From Queenstown to Te Anau

We pick you up from your accommodation in Queenstown from 7:10am, as we drive out of Queenstown we will travel south along the side of the amazing ‘Remarkables’ mountain range and New Zealand’s longest lake, ‘Lake Wakatipu’.

The early history of the area, which was dominated by Gold mining will be explained to you as well. We then start driving toward Te Anau where you will see some of the most intensive sheep farming areas in NZ. Deer faming will be explained as we travel through the small township of Mossburn ‘The Deer Capitol’.

From Te Anau to Fiordland National Park

We stop in Te Anau for approximately 30 minutes to give you time to wake up properly, have the breakfast that may have eluded you earlier or a coffee or take a brief walk by the lake. From Te Anau the scenery really begins as we drive north along the lake. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island. If you are joining us in Te Anau we will see you at the ‘Pop Inn’ Café at 10:00am.

The Department of Conservation centre in Te Anau is where efforts are currently being made to save one of the worlds rarest birds the Takahe. The Takahe was thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in the mountains above Lake Te Anau back in 1948.We’ll also discuss New Zealand’s unique natural wildlife and an even rarer bird the Kakapo.

We will introduce you to some of the early adventurers, such as Quinton Mackinnon who established the world famous Milford Track and Donald Sutherland who established the ‘City of Milford’.

On entering the Fiordland National Park, which is the largest National Park in NZ we travel up along side the Eglinton river to three mountain lakes at the head of the Eglinton valley. During this part of the journey we will make the fist of our many sightseeing stops that also allow for some great photo opportunities.