The ‘F’ word is not just fishing

Sheer, vertical rock walls and clear water create a stunning portal into this unique underwater world. For the avid diver it is a bucket list experience and one that’s difficult not to repeat. Apart from the variety of marine

Caretaker of Resolution Island, Richard Henry, at his camp on Pigeon Island in 1910

life, it remains one of the few regions in the world where you can dive among black corals. The experience can be, in equal measures, idyllic and challenging. Some divers, losing track of their depth, find themselves in difficulty; strong currents can be very localised and disorientating. Conversely, the ecosystem is fragile; one careless kick and a fin can destroy decades of growth among delicate marine communities, so there’s much to think about, plan for, and prepare prior to an underwater adventure in Fiordland. It is recommended you go with an experienced operator, or seek advice if planning your own trip.

Fiordland boasts a rich array of marine mammals, the coastline and inner fiords providing habitat for resident populations of bottlenose dolphin and fur seals.

Dusky and common dolphins, and southern right and humpback whales are also regular visitors—the

Hunting red deer in coastal Fiordland. Credit FiordlandBoysHunting.NZ

humpback passing through on their migration between Antarctica and the tropics.

Above the tide zone, Fiordland is, for the most part, public conservation land. Fiordland National Park extends from western Te Waewae Bay, north to Martins Bay, and is part of the 2.6 million hectare area Te Wāhipounamu-South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. This vast wilderness is home to iconic New Zealand species such as kākāpō, kiwi, rock-wren, whio, and South Island saddleback or tīeke. Coastal Fiordland is well known for its pest-free islands, some of which have never had rats, mice, or possums present, so have never suffered from their devastating impacts. While a number— but not all—are Open Access, ensuring these islands remain pest-free is everyone’s responsibility.

Finally, the region’s history, both early Polynesian Māori and European, is rich and fascinating. Evidence of early exploration by Māori goes back five-to-eight hundred years and

place names along the coast point to features that were significant to these early seafaring arrivals, including Tamatea (Dusky Sound) named after the important explorer.

Captain Cook later sailed the Endeavour up the Fiordland Coast on his first visit to New Zealand. In 1773, on his second expedition, the crew explored Tamatea Dusky Sound and Cook provided the first European impressions of Fiordland’s abundant fishing. It was a diversely rich region then—as it is now—and still well worth exploring today.

There are many great books on Fiordland to dip into. The Fiordland Marine Guardians user’s guide Beneath the Reflectionsincludes a bibliography, as well as useful information for shore parties and biosecurity requirements for pest-free islands.

Or you can just sit, gaze, and lose yourself in the expanse and beauty of this primordial landscape—and feel it slowly creeping under your skin. After all… Fiordland is ‘fantastic’!

Let’s protect Fiordland

Every visitor has a part to play in protecting this special part of Aotearoa NZ. As a group, we’re responsible for managing and caring for Fiordland’s precious marine environment. The Fiordland Management Area allows for both sustainable use and protection. Before you leave home, make sure you know and understand the rules around biosecurity, fishing, anchoring and marine protection. Connect with us at FMG.org.nz