Mackay Falls

Overview

About Mackay Falls

Tucked into lush rainforest on the Milford Track, Mackay Falls is one of those day‑four moments that makes the slog worth it—riffled turquoise water fanning over mossy rock in a perfectly framed Fiordland setting.

Why stop

Photogenic cascade right beside the Milford Track
Bell Rock hollowed by water sits next to the falls

Heads up

Only reachable on the multi‑day Milford Track
Fiordland weather and sandflies can be intense

Bell Rock is the party trick here: a boulder hollowed out by water that you can step inside.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhat makes it special

Map

Where it is

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Full map

SightMackay Falls-44.73206, 167.79915

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Mackay Falls

Take the short side path to Bell Rock—you can step inside it.
Expect sandflies; apply repellent before you stop to admire the falls.
Pack rain gear and a camera cover—Fiordland is famously wet.
Milford Track access requires advance bookings and transport planning.
Don’t rush this stop on day four; it’s only a few meters off‑track.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

After rain is prime: flows fatten and the surrounding forest glows.
Overcast or rainy days are ideal for photography.
On a standard itinerary you’ll pass by late morning on day four—don’t rush; give yourself a few extra minutes for Bell Rock and photos.

Getting there

There’s no road access. You encounter Mackay Falls on day four of the Milford Track. Visitor numbers are naturally limited by the track’s permit system, so it never feels like a roadside scrum.

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Fiordland Tour Guide

Your drive to Mackay Falls, narrated.

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

126 audio storiesacross Fiordland’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Fiordland Penguin, Blue Duck, and 13 more
Works offlinemaps, 68 trails, 124 places, and audio download before you lose signal
CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive

★★★★★

“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!!!!”

JMJamesApp Store review

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Guide

More about Mackay Falls

WildlifeKeep an eye out for native birds commonly seen/heard along this stretch: South Island robins,…

Keep an eye out for native birds commonly seen/heard along this stretch: South Island robins, fantails, tomtits, and the calls of tūī and bellbird.

PracticalitiesThere are no facilities at the falls—no toilets, food, or parking.

There are no facilities at the falls—no toilets, food, or parking. Come prepared for Fiordland’s famous rain and sandflies; bring a rain layer, sturdy footwear, and insect repellent. Protect your camera/phone from spray and showers.

History & geologyNamed for surveyor Donald Mackay, the falls tumble over hard Fiordland bedrock in a sequence of…

Named for surveyor Donald Mackay, the falls tumble over hard Fiordland bedrock in a sequence of cascades. Bell Rock next door is a neat lesson in erosion—streamflow has carved out its interior over time.

What makes it specialThe falls present as beautiful cascades rather than a single drop, which makes it a great place…

The falls present as beautiful cascades rather than a single drop, which makes it a great place to play with shutter speeds for silky‑water photos.
Reached via a short spur just off the track; you’ll likely cross a scenic swing bridge over Mackay Creek on the approach.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Fiordland

All Fiordland wildlife maps

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 map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.