Te Anau

Te Anau is a beautiful small town nestled on the southern shores of a lake bearing the same name and also New Zealand's second largest lake. Lake Te Anau is the largest body of water in the South Island and covers over 186 square miles with 311 miles (500 kilometers) of uninhabited shoreline.

Te Anau is the base to explore Fiordland and is known as the walking capital of the world because many walks begin here, the most famous being the Milford Track, which traverses 34 miles (55 kilometers) of the Fiordland National Park.

Activities based at Te Anau include flightseeing, fishing, kayaking, sailing and horse riding as well as a variety of trips on the lake itself. From here you can also visit the underground waterfall and glowworm grotto of the Te Ana-au Caves. The Te Anau Wildlife Park is 10 minutes walk from the Visitors Center and is home to many native bird species, including the colorful rare takahe.

Lake Manapouri is nearby, this magnificent lake contains 35 picturesque islands. The power station at West Arm is fascinating to visit as it is all contained underground.