Preservation Inlet

In the 1890s, a brief gold rush occurred at Cuttle Cove within Preservation Inlet, drawing prospectors to this remote corner of Fiordland. The rush was short-lived, and little remains today beyond historical remnants of the settlement.

The Puysegur Point Lighthouse, which dates to 1879, is located near Preservation Inlet and remains one of New Zealand's most remote lighthouses. Access is difficult and typically requires a boat trip or challenging overland track through Fiordland wilderness.

Preservation Inlet is one of the most remote inlets in Fiordland and is not accessible by road. Most visitors arrive by boat from Bluff or other Southland ports, or via multi-day hiking and kayaking expeditions through Fiordland.

Remnants of the 1890s gold rush settlements, including old mining equipment and building foundations, can still be found at Cuttle Cove and other sites around Preservation Inlet. The Puysegur Point Lighthouse, dating to 1879, is another historical landmark in the area.