold rush history.
Milford Sound
Kiwi Kids BottleMilford Sound is where the mountains meet the sea in the most dramatic way possible and it is unlike anything else in New Zealand. Waterfalls drop straight into the dark water from cliffs that go up hundreds of metres on both sides. A boat cruise is the best way to see it properly and on a rainy day it is actually even better because there are more waterfalls.
Lake Marian
A hidden alpine lake tucked into a hanging valley high above the Milford road, ringed by sheer peaks that stay dusted with snow well into summer. The track starts with a swing bridge and a boardwalk past a series of roaring cascades before climbing up through the forest to the lake. Steep in places, but the reward at the top is one of the best in Fiordland.
Routeburn Track
The Routeburn is one of New Zealand's Great Walks and connects two national parks through some of the best mountain scenery in the country. The Harris Saddle crossing on day two gives you views that stretch in every direction across the mountains. Book the huts early because they fill up fast and for very good reason.
Nugget Point Lighthouse
Kiwi Kids BottleA lighthouse sits above a cluster of rocky outcrops called The Nuggets and from the viewing platform you look down on fur seals, sea lions, and sometimes penguins below. The Catlins is one of the least visited parts of New Zealand which means this place never feels crowded. The drive in through native forest is worth doing slowly.
Curio Bay
Kiwi Kids BottleAt low tide the rocky shore here reveals a petrified forest that is around 180 million years old, with fossilised logs and stumps turned to stone. Rare yellow-eyed penguins come ashore in the evenings, and Hector's dolphins often play in the waves at neighbouring Porpoise Bay. A wild, windswept corner of the Catlins that packs a lot into one stop.
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