Te-Anau

The township of Te Anau is the stopping off point between Queenstown and Milford Sounds. It is generally recommended you spend a night here when you are exploring Milford Sounds.  The town rests on the edge of Lake Te Anau which is the second largest lake in New Zealand. Apart from being the perfect base from which to explore Milford Sound, Te Anau is also the beginning of two of New Zealand’s most famous walks, the Milford track and the Kepler track.  To enjoy what Te Anau has to offer hire a bus through our Queenstown office.

The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and native bushland which provides the ideal backdrop for Te Anau accommodation. There are plenty of choices to select from including apartments, bed and breakfasts, motels and lodges as well as a couple of backpackers and holiday parks. Te Anau has 7-day shopping and an above-average choice of award-winning restaurants and cafes. Te Anau activities and attractions are all about discovering the natural beauty of your surroundings.

During the hot summer months, Te Anau is popular for swimming, fishing and waterskiing with the rest of the year offering kayaking, 4 wheel driving, tramping, scenic flights, skydiving, jet boating, golf and scenic cruises. A trip to Te Anau wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves. The trip to see the glow worms includes a cruise across the lake, a short walk and a boat ride into the ancient cave, these tiny luminous creatures call home. Te Anau’s Wildlife Park has a wonderful array of New Zealand native birds including Kea, Takahe, Tui and Kaka. The Park is run by the conservation department, entry is free and it is just a 10-minute walk from the lakefront.

Don’t forget the night time astronomy tour, which will show you some of the clearest views of the planets and stars in New Zealand. 

After you have made it back to Queenstown, checkout the other activities available.  It is not called the adventure capital of the world for no reason.