Lake Quill
| Lake Quill | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Lake Quill and the top of Sutherland Falls | |
 | |
.png)  Lake Quill | |
| Location | Fiordland National Park |
| Coordinates | 44°48.5′S 167°43.5′E / 44.8083°S 167.7250°E |
| Type | tarn |
| Etymology | named after William Quill |
| Primary outflows | Sutherland Falls |
| Surface area | 1.2 square kilometres (0.46 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 979 metres (3,212 ft) |
Lake Quill is a tarn located high up in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park.
It is located in the Fiordland National Park at 979 m above sea level.[1] It is approximately 1.2km2. The lake may have formed by movement of glaciers during the last ice age.[2]
The cirque lake is the source of Sutherland Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the country and seventh-highest in the world. They cascade from Lake Quill in three tiers into the Arthur Valley alongside the Milford Track, approximately 20km from Milford Sound.
Name
[edit]The lake was named after William Quill, who climbed Sutherland Falls in 1890 to be the first European to discover the falls' source.[3] It was previously called Lake William.[4][5]
Recreation
[edit]The lake and its falls are a popular destination for helicopter tours, which allow an encompassing view of the landscape. A less perilous climb to the lake is possible from McKinnon Pass. This destination (as well as the base of Sutherland Falls) can be reached via the Milford Track.[6] This popular multi-day tramp is a great walk and requires booking with the Department of Conservation.[7][8]
In popular culture
[edit]In 2018, the lake was used as a filming location for Mission: Impossible – Fallout featuring Tom Cruise flying an Airbus Helicopters H125 helicopter.[9]
The lake was used as a wallpaper for Microsoft's Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating system.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Place name detail: Lake Quill". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "All about Lake Quill, New Zealand, near Milford Sound". 1964 Mountain Culture Journal. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "Sutherland Falls climbed | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz.
- ^ YOON, HONG‐KEY (April 1980). "An Analysis of Place Names of Cultural Features in New Zealand". New Zealand Geographer. 36 (1): 30–34. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7939.1980.tb01921.x. ISSN 0028-8144.
- ^ "NZGB Gazetteer | linz.govt.nz". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Sutherland Falls Milford Track c. 1890 – c. 1910 – Smaller". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Sutherland Falls". waterfalls.co.nz.
- ^ "Milford Track". Department of Conservation.
- ^ "Tom Cruise's daring Queenstown chopper stunt". Otago Daily Times. 8 February 2018.
- ^ "Where was the photo with the mountains and the lakes taken from new Windows 10 wallpapers". login.microsoftonline.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.