Lake Gunn
Southland, New Zealand, 9679
Located on the Fiordland’s Milford Road between Te Anau and Milford Sound, the Lake Gunn Nature Walk is an ideal place to pull over, stretch your legs, and be immersed in nature. The easy, accessible 0.8-mile (1.4-kilometer) loop trail passes through mossy beech forest, and a short side track leads to a stony beach with great mountain views.
The basics
There are many scenic places to stop along the Milford Road—so many, in fact, that you should make a shortlist because you probably won’t fit them all in. Lake Gunn should be a priority if you enjoy birds, as you can see many forest-dwelling species, or if you’re traveling with kids and want to get active on an easy walk.
Many people stop here independently while driving to Milford Sound from Te Anau. Guided Milford Sound tours from Te Anau or Queenstown may stop here, but because the walk here is a bit more substantial, it’s less common than the nearby Mirror Lakes Walk.
Things to know before you go
Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available in the parking lot.
Lake Gunn is near the large Cascade Creek Campsite, if you’d like to stay in the region awhile.
Interpretation panels along the way provide information on the flora and fauna.
How to get there
Lake Gunn is 48 miles (78 kilometers) from Te Anau, which takes about an hour to drive. Milford Sound is another 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, but the road can be slow as it passes through the mountains after Lake Gunn, including the notorious, hand-carved Homer Tunnel. Look out for the Cascade Creek parking lot in the Eglinton Valley, where the Lake Gunn Walk starts.
When to get there
The Milford Road is especially busy in the summer (December–February), and Lake Gunn is a popular stop. Visit outside this season for a quieter experience. It’s important to note that the road can be more challenging to drive in the winter, when snow, ice, and rain are common.
Other top stops on the Milford Road
The Milford Road is so scenic that it would be a shame to drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound in one go without stopping. Other top sights include the aptly named Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat for amenities, the Hollyford Valley Lookout for great views, Monkey Creek to see kea parrots and whio/blue ducks, and the dramatic waterfall at the Chasm on the Cleddau River.
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