What’s the best way to experience Lake Te Anau?

There are plenty of ways to experience Lake Te Anau. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:<ul><li><a href="/tours/Fiordland-and-Milford-Sound/Milford-Sound-Discovery-Cruise-and-Tour-from-Queenstown-Small-Groups/d756-56760P16" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise From Queenstown</a></li><li><a href="/tours/Queenstown/Full-Day-Milford-Sound-and-Fiordland-National-Park-Tour-including-Milford-Sound-Cruise-and-BBQ-Lunch-from-Queenstown/d407-3287_ZQN" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Small Group: Milford Sound Day Tour & Cruise From Queenstown</a></li><li><a href="/tours/Te-Anau/Milford-Sound-Coach-Cruise-and-Walk/d22016-10245P1" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Full-Day Milford Sound Tour With Cruise and Walks From Te Anau</a></li><li><a href="/tours/Queenstown/Half-Day-Milford-Sound-Flight-and-Cruise-from-Queenstown/d407-38244P1" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Milford Sound Flight and Cruise Ex Queenstown (Incl. Lunch)</a></li><li><a href="/tours/Queenstown/Milford-Sound-BBQ-Experience-full-day-from-Queenstown-incl-Scenic-Flight/d407-3287P7" class="markdown_inline_link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Milford Sound Small Group Tour From Queenstown With Scenic Flight</a></li></ul>

How much does it cost to visit Lake Te Anau in 2026?

While Lake Te Anau is free to visit, many travelers choose to explore it on a guided tour. Tours of the Te Anau Glowworm Caves start around US$80, boat cruises start at US$100, and full-day tours of Milford Sound, including a stop at Lake Te Anau, begin around US$135.

What tours are available on and around Lake Te Anau?

There are plenty of ways to explore Lake Te Anau. Take a boat cruise, kayaking excursion, or seaplane flight; visit lakeside attractions such as the Te Anau Glowworm Caves and Te Anau Bird Sanctuary; or combine it with a tour of Milford Sound or a hike along the Kepler Track.

Where do Lake Te Anau tours depart from, and how do I get there?

Most Lake Te Anau tours depart from Te Anau town on the southeast shore of the lake, or from Queenstown, about a 2.5-hour drive from the lake. Most travelers drive themselves or join a tour that includes transportation, but you can also reach Te Anau by bus from Queenstown.

Can I see glowworms at Lake Te Anau?

Yes, Lake Te Anau is home to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, where you can see glittering, bioluminescent glowworms in their natural environment. The caves can only be accessed by guided tour, which includes a catamaran cruise across the lake and a walk and boat ride through the centuries-old caves.

What’s the best time of year to take tours around Lake Te Anau?

Boat cruises and tours of Lake Te Anau run year-round, but the most popular time to visit is in summer. However, consider visiting in late spring or early fall to benefit from milder weather, easy access (roads sometimes close due to snow in winter), and longer days without the summer crowds.

Lake Te Anau Tours and Tickets

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Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

2 hours 15 minutesFree Cancellation

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Enjoy a relaxed afternoon on Lake Te Anau on a tour that combines a cruise and guided nature walk in Fiordland National Park. Set sail on a motorized yacht for a relaxed cruise with drinks and snacks. After a bush walk with mountain views, set sail for the return trip. Note that this tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible and has some restrictions for travelers with limited mobility.

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Historic Yacht Cruise and Guided Walk on Lake Te Anau

3 hoursFree Cancellation

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Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Discover one of the jewels in the crown of New Zealand's spectacular South Island on this full day Milford Sound hiking tour with cruise. Travel along the Milford Road from Te Anau and enjoy panoramic views over the beautiful countryside. Enjoy a relaxing boat cruise through the fjord and out to the Tasman Sea, and gaze over soaring clifftops and plummeting waterfalls. Afterwards, enjoy short guided walks and explore Fiordland's spectacular natural scenery with a local nature guide.

