Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand

Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand is a World Heritage Area on New Zealand’s South Island encompassing four large national parks and outstanding examples of glacial and alpine landscapes. The property was inscribed in 1990 for its natural values.

The property offers dramatic scenery including deep fjords, mountain peaks and large glacier systems. Visitors commonly seek out Milford Sound / Piopiotahi in Fiordland for boat cruises and viewpoints, and the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers on the west coast for guided glacier walks and viewing platforms.

Alpine hiking, multi-day tramping routes and backcountry mountaineering are significant draws, with routes crossing high mountain passes and glacier-fed valleys. Scenic drives and short walks provide accessible viewpoints of the central Southern Alps and numerous glacier-carved lakes.

The landscapes are primarily the result of Pleistocene glaciation and continuing alpine geomorphic processes; conservation management and national park designations in the 20th century established protections that were consolidated under the World Heritage listing. The area also contains sites and values important to Maori history and traditional use.

Te Wahipounamu occupies a large portion of the South Island’s south-western quadrant, stretching from Fiordland and the West Coast into the central Southern Alps. Nearest regional centres for access include Queenstown, Wanaka and the town of Te Anau.

• Scale: The World Heritage property covers about 2.6 million hectares and comprises four large national parks that together preserve extensive glacial, alpine and fiord landscapes.
• Key viewing points: Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and other fiords are among the most visited viewpoints; access is commonly from Te Anau or Queenstown depending on the park area.

What to See #

• Fiordland National Park: Fiordland National Park contains deep fjord systems such as Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and Doubtful Sound, alpine peaks, and extensive temperate rainforest and is a core part of the property's outstanding natural scenery.
• Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park: Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park centers on New Zealand's highest peak, extensive glaciers and alpine environments, forming the eastern component of the property's mountainous landscapes.
• Westland Tai Poutini National Park: Westland Tai Poutini National Park includes coastal ranges, braided rivers and the Franz Josef and Fox glacier systems on the west coast of the South Island.
• Mount Aspiring National Park: Mount Aspiring National Park comprises large glaciated valleys, high mountain ranges and upland environments that connect the central Southern Alps to the west coast.