Local Activities: Things To Do in Te Anau & Fiordland

Fiordland is a vast and spectacular region, and we recommend allowing at least 2 – 3 days to experience some of its highlights without feeling rushed.

A few days gives you time to explore Milford Sound, enjoy one of Fiordland’s many walking tracks, discover the beauty of Lake Te Anau, and return to your accommodation to relax and take in the incredible night skies. Many guests tell us they wish they had allowed more time to simply slow down and enjoy Fiordland itself.

For those with more time, a longer stay allows you to experience the region at a more relaxed pace, with opportunities for additional walks, scenic drives, wildlife experiences and exploring lesser-known areas.

Fiordland is a year-round destination, and every season offers something special.

Summer brings long daylight hours, warmer temperatures and excellent conditions for exploring the region’s famous walking tracks.

Autumn is our favourite season. It offers crisp mornings, beautiful colours and fewer visitors. The weather tends to be the most settled.

Winter brings snow-capped mountains, peaceful landscapes and longer nights, ideal for stargazing.

Spring often brings the wind here in Fiordland, but it is a truly wonderful time of year to visit.

There is no single “best” time to visit – Fiordland changes beautifully with every season. The weather also changes very frequently, regardless of season… our rule of thumb is to “expect 4 seasons in one day”, and then you’ll be fine!

Fiordland is home to some of New Zealand’s most spectacular walking experiences, including three Great Walks: the Milford Track, Kepler Track and Routeburn Track.

For shorter walks and day hikes, there are also many beautiful options close to Te Anau, ranging from easy lakeside strolls to more challenging mountain routes.

Some popular options include:

• Kepler Track sections from Te Anau
• Lake Marian Track
• Key Summit
• Luxmore Hut (for those seeking a full-day hike)
• Te Anau Bird Sanctuary and lakeside walks

We’re always happy to recommend walks based on your fitness level, available time and the weather conditions during your stay.

During the busy summer months and school holidays, we strongly recommend booking popular activities in advance.

Outside peak periods, there is often more flexibility, but Fiordland’s remote location means availability can be limited. If there is something specific that you would like to experience, it is always best to plan ahead.

We are happy to book activities for you on your behalf. Please visit our packages page for details – if there’s something that you’re interested in that we haven’t included, please do ask!

Yes, it is possible to see the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) from Fiordland when conditions align.

Fiordland’s southern location, minimal light pollution and dark skies create excellent conditions for aurora viewing. However, aurora sightings are a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed.

On clear nights, even when the aurora is not visible, guests can enjoy spectacular views of the southern night sky, including the Milky Way and thousands of stars.

Fiordland is home to some of New Zealand’s most remarkable wildlife and an extraordinary diversity of native species.

You may encounter native birds including kea, tūī, pīwakawaka (fantail) and korimako (bellbird). The nearby Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is also one of the best places to see the rare takahē, one of New Zealand’s most iconic conservation success stories. Our co-owner, Glen, has spent his entire 20+ years of his career protecting this taonga (special) species.

Around Milford and Doubtful Sounds, it’s common to see New Zealand fur seals (kekeno) and Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki). Bottlenose dolphins are seen regularly, and lucky visitors may also spot dusky dolphins or the rare southern right whale during the winter months.

Our hosts have a deep connection with Fiordland’s natural environment and are always happy to share local knowledge and help guests make the most of their wildlife experiences.

Both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sounds are incredible, and you can’t make a wrong choice between them!

• The two fjords (mis-named ‘Sounds’ by early explorers) are very different: Milford Sound is far more dramatic with steep sides, and is a much smaller fjord.
• Doubtful Sound is known as the “Sound of Silence”, it offers an incredible sense of wilderness, with fewer visitors, untouched rainforest and excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting.
• Doubtful Sound is not quite as dramatic and spectacular, but it’s far bigger, with lots of islands. It’s a very peaceful, calm place.
• Milford Sound has a far higher number of visitors than Doubtful Sound, because it is easily accessible by road.
• The drive to Milford Sound is absolutely spectacular (see next point, below).

