Sutherland Falls

Overview

About Sutherland Falls

Sutherland Falls is Fiordland’s showstopper: a 580 m (1,904 ft) torrent plunging in three distinct tiers straight out of Lake Quill, a small glacial bowl perched above a sheer rock wall. The setting is peak Fiordland—steep mountains, dense rainforest, and a constant soundtrack of rushing water.

Why stop

Iconic 580 m, three-tier waterfall fed by Lake Quill
Milford Track side trip reaches the thundering base

Heads up

Access is via a multi-day Milford Track hike or a scenic flight
Fiordland weather is wet; heavy spray and sandflies are common

Few waterfalls anywhere fall so cleanly, so far, from a lake perched right on the edge. The combination of vertical relief (three drops totaling 580 m) and raw remoteness makes this one of the country’s most revered natural sights.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy It’s Special

Map

Where it is

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Full map

SightSutherland Falls-44.80086, 167.72893

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Sutherland Falls

Milford Track huts must be booked; the falls are a side trip on the multi‑day hike.
From Quintin Public Shelter, allow about 90 minutes return to the base.
Expect swing bridges and heavy spray near the end; pack a rain shell and dry bag for cameras.
Bring sandfly repellent and keep it handy.
For the full three-tier view and Lake Quill, consider a scenic flight.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Season: The Milford Track is typically walked in the Great Walk season (roughly Nov–Mar). Scenic flights operate year-round, weather permitting.
Waterflow: The falls are most dramatic after rain or during snowmelt.
Crowds: Due to the remote access, it’s never like a roadside attraction, but midday tends to be busier with track traffic; mornings and late afternoons on-track feel quieter.

How to Visit

Milford Track hikers take a signed side trip near the Quintin Public Shelter; it’s about 90 minutes return and includes a couple of swing bridges before the final spray-soaked approach. Expect to return the same way.
Not doing the 4‑day Milford Track? Scenic flights (fixed-wing or helicopter) from places like Queenstown, Te Anau, or Milford Sound give the best full-length perspective.

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 Sutherland 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 Sutherland Falls

What You'll SeeFrom the ground, the base is a sensory overload: thunder, wind, and mist that can drench you in…

From the ground, the base is a sensory overload: thunder, wind, and mist that can drench you in seconds. You’ll feel the power up close, but the scale is so vast it’s hard to fit the whole waterfall in a single frame. From the air, the view opens up—the circular glacier-carved Lake Quill, the lip where it spills over, and all three drops lined up against the cliff.

WildlifeThe broader Fiordland area supports native birds like kea, tūī, and mohua, along with lush…

The broader Fiordland area supports native birds like kea, tūī, and mohua, along with lush temperate rainforest flora. Around the falls, expect more mist than wildlife; keep your eyes and ears open along the track.

History & GeologyThe falls are named for Donald Sutherland, who first saw them in 1880.

The falls are named for Donald Sutherland, who first saw them in 1880. Lake Quill—formed by Ice Age glaciation—feeds the waterfall. The falls even cameo in a background shot in The Hobbit, which gives you a sense of their cinematic scale.

Conditions & PracticalitiesFiordland is famously wet, which supercharges the falls but also means rain is likely.

Fiordland is famously wet, which supercharges the falls but also means rain is likely. There are no facilities at the falls themselves; the nearest basic amenities are at Milford Track huts and shelters along the route. Bring waterproof layers, protect your camera, and pack insect repellent—sandflies can be relentless.

Is It Worth It?If you’re on the Milford Track, this detour is a no-brainer.

If you’re on the Milford Track, this detour is a no-brainer. If you’re not hiking, an aerial loop over Lake Quill and the three tiers is one of the most striking flightseeing experiences in the region.

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.