FURTHER INTO FIORDLAND
Have you ever dreamt of exploring Fiordland? Take a Milford road trip through Fiordland National Park, wander along the Piopiotahi Milford Sound foreshore, and admire Rahotu Mitre Peak’s spectacular views. Have you considered basing yourself in Te Anau and taking day trips full of adventure or embracing nature and a slower pace of life on a cruise in Patea Doubtful Sound? There has never been a better time; feel inspired and refresh your soul with a trip to Fiordland.
TIME TO HIKE
Fiordland is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts as it is home to not only three of New Zealand’s ten Great Walks but it also has an abundance of day hikes. Favourite day hikes include the Kepler track. Take a water taxi across Lake Te Anau to start your hike up to Luxmore Summit; you will most likely find cheeky kea waiting to greet you at the top. The second is Lake Marian Track. Short, steep, and filled with native forest, birdsong, and waterfalls, you finish your climb at a spectacular hanging valley and glacial carved lake.
TIME TO RIDE
Te Anau offers kilometres of excellent biking trails. Hire a bike in town, then hit the Lake2Lake Cycle Trail, which follows the Waiau River from Lake Te Anau to Lake Manapouri. Be sure not to miss stopping in at Te Pungana o Manu Te Anau Bird Park to see the takahē along the way or park up the bikes at Rainbow’s Reach and take a detour along the Kepler Track. For the cruisers among us, enjoy the gentle lakefront tracks and stunning views looking north towards the start of the Milford Track.
TIME TO CAST OFF
Fiordland is internationally recognised as one of the best trout fishing regions in the world; fishermen (and women) travel far and wide to fish the rivers and lakes in this area. Get out into the wilderness with some of the most knowledgeable fishing guides in the country. Gin-clear waterways are home to abundant stocks of brown and rainbow trout, making it an ideal activity for serious anglers or those wanting to just have a go.
TIME TO RELAX
Relax and recharge in Te Anau, the basecamp for Fiordland, during your next big adventure. Stroll along the lakeside at sunset, enjoy a picnic below the Murchison Mountains, join the locals and take a dip in the clear, tranquil waters, play a slow 18 holes of golf at the Te Anau Golf Club while soaking up incredible views, or book a massage, spa or sauna to soothe those achy limbs after completing a challenging day hike.
TIME TO CRUISE
The serenity of sailing Fiordland is indescribable, making it the perfect home for many cruise boats. Breathe in the crisp, cool air, discover hidden lakes and waterfalls, take short walks, explore islands, glowworm caves, and natural treasures. For the more adventurous, why not jump aboard a jet boat and be delighted by the beautiful scenery, travelling down the Waiau River until you reach the majestic Lake Manapouri?
TIME TO FLY
Take to the sky; seeing Fiordland from above is breathtaking. Scenic flights enable you to explore further into the untouched beauty of the National Park. Catch a sunset in Tamatea Dusky Sound, land at the top of Sutherland Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the world, or experience the thrill of takeoff and landing on water in the South Island’s only floatplane. Flying in Fiordland is an unforgettable experience!