The Hollyford Track is a quintessential experience in Fiordland National Park of New Zealand. This relatively easy hike through dense rainforest, offers great views of the mountains, river and waterfalls of the Hollyford Valley. We kicked it up a notch by venturing a bit off the beaten track in search of some epic hidden waterfalls and were not disappointed.
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My name is Jesse St Louis (AKA Infamous JSL) and I'm an actor that likes to go on awesome adventures between gigs. I've been called a "no frills Bear Grylls" but mostly I've been called an Actor. Traveler. Smart-ass.
Wow! We have returned to the mystical, magical, misty wonderland of Fiordland
today, exploring the Holyford Valley off of the Holyford Track. And today is a
typical scene in Fiordland where it's raining. It rains over 200 days a year here,
although it just stopped, but it might start up again. But that is what gives us
these lush rainforests. Big trees, moss, ferns, abundant bird life, and waterfalls.
Today we're gonna be seeking out some of these hidden and not-so-hidden waterfalls
off the Holyford Track. First up is the one right at the start of the
Holyford Track, Humboldt Falls. It's a 30-minute detour off the beginning of
the Holyford Track, but supposed to be three huge tiers. Super excited to dive
into some hidden waterfalls of Fiordland today. Well, off to a great start today.
Humboldt Falls, and there's a little side falls next to it. I believe they call it
Little Humboldt Falls. Everything in Fiordland is big. The scale of Fiordland
is massive. This is Fiordland. Massive cliffs and waterfalls and dense, massive
trees. But hopefully, at least some part of today, we're gonna be getting a little
bit off the beaten track and looking for some hidden waterfalls, including one
called Hidden Falls. It's named Hidden Falls. I don't know if it technically
qualifies as a hidden falls because it's right off the track, but maybe beyond
some of these waterfalls that are right on the track. There's some hidden stuff.
That's what we're gonna be looking to dive into today. Some hidden gems of
Fiordland. I don't think we're gonna find anything with the scale of Humboldt,
but this is a great way to get started on a possibly four to six to eight hour
day today. Well, the clouds have parted and we are being treated to quite a
spectacular Fiordland sunny day here. Wow. Epic views of these cliffs and
mountains across the Holliford Valley there. Truly stunning. And I read some
reviews of this track saying, oh, there's not much to see. It's just in the forest
by the river the whole time. I beg to differ. There is some epic stuff to see.
Well, this is actually a really easy walk. I mean, this is super family
friendly, flat, taking you through this amazing dense rainforest. Beautiful
views of the river. Beautiful views of the cliffs on the other side. Tons of
waterfalls. Highly recommend this track. It's super easy, but you can also do this
as a several day, I think six days, five days, out to the coast. Catch a boat back
or you can loop it into another valley and make a circuit. But beautiful example
of Fiordland here on the Holliford track. And if you just want to do it as a day
walk, quite easy. I see why they call this Hidden Falls now. It's around a
little bend here. You just catch a glimpse of the spray in the pool, but see
if we can get a bit closer look. Wow. Might be the coldest water that I've
been in, in New Zealand. I don't think the sun hits that pool at all during, during
this time of the year or ever. I don't know, but it's freezing. It's so cold.
I don't know how it's possible that that's colder than Glacier Lakes, but it
is. Well, today's goal was to find Hidden Waterfalls and not just Hidden Falls, the
name Hidden Falls, actually Hidden Waterfalls. And I think we have succeeded
in finding a beauty. Take a look at this. I mean, this is a pretty magical day here
in Fiordland. Look at that. Absolutely stunning. Massive waterfall. All to
ourselves. This is what it's all about. Getting out there, find an adventure, and
finding stuff like this. Woo! So we definitely found the pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow today. Look at that. Look at that pool. Absolutely, 100%,
spectacular.