There are several wonderful ways to experience Milford Sound, depending on your interests and how much time you have.

A boat cruise is the most popular option, taking you beneath towering cliffs and close to waterfalls and wildlife. Kayaking offers a more intimate way to experience the sound, while scenic flights provide unforgettable views of Fiordland’s dramatic landscapes from above.

Many visitors combine a cruise with the spectacular drive from Te Anau along the Milford Road. We recommend choosing an experience that allows you time to appreciate the journey as well as the destination.

Absolutely. Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most iconic destinations and a highlight of any visit to Fiordland.

The journey there is just as memorable as the destination, with spectacular mountain scenery, native rainforest, waterfalls, lakes and opportunities to spot wildlife along the way. A cruise on Milford Sound is one of the best ways to experience its towering peaks, dramatic cliffs and waterfalls from the water.

While Milford Sound is famous for its beauty on clear days, it is also magical in the rain when hundreds of temporary waterfalls cascade down the mountainsides.

Te Anau is the closest main accommodation base for visiting Milford Sound.

The journey along the spectacular Milford Road takes around 2 hours without stops, but we recommend longer so you can enjoy the many scenic viewpoints and short walks along the route. You’ll also need to factor in extra time for finding a parking space and walking the 10 minutes to the boat terminal (allow at least an extra 30 minutes for this. Allow even longer in summer, as you may need to park in an overflow carpark, which adds an extra 10 minutes of walking each way).

While Google Maps may suggest a shorter driving time to travel the 125km journey, it doesn’t fully account for the narrow, winding mountain road, changing weather conditions, roadworks, or the many places you’ll want to stop for photos.

The Milford Road is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives, with highlights including the Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, Monkey Creek, the Hollyford Valley lookout, The Chasm (when open), and the impressive Homer Tunnel.

Yes. Te Anau is the ideal base for exploring Milford Sound, reducing your return driving time by around four hours compared with staying in Queenstown. That means more time enjoying Fiordland and less time behind the wheel.

A Milford Sound day trip from Te Anau is a full but incredibly rewarding day. We recommend leaving early, allowing plenty of time for scenic stops along the Milford Road, and booking your Milford Sound cruise in advance, particularly during the summer months.

If you’d prefer to leave the driving to someone else, guided coach tours, scenic flights and overnight experiences are also excellent ways to discover Milford Sound.

You can self-drive along the Milford Road, but ensure that you leave enough time to safely get there. We recommend at least 2 hours – more if you like to stop and take photos. Do not rely on Google Maps’ time recommendations, as they can be incorrect for this unique road.

Take caution driving the Milford Road:

• It is steep, narrow and windy. It is different to the roads that you may be used to.
• It will take longer to drive than Google would have you believe, and requires a lot of attention to drive it safely.
• Other tourists can be in a hurry and may overtake on blind corners – there are very few safe opportunities to overtake. They may also be tired on their drive back to Te Anau or Queenstown after being in Milford Sound. When we drive into Milford Sound with our family, we try to stay behind other vehicles for this reason.

We recommend leaving extra time for parking in Milford Sound. There are two car parking options:

• The closest one is a 10 minute walk from the boat terminal, and costs $10 per hour. Parking places here are very limited.
• The second option is a free carpark, which takes 30 minutes to walk from.

There are a number of companies, such as Milford Sound Luxe Tours or Envy Experiences who can drive you in to Milford Sound to link up with a boat cruise. We can often book these on your behalf – please just ask!

