Frequently Asked Questions

Fiordland Eco-Retreat is situated on a peaceful hillside overlooking Lake Te Anau and the mountains of Fiordland National Park. We are approximately a six-minute drive from central Te Anau, making us a convenient base for exploring the region while enjoying a quiet, rural setting.

We recommend having your own vehicle. Te Anau’s shops, restaurants and essential services are a short drive away, and a car gives you the flexibility to explore Fiordland at your own pace.

There are no taxi / uber / public transport services in Te Anau.

Fresh Choice is a good-sized supermarket, a seven-minute drive away from the Eco-Retreat. It closes at 8pm in winter and 9pm in summer. Their current hours are published at the bottom of this page.

There’s also a smaller convenience store, Four Square, located along the main high street.

There are a large variety of restaurants on offer. We highly recommend making reservations in advance of your arrival, especially during our high season (November – April).

Milford Sound is approximately two hours’ drive from Te Anau, without stops. Allow extra time to enjoy the Milford Road’s spectacular scenery and walking opportunities.

Doubtful Sound is reached via Lake Manapōuri and Wilmot Pass as part of a guided excursion. It is a different experience from Milford Sound, and both are well worth considering if time allows.

For detailed advice on visiting either destination, including driving, cruises and road conditions, see our Activities FAQs.

We recommend allowing at least two to three nights in Te Anau if you would like to explore some of Fiordland’s highlights without rushing. A longer stay gives you more time for walking, scenic drives, cruises, wildlife experiences and simply enjoying the landscape.

There are many restaurants in Te Anau, but they do generally close up earlier than you may be used to in big cities.

There is a ‘New World’ supermarket close to Queenstown airport, in the Remarkables Shopping area, which you may like to visit prior to leaving Queenstown. It’s also worth noting that there are not any dinner stops on the drive between Queenstown and Te Anau.

For your convenience, we can provide various ‘local food hampers‘, to be in the accommodation, ready for your arrival. If you have any specific requests, please let us know as we can usually factor these in to the hamper’s contents.

Fiordland offers everything from spectacular walks and scenic cruises to wildlife encounters and guided stargazing. Explore our Activities FAQs for ideas and practical advice to help plan your stay.

For detailed advice on visiting either destination, including driving, cruises and road conditions, see our Activities FAQs.

Fiordland’s naturally dark skies offer wonderful opportunities for stargazing on clear nights. You can enjoy the night sky from the retreat, and we also offer on-site guided stargazing experiences through Fiordland Stargazing.

Fiordland’s southern location, minimal light pollution and dark skies create excellent conditions for aurora viewing. However, aurora sightings are a natural phenomenon, and are only visible when solar activity and viewing conditions align. Sightings cannot be guaranteed, but 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.

Yes. Cloud cover, weather and sky conditions affect visibility, so a stargazing experience cannot be guaranteed on any particular night.

Please also see the FAQ section on our Stargazing Tours page.

Our usual check-in time is from 4 pm, and check-out is by 10 am. Please refer to your booking confirmation for the details applicable to your stay.

We are generally unable to confirm early check-in or late check-out in advance, as this depends on cleaning and preparations between bookings. If the accommodation becomes available earlier than usual, we will let you know where possible.

If you would like to drop off luggage or perishable items before check-in, please contact us in advance. We can sometimes arrange this, depending on access and preparations for your arrival, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Yes, we can arrange selected activities on your behalf, including scenic flights, Milford Sound cruise and coach packages, and selected guided experiences. Availability and booking arrangements vary by activity.

Visit our Packages page to explore some of the options, or contact us if you’d like advice or help planning your stay.

Yes. We work with selected travel trade partners and welcome enquiries from established agencies interested in working with us. Please contact us to discuss a potential partnership.

Neither accommodation is fully wheelchair accessible. Access arrangements, internal layouts and physical features differ between the two properties.

Please read the relevant accommodation description and contact us before booking if you have particular accessibility requirements. We are happy to discuss the details to help you decide whether the accommodation will suit your needs.

Absolutely. We aim to provide thoughtful, respectful hospitality grounded in manaakitanga – showing care, respect and generosity towards others.

We aim to create a calm, respectful environment where our guests feel comfortable, valued and genuinely cared for, welcoming guests from all backgrounds. We are committed to providing thoughtful, professional hospitality without judgement or assumptions.

You can read more in our Inclusivity & Belonging Policy.

We believe inclusivity means treating everyone with dignity and respect while being transparent about the characteristics and limitations of our accommodation.

If there is something we could do better to make your experience more welcoming or inclusive, we encourage you to let us know. We are always learning and looking for ways to improve.

Our new eco-villa, The Lookout, is designed as a peaceful retreat for adults seeking privacy, relaxation and connection with nature. For this reason, we welcome guests aged 18 years and over.

The Takahē Suite will have a 1-bedroom layout from the beginning of 2027 onwards. Children and infants are permitted to stay here, but please note that there is just one super-king bed available in the accommodation.

Sustainability is a fundamental commitment for us, never an after-thought; it is central to the retreat’s design and operations. Our initiatives include solar energy, rainwater collection, on-site wastewater treatment, energy-efficient building design and native tree planting for every booking.

We are also committed to responsible tourism and local conservation. You can read more on our Sustainability and Sustainability Initiatives pages.

No. The Lookout has been designed using Passive House principles but is not formally certified. For details of its insulation, ventilation and energy-efficient design, please see The Lookout.

Fiordland’s weather can change quickly in any season, so we recommend packing layers and a waterproof jacket. Conditions can differ considerably between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

For more information about seasonal conditions and preparing for your visit, please see our Activities FAQs.

Not at all! We always try to keep Cooper, our elderly Border Collie, contained in his rear yard until we have ascertained how guests feel about dogs. If you do not like dogs, it would be greatly appreciated if you could please let us know in advance, although this is not essential!

Cooper is never permitted within the Eco-Retreat itself, but does frequent the garage, in which the laundry facilities are housed.

Please let us know if you do not wish to see him, and we will keep him contained elsewhere, should you wish to use the laundry facilities (housed in our garage).

Our neighbour also has a very friendly dog who does come to visit the Eco-Retreat guests. With advanced notice, I can request that she be contained on their premises during your stay.