Te Anau

Where is it?

At the southerly end of Lake Te Anau, one of a number of glacially gouged lakes in the Fiordland National Park area. This is an out of the way spot that has increased its profile on the tourist radar of late.

What's it like?

On the lake surrounded by mountains Te Anau has, with some success, set itself up as an alternative to Queenstown. This is largely due to its position in the national park and proximity to Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and the iconic tramps through the forests between the lakes and the coast.

What to see and do.

In Te Anau itself there is not a whole lot to do apart from wonder at the glorious setting and wander along the lakeshore but that is not why people visit. They come to get out into the scenery. This mainly consists of walking one or more of the hiking trails for which the area is famed. Although there are gentler alternatives, the big ones last several days through some challenging terrain. These longer tramps are well marked and equipped with huts to stay in along the way. The Kepler and Hollyford Tracks are popular but the major one is the Milford Track which follows the route from the northern tip of Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound almost 55km away.

Eating, Sleeping and Drinking

As elsewhere price and availability varies from season to season but generally there is a good choice of accommodation to suit all tastes. Nightlife varies from subdued to non-existent but there are a few good bars and solid if unspectacular cuisine is readily available.