Region
Photo: lumoplank ↗ · CC0 ↗Fiordland National Park
New Zealand's largest national park: 14 fiords reaching up to 40 kilometres inland – and a single road to the sea.
National Parks Atlas · Country · checked 4 Oct 2026
National Parks in New Zealand
13 national parks, the first in 1887, and public access is free of charge. You pay for huts, campsites and tours, and international visitors pay more on the Great Walks.
1Park guide
Fiordland and Milford Sound in full, with Great Walks and the Milford Road
20Official sources
park authorities, operators and transport providers
13National parks
about a third of the country is protected land
1887The first
Tongariro, gifted by Te Heuheu Tukino
Last checked: 4 Oct 2026
New Zealand has 13 national parks; the first, Tongariro, dates from 1887. This atlas starts with the largest and most searched: Fiordland National Park in the south-west of the South Island, with Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, the Milford Road through the Homer Tunnel and three Great Walks.
Under the General Policy for National Parks, public access is free of charge. Charges apply to huts, campsites and services, and the Great Walk huts must be booked in season. The guide links every figure to the Department of Conservation (DOC) or the road and transport operators.
01 · Park guides
Park guide: Fiordland
Milford Sound, the Milford Road, Great Walks and hut prices, from the Department of Conservation.
National parks without entrance fees
The General Policy for New Zealand's national parks says: “Public access to national parks will be free of charge.” You pay for huts, campsites and tours. What Fiordland costs
Great Walks: book ahead, international visitors pay more
Great Walk huts must be booked in season. Most Great Walks have different prices for international visitors and New Zealanders; on the Milford Track a night costs NZ$152 instead of NZ$106.
Access charge planned at Milford Sound
The government wants international visitors to pay at four sites, including Milford Sound and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The bill had its first reading on 12 May 2026; New Zealanders and residents will continue to access public conservation land for free. Plan Milford Sound
Weather in any season
In Fiordland, cold, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year, according to DOC. DOC also recommends insect repellent for sandflies.
03 · Editorial
Sources and last checked
Every fee, date and rule on this page comes from the park guides below, each linked to the official source.
- Fiordland National Park: checked 4 Oct 2026, 20 sources in the park guide · Park authority ↗
- DOC: General Policy for National Parks (free public access, section 8.1 g; first national park 1887) ↗
- Government/DOC: Exploring charging for access to some public conservation land, November 2024 (13 national parks) ↗
- DOC: International visitor access charges (2026) ↗
- DOC: Great Walks pricing ↗
Fees, opening times and reservation rules change. Check the official page before you travel.