Te Anau

Introducing Te Anau

Peaceful, lakeside Te Anau township is a good base for trekkers and visitors travelling to Milford Sound, and an ideal place to recharge your batteries. The tourism industry has ensured there’s always plenty to do here. Alternatively, on a sunny day it’s a beautiful place to just sit around and do very little at all.

Lake Te Anau defines the boundary of two very different countrysides: to the east are the relatively flat, pastoral areas of central Southland, while immediately west across the lake lie the rugged forested mountains of Fiordland. NZ’s second-largest lake, Te Anau was gouged out by a huge glacier, and has several arms that penetrate into the mountainous forested western shore. Its deep too – it’s deepest point is 417m, or about twice the depth of Loch Ness, so take that, Nessie.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009