Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre — Attraction in Fiordland Community

We have visited this centre twice. Once we had informative and friendly communication with the staff.

Second time not so pleasant. Unfriendly and almost passive agressive attitude from a lady staff member.

Be aware that they have only very limited information about remote areas, such Dusky Track. Could't get 50% of my questions answered and all negative attitude included in other answers.

We are very prepared for the trip, did a lot of research, preparation, planning, learning survival skills specific for the area. We have all the gear including emergency beacon.

We just needed latest info about the track conditions and local brainstorming about the weather.

The conversation was hard to keep calm and informative. The staff was reacting annoyed by our questions. No encouragement or positive information. Almost like they didn't want us to go there, ridiculous.

After a direct feedback that it wasn't pleasurable talk. Staff member arogantly disagreed with additional negative attitude. So I write this feedback as not happy customer for the public to understand that there is a need for the staff to be more friendly as of courtesy if nothing else. They advise to ask there for information and after are not happy to provide.

We all love nature and want to enjoy it without...

We had a rather frustrating and unpleasant experience here. We visited to attempt to gather some information on tramping tracks conditions in the area (not necessarily about Great Walks). We had specific questions to which the information was not available online on the DOC website. The employee was not only unhelpful (had barely any constructive information for us), but also was condescending and annoyed in many of her responses, as if trying to dissuade us from “harder” tracks (ie not Great Walks) without actually ascertaining our experience and capabilities. Most of the information she regurgitated was available on the DOC website already.

I understand that many people come here wildly unprepared and attempt tracks that are way over their head, sometimes even needing to be rescued, but projecting that frustration on people simply asking questions about current trail conditions, snow pack, and the snow line is uncalled for. I’m not sure this visitor center will be much help for any trip planning you have, assuming you’ve already read the information on the DOC website, as they seem better suited to provide the generic regional advisories (weather, avalanche, pest control, etc) over specific trail condition...

Great spot with helpful staff.

We did the Routeburn and the Kepler with a night's rest in-between. After getting our first walk booking confirmation stamped, a staff member asked us to come back between walks to get the stamp for the next walk. I thought it was a bit strange to ask us to return again just to get a stamp, so we asked to get it there and then and it was fine. No dramas.

No hut in New Zealand has ever asked to see a stamped booking from us, so it seems a bit silly that we'd have to revisit the DOC centre, especially when the old legs are aching. The addition of getting a stamped booking confirmation while carrying a print out of an online booking confirmation seems a bit silly, especially if you arrived in town after the visitor centre closes. I can imagine some people could get worried in that situation. Perhaps a stamp isn't required and we were told incorrect info from our bus driver - apologies if that's the case.

That said, DOC are amazing and set the global standard for conservation and tramping. What a great set up with amazing people. Thank you for the unforgettable experiences. We are...