A guided coach / cruise package is recommended for a number of reasons:

1. Having an experienced driver in charge of your journey takes a lot of pressure off the driver, and ensures that everyone can enjoy the spectacular scenery.
2. Your driver has a wealth of local knowledge, and will share this with you along the way. They also know the best places to stop for photographs.
3. There’s no need to pay for parking and walk to the terminal – your coach driver will drop you off directly outside the ferry terminal, and be there when the cruise is finished (avoiding a 10-minute walk each way).
4. The fewer cars there are on the road, the fewer emissions there are, making it the more sustainable option.
5. Especially during the winter months, having experienced drivers on the road is often the safest option for everyone.

Part of the appeal of Milford Sound is the spectacular drive to get there. Doing a day walk or two up the Milford Road is definitely recommended, if you have time. Key Summit, a 3-hour return hike into the alpine areas of the Routeburn Track – one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’, is a truly spectacular experience, especially when the weather is fine.

We also love Lake Marian, which is another 3-hour hike taking you up a more rugged track into a hanging valley, where you’ll find the stunning Lake Marian. Well worth the effort! A brief 20 minute walk takes you to the Lake Marian Gantry, where you can view stunning waterfall – but continue on past this for the full walk.

There are a number of companies, and they all take the same route around the fjord. You can’t go wrong with which one you choose.

• The midday cruises may be busier than the earlier morning or later afternoon cruises; This is when the big buses from Queenstown arrive. They travel for 4 hours each way, whereas travelling from Te Anau takes just 2 hours.
• Some bus transportation companies have a preferred cruise operator that they work with.
• Some visitors prefer a smaller vessel, which is where Cruise Milford would be a winner.
• Others like a larger vessel with some food options onboard (there aren’t any food options in Milford Sound), such as RealNZ. They do cap the number of people on board, so although it’s a bigger vessel, it doesn’t actually feel crowded.
• If you like the idea of a luxury 2-course lunch onboard, you may prefer joining the Fiordland Discovery cruise. This option is available during the summer months only.

If driving along the Milford Road during the winter months, you will be required to carry chains – the road is at a higher altitude than Te Anau. Drivers can encounter snow at any time, especially within 1 hour’s drive of Milford Sound. Be sure to check out the road conditions in advance, at the NZ Transport Agency.

The Milford Road is occasionally closed to traffic, for a number of possible reasons. In the winter, closures are usually due to snow conditions. In the spring, they are often due to possible avalanche risk.

There is a wonderful team of professionals in charge of monitoring the road to ensure that it is made safe for drivers as quickly as possible. Current road conditions / estimated re-opening times can be found here.

The portion of road from Te Anau to the Lower Hollyford Road (which is essentially the first hour of driving) is usually open year-round. It is the second hour of driving, between Hollyford and Milford Sound, that’s most often affected by adverse weather / avalanche risk.

If you are concerned about the Milford Road being closed while you are visiting, you may prefer to choose to cruise Doubtful Sound instead. These cruises are almost always accessible year-round.

Te Anau is known as the ‘gateway to Fiordland National Park’ and is the closest town to Milford Sound, making it the perfect base for exploring the region.

Staying in Te Anau means that you’ll spend less time driving and more time experiencing everything Fiordland has to offer. It’s also ideally located for visiting Doubtful Sound, walking sections of the famous Great Walks, exploring the Te Anau lakefront, visiting the Glow-worm caves, enjoying local cafés and restaurants, and relaxing after a day of adventure.

Many of our guests tell us they’re pleased they chose to stay in Te Anau rather than making the long return journey from Queenstown. After a full day exploring Fiordland, there’s nothing quite like returning to your own private hot tub, surrounded by peace and mountain views.

You cannot self-drive to Doubtful Sound – a tour company must transport you across Lake Manapouri (Manapouri is 25km from our house) and then you need to get on a bus to travel over a road called ‘Wilmot Pass’ in the middle of nowhere, to take you to the cruise boat. As a result, the tours are more expensive but you won’t have to pay for your own petrol.

Doubtful Sound is a much more remote wilderness destination than Milford Sound, and simply getting there is part of the adventure. Your journey begins with a cruise across Lake Manapouri, followed by a coach trip over the spectacular Wilmot Pass before boarding your cruise in Doubtful Sound.

