Manapouri

Manapouri

The small township of Manapouri is situated 20km south of Te Anau and nestles itself alongside the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri.

Manapouri hosts a range of services which include a garage selling fuel, swimming pool, library, galleries, cafes, shops, bars and even a resident hairdresser. As well as a large array of accommodation,t here are several tourist excursions based here to transport people all over the lake and to our famous Doubtful Sound.

Manapouri is mostlyknown for Frasers Beach and hugely popular in the summer months. It stretches for approximately one kilometre with families swimming, fishing, boating and waterskiing, walking or just relaxing overlooking the glistening Lake Manapouri and the glorious mountains beyond.

Day walks available close by are the Fraser's Beach Reserve walkways, Circle Track, the Hope Arm Track and the Shallow Bay portion of the Kepler Track.

Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri with its 33 islands, is one of New Zealand's most beautiful with its backdrop made up of glacial mountains, rainforests and crystal blue skies. It is the 5th largest lake in New Zealand with 190km of shoreline and has four arms which are up to 10km long. It is also the second deepest lake at a maximum of 440 metres.

The Maori name for Lake Manapouri is 'sorrowful heart' though this name is misapplied due to an early cartographical error, the real Lake Manapouri was North Mavora Lake which lies further east. Local Maori called Lake Manapouri 'Moturau' which means 'many islands.' Before 'Motorau' the ancient Maori name was Roto-ua which means 'the rainy lake'.

There are a number of secluded bays and coves on Lake Manapouri which makes it probably the best boating lake in New Zealand.