Major city · New Zealand
Manapouri
Stay 1 night in Manapouri only if you have a Doubtful Sound cruise booked; otherwise sleep in Te Anau, 21 km (13 mi) north, and drive down for the boat.Stay 1 night in Manapouri only if you have a Doubtful Sound cruise booked; otherwise sleep in Te Anau, 13 mi (21 km) north, and drive down for the boat.
Manapouri is a village of about 220 people on the shore of Lake Manapouri, 21 km south of Te Anau on SH 95. It is not a sightseeing town: it is the departure point for RealNZ coaches and boats across Lake Manapouri and over Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. If you are not booked on that trip, you have little reason to sleep here. If you are, one night puts you at the visitor centre on Waiau Street before the first departure instead of driving down in the dark.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- NZD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (cold, wet, short daylight; some trips reduced)
- Airport
- TEU
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
- New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
- New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
- New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Manapouri111 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Manapouri, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD, NZ$).New Zealand-wide
- SIM or eSIMOne NZ, Spark and 2degrees sell tourist SIMs at Auckland and Christchurch arrivals and in supermarkets; passport not required.New Zealand-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe almost everywhere; follow boil-water notices in small rural schemes.New Zealand-wide
- TippingCafé or restaurant: Nothing expected; 10% for very good service at dinner is a bonus.New Zealand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.New Zealand-wide
- SafetyManapouri is a small, safe village; the real risks are Fiordland weather, long remote drives and no mobile coverage over Wilmot Pass and on the fiord.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in every town and at most lookouts; DOC long-drops on tracks.New Zealand-wide
- Emergency numbers111 police, fire, ambulance · 105 Non-urgent police · *555 Traffic incidents (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 17:00 and on Sunday afternoons…Shops closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day morning and Christmas Day by law; small-town shops close by 5:00 PM and on Sunday afternoons…New Zealand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTEU Te Anau–Manapouri Airport (Charter flights only; no scheduled airline service.
- Getting aroundThe village centre is small enough to walk: visitor centre, lakefront and most accommodation are within about 10 minutes on foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beerdraught in a pub / can at a supermarketNZ$9–12 (≈ US$6–8)NZ$3–5 (≈ US$2–3)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekNZ$20–40 (≈ US$12–25)
- Budget bedHostel or lodge bed, a night, per personNZ$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedMotel or motor-inn double room, a night, per roomNZ$200 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedMotel or motor-inn double room, a night, per roomNZ$320 (≈ US$190)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$90 (≈ US$55) · Mid NZ$180 (≈ US$110) · High NZ$350 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TEU Te Anau–Manapouri Airport (Charter flights only; no scheduled airline service. Most travellers arrive via Queenstown (ZQN), about 2.5–3 h by road.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Feb
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Mar
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Apr
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jun
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Jul
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Aug
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Sep
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Oct
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Dec
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)), coolest Jul (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Oct (15 rain days), driest Feb (11). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Manapouri: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
13 rd
Feb
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
11 rd
Mar
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
May
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 rd
Jun
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
14 rd
Jul
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
14 rd
Aug
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
13 rd
Sep
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
15 rd
Nov
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
13 rd
Dec
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village centre is small enough to walk: visitor centre, lakefront and most accommodation are within about 10 minutes on foot. There is no public transport in the village. A car is the practical way to reach Te Anau, the Kepler Track trailheads and the road-end at Pearl Harbour. Tracknet runs one daily bus between Te Anau and Manapouri (check the current timetable and whether it meets your boat).
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Doubtful Sound cruise
goDoor to door: About 7–8 h
RealNZ coach and boat from the visitor centre, 64 Waiau St; boat across Lake Manapouri, bus over Wilmot Pass, then the fiord
The reason to be here. Book ahead; check the meeting time the day before.
Door to door: About 20–25 min
SH 95 north, 21 km (13 mi)SH 95 north, 13 mi (21 km)
Fuel, supermarket, restaurants and the Milford Sound road.
Door to door: About 2.5–3 h
Drive to Te Anau, then SH 94 through the Homer Tunnel
Too far for a comfortable return day from Manapouri; base in Te Anau or Milford instead.
