The peaceful lakeside hamlet of Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford and Doubtful Sounds.

This quintessential clean, green Kiwi town is widely known as ‘The Walking Capital of New Zealand’. The famous tramping tracks of the Milford, Hollyford, Routeburn, Greenstone, Caples, Kepler, Dusky and Dart-Rees can all be accessed from Te Anau.

Te Anau is a totally relaxed holiday haven in the midst of New Zealand’s most wild and dramatic landscapes. The emphasis is on eco-tourism and soft adventure here with heaps of options for sightseeing as follows:-

Walk along the lakefront esplanade to Blue Gum Point
Enjoy the stillness and serenity of the South Island’s largest lake and the primeval ambience of the Murchison Mountains (home of the rare takahe bird).

Walk around the lakeshore to the Wildlife Park
View endangered native birds and continue on to the Lake Outlet and Dock Bay, a popular picnic and swimming spot.

Consider an all day walk on the nearby Kepler Track
Drive to Rainbow Reach on the Lower Waiau River and walk 3 hours through pure pristine wilderness back to the lakeshore.

Take a night cruise on Lake Te Anau to the Te Ana-au Caves
Experience the beautiful glow-worm grotto, waterfalls and limestone formations.

Drive down to Lake Manapouri for a walk or cruise
Walk options are Stockyard Cove and The Monument and the more challenging Cone Peak. Cruises take in the 35 islands and tentacle-like arms of the lake.

Drive up the stunning Eglinton Valley
Marvel at the unspoiled wilderness and walk to viewpoints like Key Summit, Lake Marion and the Gertrude Saddle.

Continue on to Milford Sound through the Homer Tunnel
This is New Zealand’s most spectacular wilderness drive. Take a boat cruise and view the sheer walls of the Lion and Mitre Peak (they rise 1200 metres straight out of the sea)

On the return from Milford take a side trip down the Hollyford Valley
Tramp in to Hidden Falls Hut for an overnight stay or return to Hollyford Camp.

Take the day excursion to Doubtful Sound
The scenery is breathtaking in this idyllic haven for fur seals, dolphins and penguins.

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