Te Anau

The small town of Te Anau is the last service centre on the way to Milford Sound and many backpackers stop here for supplies before moving on to the fjords. There are a few good accommodation options in Te Anau and it is a great place for hiking the nearby tracks, so travellers tend to make this their base to explore the Fiordland National Park. Te Anau is known as “the walking capital of the world”, and provides easy access to New Zealand’s most famous walks – the Routeburn, Milford and Kepler tracks. The town has a lovely lakeside setting and other popular activities here include jet boating, fishing and kayaking. The Te Anau glow-worm caves are another popular night time activity.

Practical information

Fiordland i-SITE Visitor Centre

Lakefront Drive, Te Anau
Tel (03) 2498 900
Website www.newzealand.com
Open 8.30am-5pm daily

Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre

Lakefront Drive, Te Anau
Tel (03) 249 7924
Website www.doc.govt.nz
Open 1-25 Jan 8.30am-8pm daily; 26 Jan-28 Mar 8.30am-6pm daily; 29 Mar-30 Apr 8.30am-5pm daily; 1 May-27 Oct 8.30am-4.30pm daily; 28 Oct-24 Dec 8.30am-6pm daily; 25 Dec 8.30am-1pm; 26-31 Dec 8.30am-8pm daily

Coming & going

Coaches operate from Te Anau to Invercargill, Milford Sound and Queenstown and there are also shuttle bus connections to the hiking tracks.

InterCity Coaches (tel (03) 474 9600) go to Invercargill, Milford Sound and Queenstown. They depart from the Real Journey Visitor Centre on Lakefront Drive.

Naked Bus (tel 0900 62533) and Topline Tours (tel (03) 249 7505) also have service to Queenstown. Naked Bus departs from Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers (48 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau) and Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park (77 Manapouri-Te Anau Highway, Te Anau) and Topline departs from the Miro Street coach stop in the town centre.

TrackNet (tel (03) 249 7777) operate a shuttle service for hikers tackling the Hollyford, Kepler, Milford and Routeburn Tracks. TrackNet also runs buses to Dunedin, Invercargill and Bluff.

Hostel accommodation

Barnyard Backpackers

Rainbow Downs, 80 Mount York Road
Tel (03) 249 8006

Fiordland National Park Lodge

Te Anau-Milford Sound Highway (State Highway 94), 30km north of Te Anau
Tel (03) 249 7811 or 0800 500 805

Rosie’s Backpacker Homestay

23 Tom Plato Drive, Te Anau
Tel (03) 249 8431

Steamer’s Beach Backpackers

Corner Lakefront Drive & Te Anau-Manapouri Road, Te Anau
Tel (03) 249 7737 or 0800 4 TE ANAU

Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers

48-50 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau
Tel (03) 249 7713 or 0800 200 074

Te Anau YHA

29 Mokonui Street, Te Anau
Tel (03) 249 7847

Eating & drinking

Te Anau town centre has a good mix of cafés and bakeries. The Fiordland Bakery (106 Milford Road, Te Anau) has cheap pies, sandwiches and fresh bread: perfect for a day trip lunch. Restaurants in town are a bit expensive, but there are two supermarkets in town for self-catering. The SuperValue supermarket (1 The Lane, Te Anau) has lower prices than the Four Square supermarket in the town centre.