Te Anau: The 5 Best Fiordland Trips

1.Jet Boat Journey through Fiordland National Park – Pure Wilderness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 678 reviews · from $127Our pick

From Te Anau, ride a powerful jet boat along the Upper Waiau River to Lake Manapouri. Expect sharp turns, 360-degree spins, Fiordland stories, three Lord of the Rings filming locations, a quiet stop for native birds, and a guided forest walk. Spray coats, life jackets, and cold-weather gear are supplied.

“Whizzing through the beautiful scenery and stopping to hear about the area we we passing through and of course the 360s”

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2.Fiordland Jet Boat and Biking Combo from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 133 reviews · from $158

From Te Anau, ride a jet boat up the Upper Waiau River and across Lake Manapouri, stop for a short guided nature walk, then cycle 10 km back to town. Guides such as Harry and Alex add local stories, filming-site details, and good humor. Bikes, helmets, spray coats, and life jackets are included.

“Loads of fun. Great way to visit the park. Very special few hours on the water. Also I did a solo bike back to town after rather boat ride. I enjoyed both parts of the tour. Highly recommend.”

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3.Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 97 reviews · 2 hours · from $116Best value

From central Te Anau, you ride a bus to the Waiau River, then spend 75 minutes jet boating toward Lake Manapouri. Expect fast spins, quiet photo stops, trout-filled water, local stories, and a gentle 15-minute walk through ancient beech forest. Guides such as Alex, Jade, Sean, and John are known for mixing humor, safety, and useful commentary.

“Fabulous fun 🤩 and informative. It is a value for money combination of the fun of a jet boat combined with stops along the way with informative talks and stopping for a walk in a National Park Landmark. Excellent.”

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4.30-Minute Fiordland National Park Scenic Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 41 reviews · 30 min · from $230

From Te Anau, fly with an experienced English-speaking pilot over the Kepler Mountains, Kepler Track, Hidden Lakes, and rural basin. The 30-minute flight includes a landing beside a mountain tarn, where you can step out for views of the Main Divide. Flights carry up to six people and depend on weather.

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5.Fiordland Heli-hike from Te Anau

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $286

Fly from Te Anau over Lake Te Anau and the Hidden Lakes, land near the Kepler Mountains, then hike from Luxmore Hut toward Luxmore Summit before taking a 10-minute water taxi back. Southern Lakes Helicopters runs this small-group outing for up to nine people. Expect 3 to 6 hours, moderate fitness, and weather-dependent plans.

“Great communication, great pilot, great views and a lot of fun. Highly recommended. I can't say enough great things about how well the company is run and how much we enjoyed the day.”

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