Sutherland Falls Waterfall

Address: Sutherland Falls, Milford Sound / Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand

Website: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/

Hours: Outdoor natural feature - accessible year-round (weather dependent)

Admission: Free (access to Fiordland National Park; boat/cruise or track fees may apply)

Sutherland Falls is a large waterfall in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, dropping approximately 580 metres in several tiers from Lake Quill. It is one of the country’s most prominent waterfalls and a major natural attraction in the Milford Sound area.

The waterfall is most commonly experienced by hikers on the Milford Track and by boat or scenic flights into Milford Sound; viewpoints at the base of the falls are reached by established walking routes. The falls’ multiple tiers and steep drop create a dramatic vertical descent that is visible from the valley below.

Named after Donald Sutherland, an early European settler in the area, the falls have been a well-known feature since the 19th century and are part of the protected landscapes within Fiordland National Park. Conservation of the surrounding native forest and alpine environment remains a management focus.

Sutherland Falls lies in remote southwestern Fiordland, roughly north of Milford Sound and accessible via the Milford Track or by air and boat services that operate into the fjord region.

• Height and location tip: The falls drop about 580 metres in multiple tiers from Lake Quill, making them one of New Zealand’s highest waterfalls and a highlight of the Milford Track.

The falls are reached from Te Anau or Milford Sound; most visitors access them as part of Milford Sound day trips (road or coach) or as a destination on the Milford Track. The track requires booking huts in advance through New Zealand’s DOC.

• The classic viewpoints are easiest to reach via Milford Sound cruises that include a stop or viewpoint for Sutherland Falls.
• Hiking access: Sutherland Falls is reached on the Milford Track (3-4 day walk) or by day-hike variations; plan huts and permits months in advance if hiking the Milford Track.
• Weather changes fast in Fiordland - carry foul-weather gear and expect spray from the falls even on still days.