This additional travel, combined with fewer visitors and a more remote location, makes Doubtful Sound cruises longer and generally more expensive than Milford Sound cruises.

Many visitors choose Milford Sound for its dramatic scenery and convenience, while Doubtful Sound offers a quieter, more immersive wilderness experience. Both are spectacular and well worth visiting if your itinerary allows.

Often described as the “finest walk in the world”, the Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks and attracts visitors from around the globe.

The full track is 53.5 km and is completed over four days, taking walkers through ancient rainforest, alpine passes and spectacular waterfalls before finishing at Milford Sound. Highlights include Mackinnon Pass and the impressive Sutherland Falls, one of New Zealand’s tallest waterfalls.

During the Great Walk season (late October to late April), huts and transport must be booked well in advance – huts usually sell out on the day that the Department of Conservation opens its bookings for the upcoming season. It is also possible to hike the full track as part of a guided trip, with Ultimate Hikes.

The Kepler Track is a 60 km circular Great Walk that begins and ends in Te Anau, making it one of the most accessible multi-day walks in Fiordland.

Usually completed over 3-4 days, the track combines native beech forest, lakeshore walking, alpine ridgelines and expansive views across Fiordland National Park. Luxmore Hut and the ridgeline section are particular highlights.

If you don’t have time for the full walk, sections of the Kepler Track also make excellent day hikes from Te Anau. You can start at the ‘Control Gates‘ carpark, or the Rainbow Reach carpark, and walk as far as you like before returning back the same way.

Walking up to Luxmore Hut and back in a day is a great way to fill a day. We recommend using Fiordland Outdoors‘ water taxi to transport you across the lake and back, cutting a few hours off your walking time.

Held each December, the Kepler Challenge is one of New Zealand’s premier mountain running events, attracting competitors from around the world. Staying in Te Anau puts you just minutes from the start and finish area, making race-day logistics simple. After a demanding day on the trails, there’s nothing quite like returning to a comfortable retreat to relax in your private hot tub or unwind in the Eco-Villa’s sauna before exploring the rest of Fiordland.

The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s most scenic alpine walks, linking Fiordland National Park with Mount Aspiring National Park.

The full track is 33 km and is usually completed over 2-3 days. Walkers experience alpine ridgelines, mountain lakes, waterfalls, native forest and panoramic views, with highlights including Harris Saddle and Routeburn Falls.

For those short on time, shorter day walks such as Key Summit provide a wonderful taste of the Routeburn’s spectacular scenery.

Vehicle logistics are important to understand, as this is a one-way track that takes you from near Milford Sound through to Glenorchy (close to Queenstown) – or vice versa. There are a few companies that can relocate your vehicle for you, such as EasyHike, so that it’s at the end of the hike for you when you get there. Alternatively, you can make your hike into a loop-track by extending your trip by a further few days and adding in the Greestone and Caples Track hikes.

It is also possible to hike the full Routeburn Track as part of a guided trip, with Ultimate Hikes.

The Hump Ridge Track is a 61 km multi-day walk in southern Fiordland, near Tuatapere, and is New Zealand’s newest Great Walk.

Completed over three days, the track offers a unique combination of rugged coastline, native forest, subalpine landscapes and historic viaducts, with spectacular views across the South Coast and surrounding mountains.

Unlike the other Fiordland Great Walks, the Hump Ridge Track is managed independently and features comfortable private lodges along the route. It provides a wonderful alternative for walkers seeking a quieter and more varied wilderness experience.

For guests with limited time, a 3-day Great Walks experience offers the opportunity to explore highlights of three of Fiordland’s most spectacular walks: the Milford Track, Kepler Track and Routeburn Track. It’s an incredible way to experience the diversity of Fiordland’s landscapes, from ancient forests and alpine passes to dramatic mountain scenery.

Ask us about arranging a Great Walks package for you (summer months only).

