Te Anau

Covering an area of 344 square kilometres, Lake Te Anau is the largest of the southern glacial lakes and the main body of the lake runs north to south. The three large fiords reach out from its western side and they are called North Fiord, Middle Fiord and South Fiord. Rolling hill country characterises the eastern side of the lake whilst the western side is a magnificent wilderness of forest and mountains. Most of Lake Te Anau is within the boundaries of Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. Of the two settlements on the shores of the lake, the township of Te Anau is the largest.

Te Anau is the town that connects Queenstown to Milford Sound by road and the famously scenic Milford Road begins in the centre of Te Anau. Two of New Zealand’s great walks also start at the lake. The world renowned Milford Track starts at its northern tip, while the popular Kepler Track starts and ends at the lake’s south end, within walking distance from Te Anau town centre. The tracks offer a sense of freedom and inspiration to rival any in the world.

The drive from Queenstown to Te Anua takes about 3 hours through breathtaking scenery.

Te Anau has a cool, temperate climate with the best weather for sightseeing and walking being in the summer between November and February.

The coldest and wettest months are from May to August. However, rainfall is lower in Te Anau than elsewhere in Fiordland due to the effects of the surrounding mountains. You can visit Te Anau at any time of year although the main attraction is the nearby walks, namely the Milford Track, and this remains fairly inaccessible after May due to heavy snowfall over its passes. Average temperatures in Te Anau are: 12°C in the spring (September to October), with fresh mornings and warm days; 25°C in the summer (November to February), hot days and warm nights; 20°C in autumn (March and April), balmy days and cooler nights; and 7°C in the winter (May to August), bracing days and cold nights. For those who hire cars, beware of the Milford road around winter time when avalanches regularly cause havoc across parts of the route. The Milford road is constantly monitored for its avalanches, and is closed for driver safety if conditions get too rough.