Fiordland National Park is one of the most stunning regions of New Zealand. With glacier-carved fjords, towering peaks and lush native forest, make sure you allocate plenty of time in your itinerary to explore this World Heritage wonder.
Please note: From 1 June 2023, the car parking charges in Milford Sound will be $10 per hour.
Our home of Te Anau is your gateway to Fiordland and the perfect location to base yourself from. Te Anau is a beautiful location in its own right, with a multitude of experiences on offer including glow worm caves, nature hikes, lake cruises and more. If you are short on time, picking up a scenic helicopter or plane ride from Te Anau over the National Park will open up some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world to you.
Experience the best that Fiordland has to offer. Our carefully curated packages focus on what our guests enjoy most, from exploring Milford Sound, to experiencing New Zealand’s most famous Great Walks.
Visit beautiful Lake Te Anau
Easily accessible by road from Te Anau, Milford Sound is the most recognisable destination in Fiordland. The journey in on the Milford Sound Road is unforgettable, with a number of short walks dotted along the drive including to the Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn and the Chasm offering easy exploration from your vehicle.
The best way to appreciate the natural majesty of Milford Sound is from the water. Whether you choose once of the cruise options available, or explore with one of the kayak operators, the towering Mitre Peak and crashing Stirling Waterfall (among many others depending on the time of year) will be a highlight of your trip.
Our Finest of Fiordland and Milford Coach & Cruise packages both take you to this wonderful region, including guided tours and a scenic 2-hour boat cruise.
The countryside around Te Anau, especially along the road to Milford Sound has some of the starriest skies in the world. From the very many vantage points along the Milford road and also the road to Manapouri you can look up and enjoy the most spectacular views of the curve of our galaxy – the Milky Way. In addition, on any clear night you will be able to view the amazing dwarf galaxies of the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud plus the globular clusters of Omega Centauri and 47 Tucanae. And remember, the Southern Cross is also always out there somewhere, and at the right time of year Matariki too.
To make spotting these amazing objects easier, the staff at Radfords are able to provide you with ‘Star Charts’ and a ‘planisphere’ and will give you simple instructions on how to use them. Staff can also advise you on the very best places for viewing. Seeing the universe in all its glory, with the naked eye alone, is a true wonder but if you want a closer look at some of these special objects Radfords also have binoculars for you to use to bring them even closer. A visiting astronomer who recently stayed at Radfords said: “This region has the very best views of the night sky I have seen anywhere in any place I have visited!”. So… the next time you visit Radfords expect to look up and enjoy a very special experience too!
Credit: @digitaltravelcouple
For those with some more time and a spirit of adventure, the trip to Doubtful Sound is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Less accessible than Milford, you will need to take a boat across Lake Manapouri, along with a bus through thick native forest before you find yourself at the fiord.
Exploring Doubtful Sound by cruise or kayak – with overnight cruises available – will instantly transport you back to New Zealand’s quiet, unpopulated history.
Don’t miss out of this uniquely New Zealand destination with our Finest of Fiordland and Doubtful Sound packages
Fiordland is home to three of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Kepler, Milford, and Routeburn tracks. Keen hikers will want to cover the entirety of the multi-day hikes, booking huts or campsites along the way. You will be treated to some of the most incredible natural beauty that New Zealand has to offer.
Both the Milford and Kepler tracks start at Te Anau, while the Routeburn Track is a little further away, starting at either the Routeburn Shelter at the top of Lake Wakatipu or from The Divide, 85km northwest of Te Anau.
For those looking for more of a ‘taste’ of each, will find that day trips on each track will be more to their liking. Our Three Great Walks package offers guided day trips of each of the tracks, including a helicopter flight for the Kepler Track.
Te Anau and nearby Manapouri are home to kilometres of gentle, lakeside biking trails. The cycle trails are perfect for cyclists of all ages and abilities. The 28km Lake2Lake Cycle Trail from Lake Te Anau to Lake Manapouri has various access points along the way, so you’ll discover all the unique lakeside spots to enjoy during your ride. You can ride alongside the Manapouri-Te Anau Highway between Balloon Loop Road and Supply Bay Road to reach Lake Manapouri.