A scenic flight by helicopter / float plane is most definitely an experience to remember!

Others take a slower pace, and experience the region on foot. A fantastic way to explore all three of Fiordland’s diverse ‘Great Walks’ (Milford Track, Kepler Track and Routeburn Track) is to walk them over 3-days, in a great walks package.

Take a look at the activities throughout this page for more suggestions.

Please view the activity suggestions throughout this page.

We can also book activities on your behalf – please see our packages page for details.

We are happy to book activities on your behalf, wherever this is possible. We will then take payment from you and pass this onto the company.

Examples of bookable activities include scenic helicopter flights, Milford Sound cruise / bus packages, a ‘3 Great Walks in 3 Days’ hiking package, or a relaxing sunset cruise on Lake Te Anau in a beautiful historic boat.

Please get in touch if you wish to discuss this.

The Fiordland mountains will likely be covered in snow, but we only get snow on the ground here at the Eco-Retreat approximately three or four times each year.

Snow and ice may affect your drive into Milford Sound during the colder months. Please check the NZ Transport Agency’s Milford Road webpage for further details.

The Fiordland weather is extremely unpredictable. We can have hot days in the middle of winter, and cold days in the middle of summer. Spring often brings the wind; autumn is generally more settled. It’s best to expect four seasons in a day! Pack layers, and that way you can always add more clothes / take some off as the weather dictates. Definitely bring a rain jacket for Milford Sound.

Fiordland’s weather can change quickly, even in summer, so we recommend packing for a range of conditions. Expect four seasons in one day, and you’ll be fine!

Essential items include:

• comfortable walking shoes
• multiple layers of clothes (layers will be your friend!)
• a waterproof jacket
• sun protection
• insect repellent (especially during warmer months)
• a reusable water bottle
• Long-sleeved tops and socks to protect skin from sandflies (necessary when in the forest surrounding the fjords)

Even if the forecast looks clear, it is always wise to be prepared for rain. Fiordland’s rainfall is part of what creates its incredible waterfalls, lush rainforest and dramatic landscapes.

Yes. Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in New Zealand, receiving around 6-7 metres of rainfall each year. While that may sound surprising, it’s also what makes Milford Sound so spectacular.

The region’s abundant rainfall creates lush rainforest, dramatic mountain scenery and countless waterfalls cascading down sheer cliffs. In fact, many locals believe Milford Sound is at its most breathtaking during or just after rain, when hundreds of temporary waterfalls come to life.

Not as much as many people expect. While Fiordland is famous for its dramatic rainfall, Te Anau receives considerably less rain than Milford Sound and, on average, a similar amount to (or even slightly less than) Auckland.

Located on the eastern side of the Fiordland mountains, Te Anau is sheltered from much of the weather arriving from the Tasman Sea, making it an ideal base for exploring the region. As with anywhere in Fiordland, conditions can change quickly, so we recommend packing a waterproof jacket and dressing in layers.

Yes, New Zealand has sandflies, but you shouldn’t find them at Fiordland Eco-Retreat. You will, however, find them in both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound (on land, not while you’re on the water) so do be prepared for this. They’re tiny little black flies, and yes they do bite! Thankfully, their bites do not carry disease.

To prevent sandfly bites, you can definitely opt for insect repellant (some swear by DEET or picaridin-containing formulas), or you could do what I do and just wear long sleeves / trousers and socks. I’ve also heard that they prefer the heat generated by black clothing… although this could be a myth!

Disclaimer: I do usually still get bitten on any skin that’s not covered, but they have always absolutley love me! I’ve found that if you ignore the bite (mind over matter) and don’t scrach it, it goes away pretty quickly. But if you scratch that itch, it could be with you for a good 7 days! Best to try and avioid getting bitten, I’d say…

No, dogs are not permitted anywhere within Fiordland National Park’s boundaries.

Yes we absolutely do. We choose these carefully, but would be happy to hear from any potential trade partners.