The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is an excellent contemporary art museum that combines a permanent collection with a variety of temporary exhibitions. It is an impressive gallery for such a small city.
The adjacent Len Lye Centre has a collection focusing on the works of Christchurch-born artist Len Lye.
InterCity Coachlines operate direct services connecting New Plymouth with Auckland (via Mokau, Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, Te Awamutu and Hamilton) and Wellington (via Egmont Village, Stratford, Hawera, Wanganui, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu).
New Plymouth’s InterCity coach stop is located at 19 Ariki Street below the Puke Ariki skybridge.
New Plymouth Airport (NPL) has direct flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson and Wellington. Air New Zealand fly to Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington; Jetstar fly to Auckland and Originair have flights to Nelson.
Scott’s Airport Shuttle run an airport shuttle service that can pick up and drop off at your hotel or hostel.
The Milford Track Great Walk (53.5km, 4 days) is New Zealand’s most famous walking track and over 13,000 people walk along it every year.
It goes from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound along the Clinton and Arthur River valleys, passing numerous waterfalls along the way. The Milford Track can only be hiked in one direction.
The number of independent hikers is restricted to 40 each day (with an additional 50 hikers on guided walks) and bookings are essential if you’re planning on hiking the Milford Track during peak season (Nov-Apr; the Great Walks Season). Booking for each season opens in Jul and the more popular summer months fill up early. You are limited to staying only one night at each hut on the track.
It costs around $495 to hike the Milford Track including $210 for three nights’ accommodation in huts on the track, plus another $285 for bus and ferry transfers to and from the track. That’s the cheap option! A guided walk can cost over $4000 but your four grand does give you luxury accommodation and gourmet meals.
You approach the track by ferry from Te Anau Downs. The first day on the track is an easy 5km walk from Glade Wharf on Lake Te Anau to Clinton Hut.
The second day on the track is a gradual climb to Mintaro Hut.
This section starts with a zigzag climb over Mackinnon Pass followed by a steep rocky descent to Dumpling Hut. Many walkers say that this descent is the most difficult part of the Milford Track.
The final leg of the Milford Track follows the Arthur River and the western shore of Lake Ada before reaching the trailhead at Sandfly Point near Milford Sound.
The Hollyford Track (56km, 4 days) is the only major low altitude track in Fiordland National Park.
It starts about a two-hour drive north of Te Anau and follows the Hollyford River and Lake McKerrow to Martins Bay.
The track starts with a raised boardwalk through flood-prone country and follows the Hollyford River valley to Hidden Falls Hut. It then continues along the valley, climbing Little Homer Saddle, then passes Little Homer Falls and continues on to Alabaster Hut on the southern shore of Lake Alabaster.
The track goes through flat forest for a couple of hours before following the eastern shore of Lake McKerrow to Demon Trail Hut. This part of the track is not very well maintained and fallen trees may obscure it.
The track continues along the lakeshore to Hokuri Hut. This section is very rocky.
After crossing Hokuri Creek, the track follows the shore for a couple of hours and then heads away from the lake and joins the river mouth near Martins Bay Hut.
The circular Kepler Track Great Walk (60km, 3–4 days) is the closest major track to Te Anau. It is an increasingly popular track and around 8500 people walk it every year.
The track combines breathtaking views of Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau with an exposed alpine crossing.
The first 1½-hour is an easy walk to Brod Bay alongside Lake Te Anau. After passing Brod Bay, the track climbs for three hours to reach the tree line and continues up to Luxmore Hut.
The most exposed and weather-beaten section of the track crosses mountain ridges before descending back below the tree line to Iris Burn Hut.
This section of the track passes beech forest as it follows Iris Burn to reach Moturau Hut on the shore of Lake Manapouri.
The last day is an easy flat walk past wetlands to the car park at Rainbow Reach and onwards to the finish point at the Kepler Track carpark on Lake Te Anau. During summer you can finish the walk 9.5km early by picking up the shuttle bus to Te Anau at the Rainbow Reach carpark.
The Dusky Track (84km, 8–10 days) links Lakes Hauroko and Lake Manapouri. It offers a wide variety of landscapes as it crosses two mountain ranges and three major valleys. It is a very challenging track that is best suited to experienced hikers.
Inclement weather conditions can easily hamper your progress and flooding and avalanches are common. Take extra food in case you are stranded for a day or two.
Although it is possible to take scenic flights over Milford Sounds departing from Queenstown and Te Anau, it is better value to take one of the scenic flights that depart from Milford Sound itself.
Air Milford and Milford Sound Scenic Flights operate fixed-wing aircraft from Milford Sound Airport and Milford Helicopters also have flights departing Milford Sound that feature a landing on the Donne Glacier and give you the option of returning to Te Anau.
Several companies operate sea kayaking trips on Milford Sound including Go Orange, Rosco’s Milford Kayaks and Southern Discoveries. This is the best way to experience Milford Sound in solitude away from the tourist crowds.