One of New Zealand’s lovely small towns is Te Anau. Te Anau is a highly well-liked vacation spot since it serves as the starting point for trips to Milford and Doubtful Sound. This site is for you if you’re thinking of going to Te Anau for a vacation. You shouldn’t skip out on any of these because they are Te Anau’s top attractions.
1. Take a trip to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves
In Te Anau, you absolutely must take a tour of the glow worm caves. Seeing glow worms is one of the nicest things to do in New Zealand in my opinion, and it’s surely a memorable experience for the whole family.
In reality, glow worms are only found in New Zealand (and a tiny area of Australia), so it’s unlikely that you’ll find them anywhere else in the world. Although technically only bugs, these tiny larvae, which glow like the night sky due to bioluminescence, are rather lovely.
2. Kepler Track hike
The Kepler Trail, one of my all-time favorite walks in New Zealand, begins only a short distance from Te Anau. Unquestionably, trekking the Kepler Track, even a small section of it, is one of the best things to do in Te Anau.
The Kepler Track is a 3- to 4-day loop trail that runs alongside the shorelines of Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri. It is 60 kilometers (37 miles) long. Highlights of the landscape include slopes covered in golden tussock, cheeky Keas, views of deep fiords, and breathtaking alpine highlands. The hike is unquestionably among the best on the South Island and is one of New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks.
3. Make a trip to the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary
The Te Anau Bird Sanctuary is located right adjacent to Lake Te Anau and is only a 15-minute walk from Te Anau town. Some of the rarest and most renowned bird species in New Zealand can be found here. You may wander around the sanctuary for about an hour because it is outside.
Here, you might see the takahe, kaka, kereru, tui, and morepork, among other bird species. Other frequent feeders in the bushes are silvereyes, grey warblers, tomtits, bellbirds, and fantails. You could also notice that some of the local birds are kept in aviaries. They are being treated for injuries sustained in the wild and will eventually be released back into the wild.
4. Take the beautiful route to Milford Sound
Without taking a road trip to Milford Sound, no journey to Te Anau can be said to be complete. At Te Anau, this activity is the most sought-after. It is frequently referred to by its Māori name, Piopiotahi Highway, and is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most picturesque drives. It takes roughly 1.5 hours to travel the 118 kilometers (73.3 miles; one way) without stopping.
5. Visit Milford Sound
When visiting nearby Te Anau, you really must see the unofficial eighth wonder of the world. Milford Sound is unquestionably picturesque, but there are also surprisingly many things to do there. The most well-liked activity is a sail through the fiord’s murky waters. That’s correct; despite being referred to as a “sound,” Milford is actually a fiord since a glacier, not a river, carved it out.
6. Do a heli-hike
The Kepler Trail is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, and this fantastic full-day tour from Te Anau includes a helicopter ride, a downhill stroll on it, as well as a boat excursion around Lake Te Anau. You may get to the Luxmore Hut from Te Anau by scenic helicopter flight.
You will get to fly over Lake Te Anau, the breathtaking Te Anau basin, and Mount Luxmore on this expedition, which should be on your bucket list before landing at Luxmore Hut. While admiring the breathtaking scenery, take a fancy wilderness tea break.
7. Check out Lake 2 Lake Trail by bicycle
From Lake Te Anau, you may travel 11.8 miles (19.5 kilometers) on this stunning cycling trail to Lake Manapouri. There is still a short 3.5-kilometer (2.2-mile) piece that goes around the unfinished portion of the path on this brand-new, unfinished track.
It starts out along Lake Te Anau and continues along the Waiau River before coming to a finish at Balloon Loop, which is nearly halfway down the river, despite being incomplete. In the end, this trek will take you to Lake Manapouri.
8. Jet boating
Jet boats are perfect for thrill-seekers because they can travel up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour down the Waiau River to Lake Manapouri. The Waiau River appears as the Anduin River in The Lord of the Rings. This is unquestionably among the top things to do in Te Anau if you’re an adrenaline junkie!
180-degree, fast spins from your driver will leave you speechless. During the way, there are a few beautiful stops to soak in the scenery of the far-off Fiordland region. Also, the journey takes you across the magnificent Lake Manapouri, where you can get off and take a guided walk. The entire journey will take three hours.
9. Beautiful lake tour
A beautiful day in Te Anau is perfect for a 3-hour trip on a vintage motor yacht. In actuality, this yacht was constructed in 1935!
After a 40-minute lake cruise, get off the boat and take a guided walking tour of the less-visited Hidden Lakes. Take a 45-minute stroll as your guide teaches you about the ship’s past as well as the local flora and fauna.
10. Visit the swing bridge at Rainbow Reach
Due to its proximity to the Waiau River, a well-known location for Lord of the Rings filming, Rainbow Reach swing bridge sees a lot of visitor traffic. The Fellowship of the Ring’s opening scene includes a shot of the River Waiau, which serves as the Anduin river in that film.
Moreover, you can reach either the Shallow Bay Hut or the oceanfront Moturau Hut from Rainbow Reach after a pleasant 3-hour walk. The 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long track circles back on itself. The cabins offer stunning views of Lake Manapouri.
