This UNESCO World Heritage area in New Zealand’s South Island offers an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems—from temperate rainforests to alpine peaks, rushing rivers to dramatic fiords.
Next time you’re in Fiordland, you might like to follow in his footsteps and take a photographic expedition of your own from the wild west coast to the inland forests and fiords.
Here, Stephan takes us to his favourite Fiordland photography locations.
One of the most successful pictures I’ve taken in Fiordland happened at Lake Lochie. This image has gone on to win multiple awards over the past couple of years, including the prestigious London and New York Photography Awards.
Located near the start of the world-famous Routeburn Track, Lake Lochie sits in what is often one of the windiest spots in all of Fiordland National Park. The area has a reputation for challenging conditions that can test even the most patient photographer, but on this particular morning, I arrived to complete stillness. The lake was a perfect mirror, creating a reflection of the surrounding native bush. Sometimes the best shots come when nature decides to surprise you, and this was definitely one of those moments.
Lake Lochie
Just 500 metres further along the road lies the start of the Key Summit Track (part of the Routeburn Track). My favourite location here is a steady hour and 20 minutes hike to reach a small tarn found almost at the summit itself.
The tarn sits in a perfect position to capture the surrounding peaks of the Earl and Darran Mountains, and in the early morning, light gradually illuminates the snow-capped summits beautifully.
Sunrise at Key Summit
Beyond the tarn, you’ll discover this wonderful boardwalk that winds through the most incredible moss-covered beech trees I’ve ever seen. It’s an alpine nature walk where literally every direction you point your camera offers a compelling composition. You could easily get lost in the beauty of this environment—and I often find myself doing exactly that, losing track of time as I explore different angles and perspectives.
A “lost” Photographer…
The Routeburn Track is celebrated as one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, stretching between Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks in a spectacular point-to-point journey. You can tackle it from either direction—starting from The Divide, which is about 85km from Te Anau, or beginning at the Routeburn Shelter, roughly 25km from Glenorchy. For those not attempting the full 2-4 day traverse, Key Summit makes an absolutely excellent day walk destination that gives you a real taste of what makes this track so special.
Key Summit Track 02 & 03
More rainforest awaits here, but this time without the demanding hike that some of the other locations require. The Chasm walkway near the Cleddau River showcases Fiordland’s lush temperate rainforest at its absolute finest. Unfortunately, a powerful February 2020 storm caused significant damage to the main bridge, which means you can’t cross the Cleddau River anymore. However, the walk toward the river remains spectacular.
Ponga
As you continue your journey toward Piopiotahi/Milford Sound, you’ll cross three rivers that each have their own character and charm: Donne and Gulliver, which sit practically next to each other, and the Tūtoko River about 3km downstream. All three are absolutely worth stopping for, whether you’re there to capture images or simply to soak in the incredible scenery and peaceful atmosphere.
Donne River
The Donne River cascades energetically through Fiordland National Park before eventually joining the Cleddau River and flowing into the famous Milford Sound. Beginning high up in the rugged Darran Mountains, it truly epitomises everything that makes Fiordland so special—that crystal-clear water rushing over ancient rocks, impenetrable native bush flanking both sides, and those massive granite boulders scattered across the riverbed like nature’s own sculpture garden.
The Tūtoko River offers what I consider the easiest photography access of all the rivers, thanks to a pedestrian bridge that gives you a perfect vantage point. This pristine river system begins its journey at Mt Tūtoko and carves its way through the beech forests. I like to wait until I am the only one on the bridge and use a long exposure to capture the rushing water.
Tutoko River 02
After what must be countless trips to Milford Sound, I always found myself searching for that one perfect image. And last year, I finally captured what I believe to be my ultimate Milford Sound picture.
This trip would prove to be different in the most unexpected way. Before arriving at my accommodation in Milford Sound, they contacted me to say an incoming storm system would most likely close the Milford Road. I was faced with a choice to cancel my booking and play it safe, or arrive before the storm and potentially get stranded in Milford Sound. Without hesitation, I decided to go for it.
When I arrived, I headed straight to the water to assess the conditions. Dark, brooding clouds were gathering over the fiord—exactly the kind of dramatic scenario I’d been waiting for. I raced to my favourite vantage point without even taking time to change into proper hiking boots or grab my umbrella from the car.
As the rain and mist began building, the light started doing something magical, highlighting the distinct layers of mountains that rise behind the iconic Mitre Peak. Clouds rolled in, while rays of sunlight fought to break through the gathering storm. I quickly set up my camera for a five-minute exposure to capture this incredible moment unfolding before me. A few minutes later, the sun had disappeared and rain was pouring down in heavy sheets, but I finally had my shot—a moment I’d waited so long for.
Piopiotahi
With the road closed due to the weather conditions, Milford Sound’s normally bustling village and harbour area was completely empty. Have you ever seen an empty car park at Milford Sound? It’s honestly such a rare sight that I had to document this unusual moment as proof.
The perfect moment…
Now we’re heading up into the mountains—by helicopter! A favourite location of mine is the dramatic peak of Mt Tūtoko. This image was taken at the end of the day with the last rays of light touching the mountain tops while the valleys below had already fallen into deep shadow. At 2,732 metres, Mt Tūtoko stands as Fiordland’s highest peak, with the expansive Hollyford Valley stretching out to the left and the winding Tūtoko River visible to the right.
Mt Tūtoko
A bit further north of Mt Tūtoko, you’ll find Mt Parariki, which features the famous Kaipo Wall—a breathtaking 1,300-metre sheer rock face that is legendary among rock climbers. This incredible wall was first tackled by climbing icons like Graeme Dingle and Sir Edmund Hillary, and today it continues to attract climbers from around the globe.
Kaipo Wall
This was a different day entirely, but we were using the same exciting mode of transport. Chasing waterfalls by helicopter offers an incredibly unique perspective on Milford Sound’s raw power. At 151 metres tall, Stirling Falls towers impressively—it’s actually three times higher than the famous Niagara Falls. The tiny tour boat visible in the distance provides perfect scale to help viewers understand the truly immense environment that was carved by ancient glaciers over thousands of years.
Stirling Falls
Further out toward the wild Tasman Sea sits St Anne Poin, a location we’ve nicknamed West Coast Rocks. This dramatic headland usually serves as the turning point for Milford Sound day cruises, but it’s also well-known among locals as a perfect spot for catching crayfish. We flew low over the crashing waves, low enough that the helicopter windscreen caught some spray from the whitewash below—not something you experience every day.
West Coast Rocks
This journey through my favourite Fiordland locations really captures why I keep coming back to this incredible corner of the world. Each spot has taught me something different about light, weather, and patience. From waiting for that perfect stillness at Lake Lochie to racing against incoming storms at Milford Sound, Fiordland continues to challenge and reward me in equal measure. It’s a place where technical precision meets pure creative passion, and honestly, I can’t imagine my photography without it.
