The best way to experience the beauty of Fiordland National Park in New Zealand is by boat. I was fortunate to sail on the Royal Princess through the fiords.
The park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spans mountain ranges, dense forests, and alpine lakes.
Early Māori visited Fiordland for hunting, fishing, and gathering takiwai (a unique form of New Zealand jade). Much later, European sealers and whalers took shelter in the coves and built a handful of small settlements, New Zealand’s earliest European occupation. But, the sheer steepness of the terrain, the incredible isolation, and the wettest climate in New Zealand deterred all but the hardiest from settling in the region.
Fiordland National Park is located in the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. With an area of 3.1 million acres, it is by far the largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand. The Department of Conservation administers the park.
Our day began with rain and fog. The fiords appeared black and white until the sun came out, and beautiful greens and blues emerged. Water came crashing down, forming waterfalls.
Standing on my balcony, I admired the beauty as the ship slowly passed this natural paradise.
If you ever visit New Zealand, try including Fiordland in your plans.
For more information about Fiordland, click here. For more information about Princess Cruises, click here.
