Sight · Fiordland National Park
Remote fjord-like lake along the Hollyford Track’s Demon Trail
Overview
Long, narrow, and wildly atmospheric, Lake McKerrow/Whakatipu Waitai runs like a flooded glacial valley along the Hollyford corridor. Forested slopes drop straight to dark water, and on calm mornings the reflections are next-level. It feels far away from everything—in the best way—yet it’s a core feature of the non‑alpine, year‑round Hollyford Track.
Trampers who want Fiordland’s raw edge without going high alpine, photographers chasing moody light and reflections, and history buffs interested in Ngāi Tahu heritage. If you want an easier, curated taste, the guided option that jet‑boats the lake and heads to the coast is a smart move.
Parkwolf’s verdictWho Will Love ItMap
Local know-how
Tackle the Demon Trail only if you’re comfortable with steep, muddy, slow terrain.
If rough trails aren’t your thing, consider the guided option that jet‑boats the lake.
Bring serious rain gear, gaiters, and strong sandfly repellent—this is Fiordland at full strength.
During the Roar, wear high‑vis and avoid low‑light travel where hunters may be present.
Carry LINZ topo maps or GPS files; there’s no service and navigation can be tricky after rain.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Fiordland audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The lake is infamous for the Demon Trail, a rugged section that clings to the steep eastern shore. Think roots, mud, slippery benched sections, and a few three‑wire bridges. It’s slow going but memorable. Huts associated with this section (e.g., McKerrow Island Hut, Demon Trail Hut, Hokuri Hut) help break up the journey.
The dual name reflects deep Ngāi Tahu ties here. This valley was a major route for kai (food) and for pounamu, with historic settlement and leadership connected to the area. That living heritage continues today, including guided experiences operated by Ngāi Tahu Tourism along the valley and coast.
In the valley: native forest birds like tui, bellbird, fantail, tomtit, and kererū. In the lower Hollyford there are occasional encounters with whio and kaka, and you might hear ruru at night. Deer are present (you’ll hear stags during the Roar). Down at the coast near Martins Bay, seals are a regular sight and seasonal penguins are possible.
Fiordland is wet—expect persistent rain, slick roots, and swollen streams. The Demon Trail is notorious for slow, technical tramping. Sandflies are relentless in still, warm conditions. During the Roar (deer mating season), you may encounter hunters; keep visible and alert.
Wildlife
1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Parkwolf’s Fiordland ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
