Located on the fringes of Fiordland National Park in the remote southwest of the South Island, Te Anau is the gateway to the famed Milford Track and other notable walks. It lies on the eastern shore of New Zealand’s second largest lake, Lake Te Anau, and has a good tourist infrastructure for such a remote town as well as fine views in every direction.

Most people arrive here from Queenstown or Invercargill to walk the Milford, Routeburn, Kepler and Holyford tracks, or on a day tour from either city. As well as the geological attractions of Milford and Doubtful sounds are Te Anau’s glow-worm caves and several species of rare bird life, including the endangered Takahe seen at Te Anau Wildlife Centre.