Queenstown to Te Anau Drive: Best Stops & Local Tips

The drive from Queenstown to Te Anau is one I’ve done many times over the years, and to be honest, it’s not one that you need to overthink.

While you might come across articles with a long list of stops between Queenstown and Te Anau, I don’t think most of them are really necessary. 

This is a lovely drive and one of my favourite road trips from Queenstown, but it’s also a straightforward one. In my opinion, it’s best to keep the stops simple and get down to Te Anau with enough time to enjoy it. 

That said, there are a few places along the way that are worth stopping for, including a scenic viewpoint over Lake Wakatipu, good spots for coffee and snacks, and some nice campsites if you’re travelling by campervan.

Here are my best tips for driving from Queenstown to Te Anau, including where to stop along the way and what to do once you get there!

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Queenstown to Te Anau drive map

Queenstown to Te Anau drive time & distance

The drive from Queenstown to Te Anau covers 171 km and takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes without stops.

I recommend leaving Queenstown by midday at the latest so you have time to enjoy some activities around Te Anau once you arrive. 

Need a rental car or campervan for your trip?

If you’re planning a South Island road trip, I recommend comparing vehicle prices before booking. 

Here are the resources I use for booking cars and campervans in New Zealand.

• 🚙 Car rentals: I use Discover Cars to compare prices on car rentals in New Zealand, but often end up booking directly with Apex Rentals.
• 🚐 Campervan rentals: Motorhome Republic is my go-to resource for comparing prices on campervan rentals in New Zealand.

Can’t decide between a car or campervan? Check out my guide to choosing between a car or campervan rental in New Zealand.

Best stops on the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau

1. Devil’s Staircase Lookout

Soon after you leave Queenstown and start driving on State Highway 6 towards Te Anau, you’ll begin skirting along the shores of Lake Wakatipu on a winding road called the “Devil’s Staircase.”

This stretch of road is the twistiest part along the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau, but it’s also the most beautiful section of the journey. With mountain and lake views keeping you company, it’ll take focus to keep your eyes on the road!

Luckily, there are a couple of lookout areas on the side of the road where you can park and enjoy the views. This lookout is my favourite one (it’s where I snapped the above photo). 

That said, the lookouts will be on the opposite side of the road as you drive to Te Anau. If you’ll be returning to Queenstown later on, you could wait to stop here until your return journey.

2. Kingston Lake Camp

If you’re travelling in a certified self-contained campervan, you might want to consider camping at the Kingston Lake Camp, one of the best freedom campsites in the South Island and a popular spot for camping near Queenstown!

This is a basic side-of-the-road freedom campsite, but it has gorgeous lakefront views.

3. Garston

Garston is my most-frequented stop between Queenstown and Te Anau.

This is a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of place, but it’s the perfect place to stretch your legs along the drive. 

There are public toilets here, and the Coffee Bomb coffee trailer, which has good coffee, sandwiches, and sweet treats. 

You’ll also find the Garston Hunny Shop here, and it’s a fantastic spot to pick up some local wild thyme honey.

4. Athol Shop

If you didn’t stop for coffee and food in Garston, I’d head to the Athol Shop.

The Athol Shop is known for their hoagie sandwiches filled with slow-cooked BBQ meats, and I can attest that they’re absolutely delicious. They also make very good pies and have a cute little selection of gifts to look at.

I consider this a hidden gem of a food spot on the drive to Te Anau, and I really recommend it if you’re a fan of good BBQ!

5. Mossburn Country Park

If you’re travelling in a campervan or want a cute cabin to stay in along the drive to Te Anau, consider a stay at the Mossburn Country Park.

This is one of my favourite spots for camping in the South Island, with nice grassy campervan sites and the cosiest little cabins (that also happen to be such a steal!).

There are friendly farm animals onsite, too, and you can get animal feed from reception.

6. Mossburn

Not exactly the most exciting stop, but I do just want to mention that Mossburn often has the cheapest petrol around (well, relatively speaking…petrol is never really cheap in NZ, haha!).

My partner and I always stop here to top up our fuel tank.

7. Te Anau

While the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau is nice, the real reason to make this trip is because of what awaits you in Te Anau.

Often described as the gateway to Fiordland National Park, Te Anau is the ideal base for exploring Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, several Great Walks, and some of the South Island’s most spectacular scenery.

Whether you’re staying in Te Anau for a night or using it as a base for several days, there’s plenty to keep you busy.

Things to do in Te Anau

• Drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound, which is arguably the most scenic drive in all of New Zealand. Allocate a full day to do the drive as a day trip from Te Anau! Once you arrive, go on a Milford Sound cruise or kayak tour.
  
  
• Go on a cruise of Doubtful Sound, a breathtaking fiord that’s less busy than Milford Sound.
  
  
• Enjoy some day hikes around Te Anau and/or Milford Sound. My favourite trails are the Control Gates to Brod Bay, Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay, Key Summit, and the Lake Marian Track. Te Anau is also close to three multi-night Great Walks: the Kepler Track, Routeburn Track, and Milford Track.
  
  
• Watch a sunrise or sunset from Lake Te Anau by the Marakura Wharf.
  
  
• Go on a Lake Te Anau glow worm cruise.
  
  
• Watch the short Ata Whenua – Shadowland film at Fiordland Cinema.
  
  
• Enjoy a meal at Sandfly Cafe, Redcliff Cafe, Ditto, or Nonna Resi by Giovi.

Where to stay in Te Anau

I’ve stayed in quite a few different places in Te Anau over the years, and find a lot of the accommodation options to be overpriced for what they are (sorry, but it’s true).

Here are some places I can actually recommend!

• $ – A cabin at the Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park or Tasman Holiday Park
• $$ – Lakefront Lodge
• $$-$$$ – Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments
• Camping in Te Anau: Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park or Tasman Holiday Park

FAQs for the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau 

Is the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau hard?

The drive from Queenstown to Te Anau isn’t very hard, but the Devil’s Staircase can feel a bit scary if you’re not used to driving on the South Island’s winding roads. 

If you’re nervous about driving the Devil’s Staircase, my main advice is to take it slow and use pullouts to pull over and let any traffic pass. 

Is Te Anau worth seeing?

Yes, Te Anau is worth seeing. It’s a nice lakeside town with good places to eat and plenty of places to stay. 

That said, my favourite part of Te Anau isn’t actually the town itself—it’s the nature all around town! 

I highly recommend getting out on a section of the Kepler Track for a day hike or short walk to really get a feel for the gorgeous scenery around Te Anau. And without a doubt, don’t miss visiting Milford Sound from Te Anau!

Is it better to visit Milford Sound from Te Anau or Queenstown?

It’s better to visit Milford Sound from Te Anau instead of Queenstown.

Driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound is over a 4-hour one-way journey, compared to just a 2-hour drive from Te Anau. 

I don’t actually recommend driving yourself to Milford Sound as a day trip from Queenstown—it’s far too long of a day.

That said, I think you should visit all three places! 

My suggested itinerary is to spend 2 or more days in Queenstown, then drive from Queenstown to Te Anau for 2 (or more) nights. Te Anau is the perfect place to stay near Milford Sound.

From Te Anau, you can easily day trip to Milford Sound.

Thanks for reading my guide to the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau!

I hope you have a fantastic time in Te Anau, and that you also get to visit Milford Sound while you’re there.

As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me—I really love hearing from you!

More New Zealand itineraries for you

Planning to visit Te Anau on part of a larger New Zealand trip? You might find these itineraries helpful:

• 4-day Queenstown itinerary
• Christchurch to Queenstown road trip (7 days)
• 12-day South Island itinerary