Growing up in Ōtautahi Christchurch before slowly creeping south over the last 20 years, Katherine Mitchell now calls Te Anau home, spending her days sharing adventures with others where the mountains meet the ocean.

Why Te Anau?

We live on the edge of 1.2 million hectares of World Heritage national park, which is special in its own right … add in the people who live here, and you will find a resilient community, passionate about preserving and sharing Fiordland.

Tell us a little about what you do

Fiordland Charters is about small group adventures, in the heart of Fiordland. Exploring the stunning Southern Dusky and Breaksea Sounds aboard the MV Pembroke, we accommodate up to eight guests for multi-day bespoke expeditions. With no set itinerary, our trips focus on those aboard, and their interests, allowing them an authentic experience of Fiordland.

What can people expect to experience?

Mother Nature in her element! Expect to feel like you have stepped back in time as the mountains meet the ocean in a way that conjures thoughts of ancient New Zealand.

What would 24 hours look like aboard the MV Pembroke?

At the start of the day, we all sit down to breakfast together and make a plan. The day will often play out around gathering kaimoana for that night’s meal, which means I issue our guests with a ‘shopping list’ which could involve fishing for blue cod, diving for crayfish or timing the tides to dig for cockles.

While we are steaming between destinations, we discuss local history before stepping ashore to visit historical sites, discovering everything from our early explorers’ landings, to groundbreaking conservation work or even the elusive Fiordland moose. We then finish the day on a new mooring and jump in the kayaks to explore, or head ashore for an evening hunt.

The bonus about being so far south is that we get almost an extra hour of daylight in the summer, meaning we can pack a lot into a day. The day always finishes by gathering around the table to enjoy a shared meal and yarns about who caught the biggest fish or the one that got away! 

We are deeply committed to the principles of kaitiakitanga, recognising our responsibility to protect and give back to this pristine environment. We want someone who comes on one of our charters in 50 years’ time to experience the same, or even better than what you would experience today: untouched beauty, thriving marine life, and a sense of leaving the modern world behind.

Top Things to……

Explore

Obviously I am biased, but Dusky, Breaksea Sounds are the jewels in Fiordland’s crown.

There is plenty to do if you don’t make it into the Fiords, however, a day walk to Brod Bay on the Kepler Track including a dip in Lake Te Anau is a must.

A scenic flight is a great way to get an idea of the scale of the park and take in its beauty (disclaimer, my husband is a pilot).

Or visit the infamous Te Anau Yacht Club wharf for Instagram-worthy sunset shots.

And finally, if you want to get up close and personal with the endangered takahē, make time to visit the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary.

Eat

The Milford Road Merchant for coffee, ice creams and sweet treats, while the Black Dog for cold local beers and meals at the end of the day is a must.

If you are coming aboard the MV Pembroke, the guest favourite would have to be blue cod ika mata (raw fish).

Know

Most people fly into Queenstown and drive down from there, but make sure you check out flights to Invercargill as well. They are often more affordable and you avoid the hustle of Queenstown!