6 minute read
Road Trip - Invercargill to Ququeenstown via Te Anau
A Journey from Invercargill
Invercargill to Tuatapere via SH 99 1hr 12min, 88.8km
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SIDE TRIP : Manapōuri to Doubtful Sound via ferry over Lake Manapōuri & Wilmot Pass Rd
Tuatapere to Te Anau via Clifden Blackmount Rd 1hr 15min, 102km
SIDE TRIP : Te Anau to Milford Sound via SH 94 1hr 43min, 118km
Te Anau to Kingston via SH 94 & SH 96 1hr 26min, 126km
Kingston to Queenstown via SH 6 43min, 47.1km
The Redcliff Restaurant and Bar © Visit Fiordland
Depart Invercargill for Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Along the way you’ll cross checkerboard-like plains, rugged rural settings and extraordinary coastal scenery with deserted beaches, large forest plantations and wildly beautiful flora and fauna.
First head along SH 99 to Tuatapere, the home of wilderness activities such as hunting and hiking.The drive is just over an hour and will take you through hospitable service towns, each with their own fascinating history.
After you take in the sights of Tuatapere, you’ll cut inland to Te Anau where the magic kicks into overdrive.
Te Anau in summer © Kate NorrisBOTTOM
TE ANAU
Te Anau glowworm cave walk © Real Journeys
Te Anau makes an excellent starting point to a third of New Zealand’s famed Great Walks, including the Kepler, Routeburn and Milford tracks, while a diving trip to see Fiordland’s remarkable black coral will always prove rewarding for underwater explorers. Te Anau is also the only place on earth where you can spot wild takahē. While here, enjoy glowworm caves, lake cruises and jet boating and when it’s time to wind down, the range of food and accommodation options, from budget to luxurious, will keep everyone happy.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mavora Lakes swing bridge © Chris McLennan
RIVERTON Well worth the 30-minute drive from Invercargill. Almost 200 years old, Riverton is one of the earliest European settlements in New Zealand. Get to know its rich history at the Te Hīkoi South Journey Heritage Museum, featuring authentic life-size displays telling stories of how our Māori and European ancestors adapted to survive on nature’s edge.
LAKE MANAPŌURI Often described as ‘The loveliest of all lakes’, Lake Manapōuri is located in Fiordland National Park. Its cluster of 33 small islands each plays their part in enriching the beauty of the area.The second deepest lake in New Zealand, it is an awe-inspiring area to explore by sea kayak or two-hour boat cruise.
TUATAPERE This historic sawmill town is your gateway to Fiordland National Park, and the Hump Ridge and Waitutu tracks. Within reach of world-class jet boating and hiking, enjoy its surrounding wilderness, including Blue Cliffs Beach.
MAVORA LAKES ROAD East of Fiordland National Park, two long, narrow lakes glisten seductively.Follow the Mavora Lakes Road to find them and continue on until you reach historic Walter Peak Station.
MOSSBURN A small town in Southland, 59km east of Te Anau and 113km south of Queenstown, Mossburn is New Zealand’s deer capital and the home of its first deer farm. Early colonial history has a strong place here with a number of the quaint B&Bs providing stays in authentic heritage quarters. Fertile waters are ideal for fishing with the nearby Ōreti Rivera highly regarded spot for catching brown trout.
KINGSTON Perched on the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu, historical Kingston is a starting point for the 175km Around the Mountains Cycle Trail,one of New Zealand’s favourite bike rides. The Kingston Flyer Café & Bar is a fetching wee place in the premises of an historic railway station, right by the water’s edge.The Kingston Flyer steam train has been lovingly restored and public trips run sporadically; scheduled excursions all set to increase in the future.
Key Summit Track, Routeburn Track © Adobe Stock
14 FIORDS The most famous and more easily accessible being Piopiotahi/Milford Sound, Patea/Doubtful Sound, Tamatea/Dusky Sound and Rakituma/Preservation Inlet.
FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTRE Use the visitor’s centre in Te Anau to plan trips, sort hunting permits, book walks and get real-time information on tracks, roads and weather. With its powerful waterfalls and water-sculpted rock shapes, THE CHASM is a must-do in Fiordland National Park. This walk is off the Milford Road, about half way between Milford Sound and the Homer Tunnel, which is also a must-see. It’s only 400m return via the same track and takes 20 minutes.
LAKE MONOWAI Get ‘off the beaten track’. Granting access into a very attractive part of Fiordland National Park, Borland Rd ascends Borland Saddle before dropping down to the dazzling Lake Manapouri.
Gertrude Saddle, Fiordland © Adobe Stock
Milford Sound © Adobe Stock
SIDE TRIP : MILFORD SOUND
Mitre Peak is one of the most photographed land forms in the country. It has five summits, the highest of which is 1683m from the water.Climbing the peak demands experience and skill but you can easily marvel at Mitre Peak from the comfort of a cruise. The water is a great abyss of inky-black and rain falls for approximately 182 days of the year. This amplifies the waterfalls and creates many new ones. Black coral is also a feature, albeit an unusual one; Fiordland has an abundance of it growing at depths of only 10m. Diving tours access the best of it.
Cruise in Milford Sound © Real Journeys
HIGHLIGHTS
> Mitre Peak
> Cruise the Sounds
> Kayaking
> Scenic flights
> Black coral diving
> Milford Track
Hiker with a view in Fiordland © Adobe Stock
SIDE TRIP : DOUBTFUL SOUND
ISOLATED SPLENDOUR Doubtful Sound is also located in Fiordland. There is no direct road access here; you’ll need to take a day or overnight cruise across Lake Manapōuri, along with a coach trip.
Similar to its smaller but more famous sibling Milford Sound, magical, isolated Doubtful Sound is truly incredible. The highlights are mind-blowing, including Browne Falls at 619m-high and Helena Falls at 220m. Bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and Fiordland crested penguins are regularly spotted here.
Doubtful Sound boasts a dynamic landscape, glistening rainforests populated with perching plants, ground ferns and podocarp, and pristine inky-coloured waters. It is also home to a designated marine reserve known as The Gut. Measuring 93 hectares, it is teeming with wildlife.
Colac Bay near Riverton © Adobe Stock
Main Image Above : Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track © Great South
