Sight · Fiordland National Park
A vast, roadless Fiordland lake for true wilderness seekers
Overview
Lake Poteriteri sits in the far south of Fiordland, a long, dramatic basin walled by steep, forested hills and drenched in classic Fiordland rainforest. It’s the largest lake in New Zealand without road access, and it feels every bit as remote as that sounds.
This is Fiordland at its most untamed: wild shores, deep solitude, and zero drive‑up viewpoints. If you want a genuine wilderness experience—no crowds, no café, just you and a giant lake—this is the one.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy it’s specialMap
Local know-how
Download offline topo maps before you go; expect no signal.
Verify the Lake Poteriteri Hut’s current status and carry backup shelter.
Carry a PLB, spare food, and be prepared for delays from weather and terrain.
Navigation can be slow and overgrown—bring map, compass, and GPS.
If planning to fish, confirm current regional regulations and access details.
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
Expect lush temperate rainforest right to the water’s edge, steep valleys, and a sense of scale that’s hard to grasp until you’re there. The shoreline is mostly wild and track conditions can be rough and slow going.
Specific sightings aren’t well documented for this lake, but Fiordland forests and waterways commonly host native birds such as kākā, kea, and whio (blue duck), with deer present in the backcountry. Treat it as a bonus if you encounter them.
This is an advanced objective for experienced trampers. Tracks can be overgrown, navigation is tricky, and you’ll need full self‑reliance: map/GPS, extra food, emergency gear, and a solid weather plan. If you’re considering fishing, start by checking regional regulations and current access notes for this specific lake.
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.
Keep exploring
Parkwolf’s Fiordland ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