Door to door: About 2 h (roughly 140 km)
SH 99 west then Clifden–Blackmount Rd northwest
Sealed road with a shoulder, but remote: no services for long stretches.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Manapouri village centre (Waiau St and Cathedral Dr)
Walking distance to the RealNZ Doubtful Sound visitor centre at 64 Waiau St and the lakefront. Book ahead in summer; the village has only a handful of beds.
Te Anau (21 km north)
Far more beds, restaurants and fuel. Use it as the base and drive down for a morning departure, or sleep here the night before an early cruise.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- NZ$80–140 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
- Mid
- NZ$140–250 (≈ US$85–150) excl. bed
- High
- NZ$250 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or motor-inn double room1 × 1 night × NZ$200 | NZ$200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × NZ$180 | NZ$360 |
| Doubtful Sound day cruise, per person2 × NZ$300 · check | NZ$600 |
| Tracknet bus Te Anau–Manapouri, one way2 × NZ$25 · check | NZ$50 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$30 | NZ$60 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NZ$127 |
| Trip total≈ NZ$699 per person per day, bed included | NZ$1,397≈ US$850 |
2026 estimate in New Zealand dollars; flights and the Doubtful Sound cruise excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | NZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Café meal or pie | NZ$12–25 (≈ US$8–15) |
| Beer: draught in a pub / can at a supermarket | NZ$9–12 (≈ US$6–8) / NZ$3–5 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Petrol, per litrecheck | NZ$2.50–3.00 (≈ US$2) |
| Doubtful Sound day cruisecheck; book ahead in summer | NZ$250–350 (≈ US$150–250) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | NZ$20–40 (≈ US$12–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Doubtful Sound day trips are long: expect a full day with a coach, a boat across Lake Manapouri, a bus over Wilmot Pass and the fiord cruise. Book ahead in summer and confirm the meeting time the day before.
- Fuel and food are limited in the village. Fill up and buy supplies in Te Anau.
- Weather in Fiordland changes fast and rain is normal in any month. Bring a waterproof shell even on a clear morning.
- Sandflies are bad near the lake and on the fiord, especially at dusk. Repellent helps.
- Mobile coverage is patchy on the road and gone over Wilmot Pass and on the fiord. Download offline maps before you leave Te Anau.
- The road from Invercargill via SH 99 and Clifden–Blackmount Rd is sealed with a shoulder and a 100 km/h (62 mph) limit, but it is remote: no fuel or services for long stretches.The road from Invercargill via SH 99 and Clifden–Blackmount Rd is sealed with a shoulder and a 62 mph (100 km/h) limit, but it is remote: no fuel or services for long stretches.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 111
- Non-urgent police
- 105
- Traffic incidents
- *555
Pocket card
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ManapouriManapouri
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ki tēnei wāhi, koaTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance111
- Non-urgent police105
- Traffic incidents*555
Embassy
No embassies in Manapouri or Te Anau; the nearest consulates are in Christchurch, and embassies are in Wellington. Australian and UK travellers can usually get consular help via their high commissions in Wellington (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Tracknet bus Te Anau → Manapouri: about NZ$25 (≈ US$15), one daily service (check)
- Doubtful Sound day cruise: NZ$250–350 (≈ US$150–250), full day (check)
- Drive Manapouri → Te Anau: 21 km (13 mi), about 20–25 min13 mi (21 km), about 20–25 min
Say or show
- Kia ora — Hello / Kia ora (kee-ah or-ah)
- Ngā mihi — Thank you (ngah mee-hee)
- Kei hea te whare mātakitaki? — Where is the visitor centre? (kay heh-ah teh fah-reh mah-tah-kee-tah-kee)
- E hia te utu? — How much is it? (eh hee-ah teh oo-too)
- Ka taea te utu mā te kāri? — Can I pay by card? (kah tah-eh-ah teh oo-too mah teh kah-ree)
- Kei hea te wharepaku? — Where is the toilet? (kay heh-ah teh fah-reh-pah-koo)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Manapouri. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (cold, wet, short daylight; some trips reduced) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for TEU and ZQN: charter-only status, Queenstown road time, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster with rescue anchors: Waiau St visitor centre, lakefront, Cathedral Dr accommodation.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (RealNZ visitor centre, Manapouri Hall, Pearl Harbour road-end) and eat pages with last orders.
- Doubtful Sound departure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
Ask about Manapouri
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