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Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau

9 hoursFree Cancellation

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Travel from Queenstown to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Milford Sound on an easy day trip. Enjoy live commentary along the way, and many scenic photo stops. At Milford Sound, don’t worry about waiting in lines as tickets are included. Admire views of waterfalls and Mitre Peak from your cruise. Refuel with a tasty picnic lunch in a scenic location. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off from listed locations for added convenience.

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Premium Milford Sound Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

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Embark on a cruise of Fiordland’s Doubtful Sound, starting from an easy-to-find location in Te Anau village. Travel by coach to Manapouri Lake for a short boat ride, followed by a bus trip over Wilmot Pass. En route, stop for alpine views of Fiordland National Park, park of a UNESCO-listed landscape, before taking in the dramatic landscapes, soaring peaks, and wildlife of Doubtful Sound on a cruise.

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Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

9 hoursFree Cancellation

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Cruise Milford Sound and travel the scenic Milford Road without having to self-drive on this handy day tour from Te Anau. Travel to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Fiordland National Park by luxury coach, stopping en route at the Mirror Lakes and Monkey Creek before boarding a catamaran for a cruise. Journey past waterfalls and steep-walled pinnacles such as postcard-perfect Mitre Peak. Audio commentary is available in multiple languages.

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From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise & Glass-Roof Coach Tour

7 hours 45 minutesFree Cancellation

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Taste of Fiordland // Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

20 minutesFree Cancellation

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Discover the beauty of Lake Te Anau on a two-hour Discovery Cruise with Cruise Te Anau. Just 10 minutes after leaving the Te Anau lakefront, you’ll be cruising into a freshwater fiord with a small group—experiencing the dramatic gateway to one of Fiordland’s most pristine wilderness areas. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views within Fiordland National Park before stepping ashore for a gentle 15-minute guided nature walk through native beech forest to the beautiful Hidden Lakes. Kids have plenty of fun exploring the track and discovering the plants, mushrooms and wildlife along the way. Back onboard, cruise past waterfalls and dramatic landscapes while surrounded by peaceful, untouched scenery. This relaxed, off-the-beaten-track adventure offers a unique Fiordland experience without the crowds or a long day of travel. Perfect for families, photographers and anyone wanting an accessible taste of Fiordland’s wilderness—right from Te Anau’s doorstep.

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Lake Te Anau: 2-Hour Small-Group Fiordland Discovery Cruise

2 hoursFree Cancellation

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The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, running from the shores of Lake Te Anau to Lake Manapouri and back via majestic alpine vistas. Start your trek off with this private water taxi across Lake Te Anau to Brod Bay. From there, stroll back to Te Anau along the lake’s limestone bluffs or, for more of a challenge, hike up Mount Luxmore, a summit with impressive views of Te Anau basin.

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Kepler Track Water Taxi

15 minutesFree Cancellation

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Experience the diverse geographical landscapes of the Milford Sound fjord by both land and water on this full-day, private tour from Te Anau. Start your journey by hopping aboard a cruise vessel and exploring the deep-blue waters around the fjord before joining your driver-guide to explore Fiordland National Park (Te Wahipounamu). A great way to explore without having to navigate yourself.

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Guided Private Milford Sound Day Tour from Te Anau(Cruise Included)

7 to 10 hoursFree Cancellation

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Fiordland is one of New Zealand’s most beautiful destinations, but self-driving through the landscape of snow-capped mountains, towering waterfalls, and emerald greenery can be challenging—and distracting. Eliminate the hassle when you travel with a small group by coach from Queenstown. Pass Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest lake, and enter the hand-carved Homer Tunnel on your way to Milford Sound, where you relax on a scenic nature cruise.

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Milford Sound Premium Small Group Tour & Cruise from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

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Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown

13 hoursFree Cancellation

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Be amazed by Fiordland’s dramatic landscapes on this full-day, small-group tour by coach, boat, and air. This combo tour makes it easy to see a lot in one day. After a Queenstown hotel pickup, admire the dramatic scenery without having to drive yourself. Hop aboard a cruise on Milford Sound, then return to Queenstown by air, flying over Fiordland National Park and seeing views you couldn’t experience any other way.

