The Chasm

The Chasm is a 15-minute must-see on every Fiordland tour bus itinerary. Gobs of tourists pour out onto the cemented wheelchair-access path, cameras clicking before their feet hit the ground. Sounds crappy? Surprisingly, it’s not…honestly! The Chasm is best to visit when you’re leaving Milford—the parade of mid-day buses may have passed, and your excitement to finally see the uber-famed Milford Sound will have been quenched, so you won’t be in such a hurry.

Unlike most NZ “gorges” and “chasms”…this Chasm definitely lives up to its name!! The somewhat mellow-flowing Cleddau River literally turns on its side and knifes through a swiss cheese of crazed rock sculpturing. The suddenly pinched river roars in surprise as it plunges into a dark abyss. Impressive! On the track there are two bridges that span the best bits of the Chasm, and for most tourists these two bridges are the quick photo-ops before they hurry back to the bus for the rest of the descent to Milford.

But wait…if you know cameras, know waterfalls, and know what tripod, f-stop, and polarized mean…then by god make sure you take the slick rough path down past Peter’s grave marker (past the two bridges on a counter-clock loop) to the boulder-top photo-perch! This is where the Chasm really chasms! This is where NZ Frenzy hangs out. Be super careful if it’s wet out, as you don’t want to be the next “Peter”!