Drive From Queenstown To Te Anau | Best Stops & Detours

Planning to visit Milford Sound from Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand? Outside of chartering a flight, driving is the best way to visit. It may be a long drive, but it’s well worth it. Especially when savored by self-driving and stopping for views, walks, and detours in the stunning foothills of the Southern Alps and Fiordland National Park. This post covers the best photo stops, detours, and cafes between Queenstown and Te Anau, the first part of the journey to Milford Sound. My post on the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound, covers the second part. Both are spectacular.

Drive From Queenstown To Te Anau

When you look at a map, it’s a bit deceiving, as Queenstown looks closer to Milford Sound than it does to Te Anau, but due to the mountainous terrain and the need to access Homer Tunnel, you must first drive southwest to Te Anau, then back up to Milford Sound.

The trip is about 180 miles (288 km), taking over 4 hours. It can be even longer than 4 hours in the summer months when traffic peaks, and with bad road conditions. On top of this, accommodation in Milford Sound is extremely limited, so most everyone needs to drive back the same day, after their cruise or flight in Milford. This makes for a very, very long day. One where you miss a huge part of the beauty along the way!

It’s best to break up the drive. First driving from Queenstown to Te Anau, which is about 106 miles (171 km), and taking over 2 hours. Then the next day, make the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound. This drive is a little shorter, at 73 miles (118 km), but also takes over 2 hours due to narrow, windy roads, one-way bridges, and Homer Tunnel (which is also one way). After your 2-3 hour cruise of Milford, you can either stay at Milford Sound, or drive back to Te Anau for the night.

The best stops along the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau include the following.

Devil’s Staircase

As you leave Queenstown, you’ll follow the edge of Lake Wakatipu along Route 6. You’ll head inland a bit, with an impressive view of The Remarkables in the distance. Soon, however, you’ll be back driving along the edge of the lake.

This time, the stretch or road is so pretty, it’s called Devil’s Staircase, named for the windy, steep road which ascends the hills overlooking Lake Wakatipu.

Lake Wakatipu is stunning here, so pretty it’s hard to keep your eyes on the narrow road here, so be careful!

Continue driving along Route 6. A little further down the road, you’ll see places where you can pull off and park, walk around, and take photos.

The drive here from Queenstown is about 30 minutes. It’s a relatively quick stop, taking anywhere from 5-15 minutes, depending on how long you stay.

Lake Wakatipu Lookout

After Devil’s Staircase, continue following Route 6 along the lake. When you get close to the end of the lake, you’ll see a small area on the side of the road where you can pull off of and park. From there it’s a short walk to a viewpoint looking back at Lake Wakatipu.

Although you can access this photo stop both on the way to Te Anau and on the way back, this stop is easiest on the way back, as the small pull-off area is on the return side of the road.

Lake Wakatipu Lookout is about 28 miles (45 km) from Queenstown. This stop takes about 5 minutes.

Kingston

Kingston is the small town along Route 6 just south of Lake Wakatipu. This is where the Te Kere Haka Scenic Reserve is, with several walking tracks.

Shirt Tail Track is a challenge trek to a viewpoint over Lake Wakatipu, which is about 2 hours with return. Te Kere Haka Track is also about 2 hours with return, but is an easy hike along the lakefront.

This is one of the longer stops along the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau, but worth it if you want to get a hike in. I did not, however, do this hike on my drive.

Coffee Bomb

Continuing along Route 6 after Kingston, you’ll pass through the small town of Garston. Garston is about 40 miles (64 km) from Queenstown.

Just past the post office, you’ll see a shiny, silver trailer with some tables set up outside. This is Coffee Bomb. A great place to stop for a cup of coffee, muffins, or a great quick meal. They offer several types of burgers, including beef, lamb, and venison, as well as a variety of grilled sandwiches and sweets. I had the lamb burger, which was delicious!

This spot is popular, so don’t be surprised if there’s a little wait. The stops below are right next door, so you can spend some time browsing if you need to wait for your order.

Garston Hunny Shop & Stables

The Hunny Shop and Garston Stables are also in Garston, just a few steps from Coffee Bomb. These two shops are owned by a husband and wife team. She is the beekeeper for the Clover, Manuka, and Thyme honey products they make in the Hunny Shop, and he collects antiques for the antique store.

Athol

Athol is the next small town you pass through after Garston, another place to stretch your legs. It’s about 47 miles (76 km) from Queenstown.

The Athol Art Gallery is a popular stop, featuring a variety of local landscape and rural life artists. There is no cost to enter. The artwork below was my favorite.