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Premium Milford Sound Tour Including Cruise, Flight & Lunch

9 hoursFree Cancellation

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The deep waters, soaring cliffs, and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound are spectacular from all angles, and this half-day tour by air and boat takes in all the highlights. Enjoy thrilling aerial views of the Fiordland National Park on a round-trip flight from Queenstown, and marvel at Mitre Peak, Bowen Falls, and Mount Pembroke on a scenic Milford Sound cruise. Hotel pickup and drop-off, and lunch are included for a truly seamless experience.

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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown (incl Lunch)

5 hoursFree Cancellation

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Fiordland Heli-hike from Te Anau

3 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

Member Pricing

Milford Track Multi-Night Hike - Water Taxi Transport ONLY

50 minutesFree Cancellation

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Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most impressive natural wonders, but the remote fjord lies around four hours by road from Queenstown. Save time and maximize your experience with this airplane tour to Milford Sound, which allows you to explore the region from both the air and land. Enjoy spectacular aerial views of Skippers Canyon, Sutherland Falls, and the Fiordland National Park; and touch down to experience the fjord up close with a self-guided walk along the shore.

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Milford Sound Scenic Flight with Landing from Queenstown

5 hoursFree Cancellation

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Milford Sound is an unmissable destination in the South Island, but self-driving can be risky and the return road trip from Queenstown is long. Simplify your visit on this small-group tour from Queenstown. Travel there in a luxury bus with panoramic scenic windows, allowing unobstructed views. Take a relaxing cruise on Milford Sound, beautiful in all weather, then return to Queenstown by air, saving time and maximizing the views.

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Milford Sound Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Scenic Flight

10 hoursFree Cancellation

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Soar above the clouds and majestic mountain peaks of Mt. Aspiring and Fiordland national parks for a truly bird’s-eye perspective of New Zealand’s celebrated alpine scenery. On this compact scenic flight from Queenstown, enjoy views of at least five major glaciers, each lesser-known than the heavily visited Fox and Franz Josef glaciers further north. This flight also showcases the deep, densely forested fiords of Milford Sound.

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Milford Sound and Big Five Glaciers Scenic Flight

1 hourFree Cancellation

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See the sheer cliffs of Milford Sound from the air and water on this half-day tour from Queenstown by sightseeing plane and catamaran. Fly over Fiordland National Park, part of a UNESCO-listed landscape, then touch down at Milford Sound for a nature cruise. This tour is perfect for photography and wildlife watching, and hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Queenstown hotels is included.

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Milford Sound Flight and Cruise ex Queenstown

5 hoursFree Cancellation

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A seven-day INDEPENDANT travel package departing Christchurch daily. Travel by coach and train through the specular South Island of New Zealand. Your journey commences in Christchurch travelling to Greymouth on the world famous Tranzalpine Train and then by road to Franz Josef. Travel the rugged West Coast, via Haast Pass and Wanaka to Queenstown. Experience Milford Sound and enjoy a nature cruise on the sound. You will also have a full free day in Queenstown to explore at your own pace. Transfer by coach from Queenstown to Dunedin, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city plus a day tour out onto the Otago Peninsula for a visit to Larnach Castle and for a wildlife cruise on the harbour. The tour includes 6 nights' accommodation. This tour may operate in reverse order, subject to transport provider availability.

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7Day/6Nights Southern Coastal Splendor Tour

7 daysFree Cancellation

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Totally Personalized Private Experience! Enjoy a tailored tour exclusively for private tour. Flexible itinerary that can adapt to your interests, pace, and preferences and Options to add one way scenic flights. Discover the breathtaking beauty of New Zealand’s Fiordland on a full-day journey from Queenstown to Milford Sound. Experience stunning alpine landscapes, serene lakes, cascading waterfalls, and a scenic cruise through the iconic fjord — all in one unforgettable adventure.

