Te Anau & Fiordland

Gateway town to Fiordland National Park, with Milford and Doubtful Sound cruises, glowworm caves, and the starting point for New Zealand's top Great Walks.

Te Anau sits on the southeastern shore of Lake Te Anau in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island. It is the gateway town to Fiordland National Park (part of the Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area), with a population of about 3,000, roughly 170 km (a 2-hour drive) from Queenstown. The main activities fall into three areas: the town and its surroundings (lakefront walks, the bird sanctuary, glowworm caves and the Kepler Track); the Milford Road 120 km to the north (Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn, Key Summit, Lake Marian, the Homer Tunnel and The Chasm), ending with a Milford Sound cruise; and Lake Manapouri 20 km to the south, where you take a boat and cross a pass to Doubtful Sound. Climate: Fiordland gets extremely high annual rainfall, and waterfalls are actually more spectacular on rainy days. November–April is the best time to visit, and the Great Walks season runs from about late October to April; in winter the Milford Road may close due to avalanches or require snow chains. Getting there: most people self-drive, though day tours run from Queenstown; staying in Te Anau avoids the long round trip. There are no fuel stations or mobile signal along the 120 km of the Milford Road, so fill up in Te Anau before setting out. We suggest staying 2–3 days. Note: sandflies are abundant, so be sure to bring insect repellent; Great Walks huts must be booked in advance on the DOC website; the weather is changeable, so carry rain and warm clothing.

Top sights

Milford Sound – The jewel of Fiordland National Park. Mitre Peak rises 1,692 m straight out of the sea, and tour boats cruise between waterfalls and seal-d…
Te Anau Glowworm Caves – Cross Lake Te Anau by boat into a limestone cave still being shaped by the earth. In total darkness, you glide in a small boat beneath a ce…
Mirror Lakes – A cluster of small lakes beside the Milford Road. On windless days, the water mirrors the Earl Mountains perfectly, and the wooden boardwal…
Milford Track – “The finest walk in the world”: a 53.5 km, four-day trek across Clinton Valley and Mackinnon Pass to Sutherland Falls, ending at Milford So…
Doubtful Sound / Patea – Three times the size of Milford Sound and far less crowded, this “sound of silence” fjord is reached by boat across a lake and over a mount…
Lake Te Anau & Lakefront – The largest lake on New Zealand's South Island. The lakeside walkway links the town, the jetty and a bird sanctuary, with the mountains of…
Te Anau Bird Sanctuary – A free lakeside bird sanctuary where you can get close to the critically endangered takahē and native birds such as kākā parrots.
Kepler Track (Luxmore Hut) – One of New Zealand's Great Walks, a loop track starting on the shores of Lake Te Anau. You can reach Luxmore Hut in a day for views over th…
Eglinton Valley – A broad glacial valley along the Milford Road and the first major viewpoint on the route. Flat grassland is flanked by steep beech forest a…
Lake Gunn Nature Walk – A roughly 45-minute loop walk through an untouched red beech forest covered in moss. Small lakeside bays reflect the mountains, giving it a…
Key Summit Track – A half-day hike from The Divide, the watershed on the Milford Road. It climbs to an alpine wetland and small tarns, with 360-degree views o…
Lake Marian Track – A steep forest track that starts from the Hollyford Road and passes waterfalls and beech forest before reaching an alpine lake in a glacial…
Homer Tunnel – A 1.2 km granite tunnel through the Darran Mountains. Peaks rise around the entrance, and the cheeky alpine parrot known as the kea is ofte…
Gertrude Saddle – A demanding alpine route near the Homer Tunnel. Climbing to the rock slab saddle gives a dramatic view over Milford Sound and Black Lake.
The Chasm – Strange potholes, arches and swirling basins carved into rock by the Cleddau River. A rainforest path makes a 20-minute return trip, and it…
Hollyford Valley & Humboldt Falls – A short rainforest walk at the end of the Hollyford Road, where the 275-metre Humboldt Falls cascade in three tiers down a cliff.
Lake Manapouri – Often called one of New Zealand's most beautiful lakes, with more than 30 forested islands. It is the departure point for trips to Doubtful…

Where to eat

Redcliff Restaurant & Bar – Te Anau's best-known dinner restaurant, housed in an old timber building and specializing in wild venison and hare from…
Miles Better Pies – Te Anau's best-known pie shop. The venison pie is a classic takeaway lunch on the way to Milford Sound.
Ditto Asian Eatery – Te Anau's highest-rated budget eatery, serving bao buns and sushi bowls. Order at the counter; no reservations.
Ristorante Pizzeria Paradiso – A long-established Italian restaurant in Te Anau, focused on pizza. The venison pizza and venison lasagne bring a local…

Itineraries

New Zealand South Island In-Depth Grand Loop – A complete loop of the South Island starting from Christchurch, connecting coastlines, glaciers, fjords, peninsulas, an…
Queenstown First-Timer's Classic – Lakefront gondola, a day trip to Milford Sound, and the old gold-rush town of Arrowtown: three days to see the best of…
Christchurch to Queenstown Lakes & Fjords – A one-way self-drive through the Mackenzie Basin, Mount Cook, Wanaka, and Fiordland, ending in Queenstown.
Queenstown Lakes and Doubtful Sound in Depth – Steamship to Walter Peak Farm, the Glenorchy valley, the lone tree at Wanaka, and Doubtful Sound, with all nights spent…
Queenstown, Fiordland and Wanaka Self-Drive – Queenstown adventure activities, two nights in Te Anau for the Milford Road, and two nights in Wanaka to climb Roys Pea…
Southern Scenic Route: Dunedin to Queenstown – Drive from Dunedin along the Catlins coast to the southern tip, then head north to Fiordland on the South Island's quie…
New Zealand North to South: Auckland to Queenstown – Head south from Auckland through geothermal areas and Wellington, cross the strait, and explore the lakes and fjords to…