Lake Quill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Quill
Lake Quill and the top of Sutherland Falls
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Location	Fiordland National Park
Coordinates	44°48′29″S 167°43′30″E / 44.808°S 167.725°E / -44.808; 167.725
Type	tarn
Etymology	named after William Quill
Surface elevation	979 metres (3,212 ft)

Lake Quill is a tarn located in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park at 979 metres (3,212 ft) above sea level. It is the source of Sutherland Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the country and seventh-highest in the world, cascading from Lake Quill in three tiers into Milford Sound / Piopiotahi.

The lake was named after William Quill, who climbed Sutherland Falls in 1890 to discover the falls' source. Although Quill climbed up the falls themselves, Lake Quill can now be reached with much less risk from Mackinnon Pass on the Milford Track. It is not known that anyone has climbed Sutherland Falls since.

The lake and its falls are a popular destination for helicopter tours, which allow an encompassing view of the extreme landscape. Reaching only the falls on foot is a multi-day hike and requires booking with the Department of Conservation or Ultimate Hikes, a company owned by Sir John Davies through Trojan Holdings.