Otago
Holiday park · South Island
Te Anau & Fiordland
Fiordland
The lakeside gateway to Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and the Kepler Track.
Te Anau sits on the shore of its namesake lake at the edge of Fiordland National Park — the launch point for the drive (or cruise) to Milford Sound, boat trips on Doubtful Sound and the Kepler Great Walk. The town is small and friendly, the scenery enormous.
Lakeside camping makes a comfortable base for exploring the fiords. Milford Sound is a long day trip, so an early start (and a full fuel tank) pays off.
Te Anau is the base for Milford Sound, and the drive in takes just over two hours each way through the Eglinton Valley — leave early, both to beat the coach traffic and because the valley in morning light is half the reason to go. Fill the fuel tank in Te Anau; there is none between there and Milford. The last stretch through the Homer Tunnel is single-lane and controlled by lights.
Planning this area? South Island circuit route →
