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Major city · New Zealand

Mossburn

Stop for 45–60 min on the SH 94 run to Te Anau: deer statue, coffee, fuel. Sleep here only if Te Anau and Lumsden are full.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Mossburn is a 180-person service town on SH 94, the road between Gore/Lumsden and Te Anau, and the gateway turn for SH 97 to Five Rivers and SH 6. It has one real sight (the White Hill wind farm), two cafés, a hotel and a country park. Treat it as a leg-stretch and fuel stop, or a cheap bed when Fiordland is booked out.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
NZD
Best months
Nov–Apr (long days, road trips); Feb–Apr for settled weather
avoid Jun–Aug (cold, short days, ice on SH 94); avoid the Christmas–January peak if you need a bed
Airports
ZQN · IVC
Nights
0–1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

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
Emergency numbers for Mossburn111 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance111
  • Non-urgent police105
  • Traffic and road incidents*555

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 Mossburn, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Sit-down mealPub dinner mainNZ$25–40 (≈ US$15–25)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekNZ$20–50 (≈ US$12–30)
  • Budget bedCountry park cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomNZ$150 (≈ US$90)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomNZ$180 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomNZ$260 (≈ US$160)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$80 (≈ US$50) · Mid NZ$140 (≈ US$85) · High NZ$240 (≈ US$150)

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.

Deer statue and deer-farming historyWhite Hill Wind FarmSH 94 / SH 97 junctionGateway to Te Anau and Fiordland
Airports
ZQN Queenstown Airport (About 2 h 15 min by road via SH 6 and SH 97) · IVC Invercargill Airport (About 1 h 45 min by road via SH 1 and SH 94)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Care

    21°C (70°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

Best: Feb–Apr, Nov–Dec. Mixed: Jan. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (21°C (70°F)), coolest Jul (0°C (32°F) low), wettest Jun (15 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mossburn: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

21°C (70°F)

9°C (48°F)

12 rd

Feb

21°C (70°F)

9°C (48°F)

10 rd

Mar

19°C (66°F)

7°C (45°F)

11 rd

Apr

16°C (61°F)

5°C (41°F)

12 rd

May

13°C (55°F)

3°C (37°F)

14 rd

Jun

11°C (52°F)

1°C (34°F)

15 rd

Jul

10°C (50°F)

0°C (32°F)

14 rd

Aug

12°C (54°F)

1°C (34°F)

13 rd

Sep

14°C (57°F)

3°C (37°F)

13 rd

Oct

16°C (61°F)

5°C (41°F)

14 rd

Nov

18°C (64°F)

7°C (45°F)

12 rd

Dec

20°C (68°F)

8°C (46°F)

13 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

You need a car. The town is a short strip on SH 94; everything is walkable in 5 min. No public transport serves Mossburn — InterCity and other coaches run the Gore–Te Anau line but confirm a stop when booking. Fuel before Te Anau: the next reliable stations are in Lumsden and Te Anau.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Te Anau and Lake Te Anau

go

Door to door: About 45 min

SH 94 west, about 55 km (34 mi)

The natural base for Fiordland; fuel, supermarket and lakefront.

Manapouri

go

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

SH 94 to Te Anau, then SH 95 south

Doubtful Sound departures and the lake; book cruises ahead.

Lumsden

go

Door to door: About 25 min

SH 94 east, about 30 km (19 mi)

Fuel, a café and the SH 6 junction for Queenstown or Invercargill.

Gore

go

Door to door: About 1 h

SH 94 east, about 80 km (50 mi)

Bigger town for supplies, galleries and the SH 1 junction.

Milford Soundovernight

Door to door: About 3 h

SH 94 via Te Anau and the Homer Tunnel

Too far for a comfortable return day from Mossburn; sleep in Te Anau or Milford.

Queenstowngo

Door to door: About 2 h 15 min

SH 97 northeast to SH 6, then via Kingston

A full driving day; check the Crown Range or Kingston route in winter.

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.

Devon Street / town centre

The two cafés, the deer statue and the hotel are all within a 2-min walk.

Mossburn Country Park (Five Rivers Road)

Rural stay about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of town; own transport needed.

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

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
NZ$80–130 (≈ US$50–80) excl. bed
Mid
NZ$130–220 (≈ US$80–130) excl. bed
High
NZ$220 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × NZ$180NZ$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × NZ$140NZ$280
Fuel, 100 km at about 8 L/100 km1 × NZ$20NZ$20
Café meal and coffee2 × NZ$30NZ$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$30NZ$60
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeNZ$60
Trip total≈ NZ$330 per person per day, bed includedNZ$660≈ US$400

2026 estimate in NZ dollars; fuel and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
Café lunch or pieNZ$12–25 (≈ US$8–15)
Pub dinner mainNZ$25–40 (≈ US$15–25)
Motel or hotel double room2026 estimateNZ$130–260 (≈ US$80–160)
Fuel, 91 octaneAbout NZ$2.50–3.00 (≈ US$2)/L
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekNZ$20–50 (≈ US$12–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a small rural town; the real risks are the road (ice, stock, trucks, one-lane bridges) and driving tired on the Te Anau run. No 24-hour services.
  • Fuel is limited in town; fill at Lumsden or Te Anau if unsure.
  • SH 94 and SH 97 are open roads with stock, logging trucks and one-lane bridges; frost and ice in winter.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on the SH 97 and SH 6 stretches; download offline maps.
  • No supermarket: the nearest full grocery is in Te Anau or Lumsden.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
111
Non-urgent police
105
Traffic and road incidents
*555

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MossburnMossburn

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance111
  • Non-urgent police105
  • Traffic*555

Embassy

No embassies in Mossburn; nearest consulates are in Auckland and Wellington. Australian and UK consular help: check the official lists.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Mossburn → Te Anau by car: about 55 km (34 mi), 45 min, fuel about NZ$10–15 (≈ US$6–9)
  • Mossburn → Queenstown by car: about 160 km (99 mi), 2 h 15 min
  • Coach Gore → Te Anau: confirm a Mossburn stop when booking

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Kia ora — Kia ora (hello) (kee-ah or-ah)
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Fuel up before the Te Anau stretch; services are thin after dark.

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 Mossburn. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (long days, road trips); Feb–Apr for settled weather · avoid Jun–Aug (cold, short days, ice on SH 94); avoid the Christmas–January peak if you need a bed · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Field-check fuel, café hours and the hotel's check-in on the SH 94 run.
  2. Place pages for the deer statue, White Hill Wind Farm and the SH 97 junction with verified access notes.
  3. Winter ice and stock-crossing fixtures for the SH 94 and SH 97 stretches.

Meanwhile

Back to New Zealand

Sources