Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Milford Sound, also known as Piopiotahi, is a fjord in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, stretching 15 kilometers inland from the Tasman Sea. Rock walls rise over 1200 meters (3937 feet) from dark water, while permanent waterfalls tumble down steep slopes.

European sealer John Grono reached this coast in 1823 and gave it a name recalling Milford Haven in Wales. Māori communities, however, had known the place as Piopiotahi long before and visited it during journeys along the southern shore.

The Māori name Piopiotahi recalls an extinct native bird that, according to legend, flew here to mourn the death of Māui. Visitors today often hear this name in bilingual signs and commentary along the shoreline.

Visitors reach the entrance to the fjord via State Highway 94 and can then join boat tours that often last two hours. Kayaking trips offer a quieter perspective on the rock walls and waterfalls along the narrow waterway.

Over 6400 millimeters of rain fall here each year, making this the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand. This enormous rainfall creates numerous temporary waterfalls on the rock walls after every storm.