Manapouri: Lakeside Trails and Trips to the Sounds

Manapouri lies on the shore of Lake Manapouri, at the mouth of the Waiau River. The town serves as a departure point for trips to Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. If you’re looking for a hotel in Manapouri, you can first consider whether cruises, walks or a cycling route will shape your stay. Options range from a trip across the lake to trails that start and finish at Pearl Harbour.

Cruises from Manapouri

Doubtful Sound day cruises depart from Pearl Harbour on Lake Manapouri. Transport across the lake is included in the ticket; the crossing can take up to an hour, although the actual duration depends on conditions. Check the latest departure information before your trip.

RealNZ’s Doubtful Sound overnight cruise begins on the shore of Lake Manapouri. The route first travels by catamaran to West Arm, then by coach over Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. For local information, the RealNZ Manapouri Visitor Centre is at 64 Waiau Street. Check its location again before your trip.

Walking trails near Pearl Harbour

The Pearl Harbour Return via Circle Track is a half-day walk through beech forest to a lookout over the lake; it starts and finishes at Pearl Harbour in Manapouri. Robins, tomtits, tūī and bellbirds are plentiful in the mixed beech and podocarp forest along Circle Track. The Pearl Harbour to Back Valley Hut Track also starts and finishes at Pearl Harbour. It leads through beech forest to Back Valley Hut, with the option of a detour to the tranquil Lake Rakatu. Choose between a half-day loop with a lookout and a route with a hut and an optional detour to the lake.

Water, coastal trails and cycling

Access to the waters of Lake Manapouri for kayaking is available at Pearl Harbour. Water-safety and biosecurity requirements may apply. Nearby, in the Hope Arm of Lake Manapouri, is the Stockyard Cove Track. This short walk leads either to West Beach or to the waterfalls above the cove and can be reached by boat or kayak. Lake conditions may affect trails along the shore.

For a cycling trip, the 28-kilometre Lake2Lake Trail connects Lake Te Anau with Lake Manapouri. The route runs alongside Lake Te Anau and the east side of the Waiau River before reaching Lake Manapouri; it is described as a one-way ride. Check trail conditions before setting off. This cycling route differs from the walks that start and finish at Pearl Harbour: it connects two lakes along a route, while the walks mentioned reach their respective destinations along the way.

Place name and getting there

The Māori name Manapōuri is translated as “lake of the sorrowing heart” and is associated with a story of two sisters whose tears created the lake. The place name and the lake are thus also connected through this story.

From Te Anau, you can reach Manapouri via the Manapouri–Te Anau Highway. The distance is 21 kilometres and the drive takes about 20 minutes; the actual driving time depends on road and traffic conditions. When planning your stay, you can weigh up travelling from Te Anau, taking a cruise from Pearl Harbour, and exploring the different trails and routes around the lake.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Stewart Island, Niagara, Monowai, Tuatapere, Winton, Te Anau, Mossburn, Tokanui

For the broader travel overview: Southland District.