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Milford Sound Private Day Trip from Queenstown via Te Anau

13 hoursFree Cancellation

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Experience the best of the lower South Island without having to drive yourself through the distractingly beautiful landscapes on a 6-day coach tour from Christchurch. Stop at Aoraki Mt. Cook, take a Milford Sound cruise with included lunch, and spend a free day in Queenstown, then journey to Dunedin. Enjoy a guided tour of neo-gothic Dunedin and the wildlife-filled Otago Peninsula, with a guided tour of Larnach Castle and a wildlife cruise.

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6Day/5Nights Southern Heritage

6 daysFree Cancellation

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What are people saying about Lake Te Anau

From Te Anau: Milford Sound Cruise & Glass-Roof Coach Tour

Elisabeth_Y, June 2026

Incredible vistas all the...

Incredible vistas all the way! We had a friendly and experienced driver, the coach was clean and comfortable. We were lucky to have a clear, sunny day and calm water on the fjord. Highly recommend the warm buffet lunch on the cruise! We travelled with a senior family member, so the later start and easy itinerary were well suited. OveraIl I would highly recommend this tour experience

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

Charles_C, Oct 2026

Such an amazing and...

Such an amazing and encompassing experience. Especially if you manage to get Ella as your guide, great presentation.

Te Anau Glow Worm Caves Tour

marcelaf_c, Oct 2026

Saw glow worms!

I was worried about the entrance to the cave because it was low and I wasn’t sure if my family and I would feel claustrophobic once in it, but it was only a short distance and it opened up. Once in, we enjoyed the walk to the boat. We saw an eel! We had enough time to sit in the dark and see the glow worms. Only wish we had time at the end to do the nature walk. Probably a short walk, but it would have been nice to do it.

Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau

Yang_G, Sept 2026

Amazing tour to learn NZ natural attraction and history

Our tour guide and driver Jeff is from local area and he is bery knowledgeable about NZ history, culture and geographic area. We learned so much about NZ.

Full-Day Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Walks from Te Anau

Peter_M, Sept 2026

Fabulous Trip to Milford Sound

The whole day was very well organised and very informative. Our guide, Ben, was fabulous. His knowledge about places and the natural world along the route to and from Milford Sound made the day even more enjoyable. On top of that he was a great driver as well. The cruise boat was very comfortable and the crew ensured all those onboard were safe and kept informed about the sights of Milford Sound. It was a day that our party will long remember. Thoroughly recommended.

Guided Private Milford Sound Day Tour from Te Anau(Cruise Included)

Aisyah_A, June 2026

Best way to Milford!

It is an experience that you would not regret! There is so much to learn from Nigel - knowledge, facts and happenings in fiordland and landmarks. He was very thoughtful to ensure our experience was comfortable and well paced. He even went ahead to get us good seats for the boat ride. We really felt like 'superstars' in his car. No regrets at all. Thank you, Nigel!

Lake Te Anau

5.0

(11,383)

Fiordland & Milford Sound

Know before you go

A wooden pier entering the Lake Te Anau in New Zealand.

Lake Te Anau is ideal for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The towns of Te Anau and Manapouri are good bases for most travelers thanks to grocery stores, restaurants, and accomodation options.
Bring sturdy shoes or hiking boots to explore the many walking and mountain-biking tracks near the lake.
From November to March, book travel to Te Anau well in advance; accomodation and tours are known to sell out.
Overnight camping is generally restricted to designated campsites, even if your vehicle is self-contained.
Help prevent the spread of didymo, an invasive algae present in Lake Te Anau, by washing boats, kayaks, waders, and other gear when you leave the lake.

Lake Te Anau Tours and Tickets

32 results

What are people saying about Lake Te Anau

Lake Te Anau

People Also Ask

What’s the best way to experience Lake Te Anau?

How much does it cost to visit Lake Te Anau in 2026?

What tours are available on and around Lake Te Anau?

Where do Lake Te Anau tours depart from, and how do I get there?

Can I see glowworms at Lake Te Anau?

What’s the best time of year to take tours around Lake Te Anau?