Fiordland National Park
About
Fiordland International Dark Sky Park encompasses the full 12,607 square kilometers of Fiordland National Park, Te Rua-o-te-Moko, in the southwest of Te Waipounamu, New Zealand’s South Island. Part of the UNESCO Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, Fiordland is a vast landscape of fiords, mountains, ancient rainforest, wetlands, lakes, islands and remote coastline. Its isolation, very small resident population and limited development have allowed natural darkness to remain an integral part of this internationally significant wilderness.
The night environment is important to Fiordland’s ecological and cultural landscape. The park provides habitat for threatened and endemic wildlife, including species that depend on natural light cycles, while the night sky over Te Rua-o-te-Moko is a taonga with connections to mātauranga Māori, navigation, seasonal knowledge and Matariki.
Work to protect this environment has been led by Great South, the regional development agency for Murihiku Southland, in partnership with the Department of Conservation and with support from mana whenua, the Fiordland community and a range of local organizations and advocates. Several years of night sky monitoring have recorded an exceptional night sky quality. An assessment of outdoor lighting across the park was undertaken, alongside significant lighting improvements, including the replacement of 38 non-compliant exterior lights at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Center. A Lighting Management Plan provides the framework for the ongoing management of outdoor lighting within the park.
Education and outreach are an important part of Fiordland’s dark sky program. Community viewing events, Matariki activities, operator training, educational resources and public engagement have helped build understanding of light pollution and the value of natural darkness. Ongoing work will include continued sky quality monitoring, responsible lighting, education and interpretation, and opportunities to connect visitors with Fiordland’s night environment.
Fiordland National Park is publicly accessible day and night, offering visitors opportunities to experience its natural darkness across a vast and dramatic landscape. From easily accessible areas to more remote parts of the park, the night sky provides another way to experience and connect with Fiordland and its natural environment.
Area
12,607 km2
Designated
2026
Category
International Dark Sky Park
Address
Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre
1 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9679, New Zealand
Google Maps
Contact
Amie Young
[email protected]
Documents
Application
Announcement
Annual Report
Website
https://southlandnz.com/things-to-do/nature-outdoors/stargazing/dark-skies
