The first Europeans (C.J. Nairn and W.J. Stephen) to visit the lake were led by Māori guides in 1852. The lake was formally surveyed first in 1863. The township was surveyed in 1893. This was soon after the Milford Track opened. … See more

Te Anau covers 6.64 km (2.56 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,060 as of June 2023, with a population density of 461 people per km .
Before the 2023 census, Te Anau had a smaller bou… See more

Tourism and farming are the predominant economic activities in the area. Lying as it does at the borders of Fiordland National Park, it is the gateway to a wilderness area famed for tramping and spectacular scenery. Many touris… See more

Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and within New Zealand second only to Lake Taupō. Rising on the west side of Lake Te Anau, the Kepler and Murchison mountain ranges are evident from most … See more