After the Motatapu Trail Marathon: Te Anau and Milford Sound

The Route: Wānaka → Queenstown → Te Anau → Milford Sound → Te Anau → Queenstown Airport Logistics: Queenstown to Te Anau is about two hours by road, and Wānaka to Queenstown adds about an hour over the Crown Range. The Milford Road from Te Anau to the sound takes about two hours each way. Coach tours and cruise operators serve the route, so check the timetables and the operator's weather policy. The road can close in bad weather, so keep the plan flexible. Marathon Month: March Duration: 3 nights

Wānaka ──(about 1 hr)──> Queenstown ──(about 2 hrs)──> Te Anau ──(about 2 hrs, Milford Road)──> Milford Sound
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Queenstown Airport (ZQN) <──(about 2 hrs)──────────────────┘

The Motatapu Trail Marathon finishes on a Saturday in early March, and a trip to Fiordland is a way to spend the following days sitting down with a view. Milford Sound is one of the most photographed places in New Zealand, and the road to it is one of the country's great drives. Most of the effort is in a vehicle or on a boat.

March in Fiordland: early autumn. Fiordland is one of the wettest parts of New Zealand, and rain can arrive at any time, though it often makes the waterfalls in the sound spectacular. Days are mild, nights cool, and sandflies are active near water. Carry waterproofs and insect repellent, and check the weather forecast and road status before every drive.

Night One: Te Anau

Te Anau is a small town on the shore of the lake of the same name. The lakefront path is flat and runs for several kilometres past cafés and gardens, and a slow walk is enough. Check the current opening hours of any café or restaurant, because some close early.

The Te Anau Glowworm Caves, across the lake, are reached by boat and combine a short cruise with a walk through a limestone cave lit by glowworms. Check the schedule, prices and the number of steps and low sections in the cave before you book.

Night Two: Milford Sound

Take the Milford Road early. The drive passes through beech forest, the Eglinton Valley and the Homer Tunnel, and stops such as Mirror Lakes and Knobs Flat are short, level walks from the road. Operators run cruises on the sound, which last about one to two hours, and the boats pass waterfalls and steep rock walls. Book a cruise in advance, check what is included and read the weather and cancellation terms. The road and the sound can be affected by weather, so allow some flexibility.

Consider a coach tour if you would rather not drive after a marathon. It removes the need to drive a long, winding road on tired legs.

Night Three: A Slow Day by the Lake

Keep the last full day quiet. Walk the lakefront, take a coffee and let the legs settle before the drive back. Fiordland National Park's visitor centre in Te Anau has exhibitions on the area, and it is indoors and level.

Choosing How to See the Sound

There are several ways to see Milford Sound, and the right one depends on how the legs feel. A coach-and-cruise day from Te Anau or Queenstown removes the driving entirely, and some include a lunch on board. A self-drive day gives you freedom to stop, but the round trip is long and includes narrow, winding sections. Some operators offer scenic flights over the sound and back, which take less time and avoid the road, but they depend on the weather and cost more. Check the terms, and book flexible arrangements where possible.

If you do drive, start early to beat the coaches, stop at the lay-bys along the way and share the driving. The Homer Tunnel is a long, unlit, single-lane section with traffic controls at each end, so allow extra time for waiting. Follow the road signs about avalanche and weather closures, which can apply at short notice.

Where to Eat and Sleep in Te Anau

Te Anau is a service town for the national park, and its accommodation ranges from motels and holiday parks to lakeside hotels. Book early in March, because the town is a popular base for the Milford Road and the Fiordland walking tracks. Restaurants and cafés cluster along the main street and the lakefront, and many stop serving early, so check the hours and make a booking for dinner. Supplies for a picnic lunch on the Milford Road are best bought in Te Anau, since the road has almost no shops.

Fuel is worth a thought too. The stretch beyond Te Anau has no petrol station, so fill the tank before you leave town, and keep the tank at least half full for the return.

Getting Home

Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is about two hours from Te Anau by road. Allow a generous buffer for a flight, particularly if the weather is poor, and fill the tank in Te Anau or Queenstown, since fuel stops on the road are limited.