Driving SH95 from Manapouri to Te Anau | Southland | New Zealand | 4K

Categories: Southland Region

Tags: driving, lake manapouri, manapouri, new zealand, southland

Added: 2 years ago

Driving SH95 from Manapouri to Te Anau, in the Southland region, on the South Coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Manapouri is located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park on the shores of Lake Manapouri. The lake is the second deepest in New Zealand at 444 metres, with a circumference of 170km. The town provides a good base for trips into the glacier-carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park. It also has a good range of accommodation and a small number of shops and eateries.

Manapouri was originally called Roto-au (the rainy lake) by early Maori, and then Moturau (many islands). The town is the departure point for Doubtful Sound trips and excursions to the West Arm Power Station, the largest underground power generation in the southern hemisphere. Kayaking on the lake is weather dependent but an excellent way to experience the remote bays and sandy beaches. Many hiking trails in the area include the Circle Track, Kepler Track, and the remote Dusky Track.

Te Anau is an attractive resort town and holiday destination. The picturesque village is situated on the shores of the second-largest lake in New Zealand and the South Island's largest lake - Lake Te Anau.

The lake has three large fiords, North Fiord, Middle Fiord, and South Fiord. These are the only inland fiords in New Zealand, with most of the lake within the Fiordland National Park. Its quiet deep waters are bordered by lush native forest, rolling hill country, and the scenic Kepler and Murchison mountain ranges. This makes the lake a scenic playground for adventure activities like jet boating, water skiing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, boating, and paddling. The western shore of the lake also features the Te Anau Glowworm Caves