The southwestern corner of New Zealand’s South Island presents the snow-capped Southern Alps that tower over massive, deep lakes and ocean-flooded valleys, coterminous with Fiordland National Park, a stupendous World Heritage Site. Of the 14 fiords that dramatically carve into 215km of coastline, Milford Sound is the most accessible and popular, while the more remote Doubtful Sound offers a wealth of marine life, including dolphins, penguins, and seals, to the occasional humpback whale. Take a boat charter or cruise, helicopter flip, or one of the many walking trails in the area. Lake Te Anau offers the perfect base to explore the largest national park in New Zealand, and if it’s a family holiday, the kids will love the Discovery Centre underwater observatory and glowworm caves.