A little further down the road is Athol Shop, a cafe that smokes their own meats and offers a variety of sandwiches, pies, and pastries. The day I was here it was market day, so there were also several independent sellers outside with antiques, clothes, crafts, and other novelties.

Five Rivers Cafe

Five Rivers Cafe is a charming stop for coffee or a meal about 15-20 minutes after Athol. It’s at the junction of Route 6 and Route 97, where you turn to get to Te Anau.

This is a cafe, coffee shop, and small art gallery all in one, set against a beautiful backdrop of the mountains.

I chose to stop here in the morning for coffee on my return drive to Queenstown, after visiting Te Anau and Milford Sound. The artwork here is not as impressive as the Athol Gallery, but they have a nice outdoor seating area with a view, cute farm animals to watch, and great coffee!

Mossburn

Mossburn is not a key stop, but one of the cheapest places to buy gas between (and including) Te Anau and Queenstown. The pump is unmanned and credit card only. It requires a pin, so make sure you know yours before stopping. I didn’t know mine, so could not get gas here.

Wilderness Lookout Walk

The Wilderness Lookout Walk offers beautiful views of Fiordland National Park.

As you’re driving, you’ll notice the mountains first, then you’ll see a small dirt road that leads to a parking area. Pull off and park, then get out and walk around.

This stop is about 93 miles (150 km) from Queenstown. It’s a quick stop, taking about 10-15 minutes.

Lions Lookout Point

Lions Lookout Point is the last detour before Te Anau, about 5 miles (8 km) away. Look for the turnoff of Ramparts Road and take short drive up the road to the lookout. If you pass it, like I did, there are sveral roads up ahead that you can use to turn back.

There’s a rocky platform at the peak that offers the incredible panoramic views, make sure to look at the metal map which points out the various mountains, lakes, and peaks in the area.

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Where To Stay In Te Anau

Te Anau offers a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and is perfect for a stay to experience all this area has to offer and still enjoy the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau and Te Anau to Milford Sound.

Budget

• I stayed at Te Anau LakeView Holiday Park & Motels. This is a great place for solo travelers, families, and those looking for a place to camp of park their camper. There’s a shared kitchen and laundry facilities. The staff is also very friendly and helpful.
• Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers sits across from the lake and is a 5-minute walk to town. They offer dorms and private rooms, some with lake views. They also have a movie room, a BBQ, and laundry facilities.

Affordable

• Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments sits on the lake a short walk from town. They offer studies and apartments with lake and Mountain View’s, as well as disability access rooms.
• Lakefront Lodge sits right on the lake, a 5-minute walk to town. They offer Studios and Apartments with kitchenettes, a shared BBQ, laundry facilities and rooms with partial lake views.

Moderate

• Radfords On The Lake also sits on the lake and offers studios and suites with mountain and lake views a 3-minute walk to town. They also offer disability access rooms.

Where To Stay In Queenstown

Budget

• I stayed on Absoloot Hostel Queenstown, which is centrally located in Queenstown on the lakefront, in a private room. There is a communal kitchen that overlooks the lake and a great place to meet other travelers. The choices here range from budget (for a dorm) to moderate (for a suite).

Inexpensive

• Awesome Studio – Amazing Mountain & Lake Views is centrally located in Queenstown and offers studios with a kitchenette and mountain and lake views.

Moderate

• Blackrock Apartments Queenstown is centrally located in Queenstown with an equipped kitchen and balconies and terraces.
  Driftaway Queenstown offers studios with lake and mountain views
• Lomond Lodge Motel and Apartments is centrally located in Queenstown near the lake. There’s a kitchen and view of the mountains and lake.

Splurge

• Alpine Home With Amazing Mountain & Lake Views is a 4-bedroom house with stunning views and a balcony.

Want More Of New Zealand?

For the details on the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound and visiting Milford Sound itself, see my posts Best Stops Te Anau To Milford Sound Drive and Best Way To Visit Milford Sound | Ultimate Guide & Tips.

While in the South Island, you also can’t miss stunning Queenstown or Franz Josef Glacier. And if you’re a wine lovers, stop in Marlborough to taste some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world. There are also other great wines and some delicious beer choices as well.

For some excellent hikes in New Zealand, see my posts on Abel Tasman Coastal Track, Cape Brett Walkway, Routeburn Track, The Tongariro Northern Circuit vs Alpine Crossing, and A a day Hike On Kepler Track, 4 of New Zealand’s 10 “Great Walks”.

Other great hikes include Key Summit Hike, a day hike in Fiordland National Park, and Ben Lomond Track and Queenstown Hill Walkway in Queenstown.

To help plan your trip, see my New Zealand Travel Guide. It covers the top destinations above, how to get around, when to visit, safety tips, and more.