For a more relaxed ride along the Lake Te Anau harbour, follow the Upukerora Trail to reach the Upukerora River. You can access the Lake2Lake Trail by riding back into town and heading toward the DOC Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. At Radfords on the Lake, we have two mountain bikes on-site, free to our guests to use. Plus, there are plenty of cycle hire operators in town with a selection of regular and e-bikes for hire. If you’re bringing your own wheels, we offer secure bike storage as well as e-bike charging facilities.
Tracknet offer reliable daily scheduled passenger bus & coach services to and from many of the most beautiful areas of the Southern South Island during the summer season and on demand departures during the winter season.
Tracknet bus services travel each day between Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound & Invercargill. Regular services connect to Southern New Zealand’s walking tracks including the Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, Hollyford, Greenstone & Caples Tracks.
Making your Fiordland Great Walk easier.
There’s a lot of planning needed to get you to the track and get back. Finding the best options for you and your group can be difficult. The team at Easyhike get that. In fact, that’s where they specialise.
From simple, secure and flexible car relocation, quality gear hire and tasty food packages, through to independent and cost-effective, convenient transport packages, they offer a range of services to get you to the track and back.
Their team will be with you throughout your planning and your journey and dedicated to making sure you have the best experience possible.
You can’t beat seeing this World Heritage wonderland from the sky. There’s nothing like viewing the hanging valley of Campbell’s Kingdom, suspended high amidst the rocky outcrops of Doubtful Sound, from the clouds. Or, enjoying a picnic alongside famous Lake Quill, perched high above Milford Sound. A unique option is to combine air, land and lake with a Fiordland Heli-Hike: Soar over Lake Te Anau to land on Mount Luxmore, hike downhill along the Kepler Track, then enjoy a short boat cruise across the lake and back to town.
Our friends at Southern Lakes Helicopters offer incredible, highly recommended Fiordland scenic flights that promise to ‘knock your socks off’ – that’s kiwi-speak for ‘truly unforgettable.’
Ata Whenua – Fiordland Cinema This film isn’t your average movie: It’s a rich cinematic journey through Fiordland’s most beautiful, remote and untouched landscapes. Filmed mostly from a helicopter, it offers rare insight into the region’s historical and natural wonders.
Fiordland historic sailing cruise Explore Lake Te Anau via the beautiful, historic sailing ship ‘Faith in Fiordland’. Includes delicious, locally-sourced canapés, NZ wines and a passionate kiwi crew – a unique local activity that comes highly recommended.
Fiordland Jet An exciting wilderness jet boat ride alongside Fiordland National Park. Stunning views and Lord of the Rings filming locations.
Bike Fiordland Embrace remote Fiordland countryside and explore via bike on scenic cycle trails or via 4WD guided tour.
A beautiful meal, snack or coffee isn’t hard to find in Te Anau. Here are some of our favourite local cafes and restaurants.
Redcliff Café & Bar Set in an early settlers cottage, this is a great place for delicious, locally-sourced New Zealand style-food. Open Lunch & Dinner.
The Fat Duck A delicious Gastropub located in the heart of Te Anau. New Zealand beer, wine and hearty pub classics like Lamb Shanks goes down a treat. Open for brunch, lunch and dinner.
Black Dog Bar Adjacent to Fiordland Cinema is the luxurious Black Dog Bar. Great for beer, wine and platters in front of the fire.
Sandfly Café A cosy corner café great for breakfast or lunch, with superb coffee.
Ditto NZ Asian-inspired street fare for a great dine in experience and takeaway options.
Take the scenic journey between Queenstown and Dunedin through 610 kilometers of deserted beaches, lush rainforest, pristine lakes and stunning mountain vistas. Check out our Southern Scenic Route Itinerary for inspiration for your next journey through the South.
Spending the day around Te Anau and want to explore the main town centre?
Download this map and take a wander through Te Anau’s town centre and check out the local shops and grab a bite at one of the cafes. Why not check out Lake Te Anau for views of the lake surrounded by the epic mountains. Enjoy the fresh air and soak up the atmosphere of our small picturesque town.
We are committed to preserving our beautiful surroundings and reducing our footprint on the environment.
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