Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Amazing and unique Fiordland National Park is the largest reserve in New Zealand. It has an area of 12500 square kilometres and it is here that the deepest lakes of the country, the thickest jungles and the highest mountains are located. Established in 1952, the reserve is subjected to scientific research. The inaccessibility of some of the remote areas makes the researches considerably more difficult.

Heavy rainfall can only complicate the situation, as it pours 200 days in the year. Such unique climatic conditions allow some plants to exist and develop successfully for hundreds of years. One can see rare silver notofagus, whose age is 800 years, in the reserve, ornithologists are attracted by hundreds of species of rare birds, including brown kiwi and yellow-crowned parakeet.

Fjords, which belong to protected area, are home to the world’s largest black corals of colonial type. The major tourist attractions are lake Te Anau and fjords Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. Coastal areas provide a rare chance to see seabirds and rare species of penguines. Those who are afraid of exploring the rainforest, should know that Fiordland reserve is free of poisonous creatures and large predators. Next - Manuel Antonio National Park