Diving & Fishing in Fiordland, New Zealand

When my dad asked me to join him and his mates on a bucket-list trip to Fiordland, I didn't hesitate. I had heard stories about this wild corner of New Zealand but nothing prepared me for how untouched and magical it truly is.

The Journey In

Fiordland sits on the southwest corner of New Zealand's South Island, far removed from crowds. Apart from the odd cray fishing boat, the area feels almost untouched by human hands.

Our adventure began with a 6am stop at Te Anau Bakery for a classic mince and cheese pie, before being picked up by Cheeky Kiwi Shuttles. The drive to the ferry was spectacular in itself, with snow-capped peaks and deep valleys at every turn. On the ferry, we passed the mighty Manapōuri hydro power station, which produces enough energy to power more than 600,000 New Zealand homes.

From there it was a quick van ride before boarding our home for the week — Tutoko, with Fiordland Expeditions. Tutoko had everything we needed: a dive deck and barbecue out the back, hot showers (essential after diving in the snow), a galley, bunks for the crew, and a warm fire that kept spirits high. The setup was simple but comfortable — perfect for a week at sea.

Cray, Cod, and Hāpuku

Our first stop was for blue cod. The footage didn't make it into the video, but Fred was more than happy to show us with his hands just how "massive" his catch was.

We also tried our luck at hāpuku fishing, landing a couple for dinner while releasing the rest. Nothing went to waste — even the hāpuku frames were shared with the local seven-gill sharks circling below.

Some of the Best Diving I've Ever Seen

Once we finally got in the water, it all made sense. The diving in Fiordland is up there with the best I've ever done, anywhere in the world. A layer of tannin-stained freshwater sits on top of the fiords, which blocks out enough light that deep-water species live in surprisingly shallow depths. Walls dripping in black coral, sponges in every colour you can imagine, and more crayfish than I've ever seen in one place. We stopped counting after a while — every ledge and crevice had a set of antennae poking back out at us.

What struck me most was how untouched it all felt. No other boats, no other divers, nothing but us and a marine environment that felt exactly like it must have looked before anyone ever set foot in New Zealand. It's rare to find a place that wild these days, and I count myself lucky to have seen it.

Flying Out

We capped the week off by flying out via helicopter, tracking back over Fiordland's snow-capped peaks and glassy fiords from above. Seeing the terrain we'd just spent a week diving and fishing through, all from the air, was the perfect way to end the trip. It's the kind of scenery that doesn't feel real, and something I'll absolutely be taking my kids to see one day.

All up, this was one of the best adventures of my life. If a trip like this is on your bucket list, get in touch with the team at Fiordland Expeditions — they'll look after you from the moment you step on board.