Manapouri

Manapouri is a town of 222 (2018) in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. It isn't an attraction of itself, but rather serves as a gateway for exploring the southern fiords and sounds of Fiordland National Park, most prominently Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound.

Understand

Visitor information

• 1 RealNZ - Doubtful Sound Manapouri Visitor Centre, 64 Waiau St. Daily 6:45AM–3PM. For RealNZ trips across to Doubtful Sound. (updated Dec 2023)
• Lake Manapouri Area information (DoC)

Get in

By car

From Te Anau, use State Highway 95 (SH 95) south from the town centre for 21 km. SH 95 ends at Manapouri town centre.

If you're driving from Invercargill, use SH 99 west and then Clifden–Blackmount Rd (unnumbered) northwest, taking a little under two hours (roughly 140 km). Despite what it might seem on maps, the road is fully sealed, has a shoulder, and has the standard speed limit of 100 km/h.

From the rest of Southland, head west from Mossburn via SH 94, and turn left onto Hillside–Manapouri Rd (unnumbered) after 43 km (around about The Key) and continue until you reach Manapouri.

By plane

1 Te Anau–Manapouri Airport (TEU  ^IATA) is the airport serving the area. It is only used by charter flights, though.

By bus

Tracknet has one daily bus from Te Anau to Manapouri.

Get around

The town centre is small enough that it is navigable on foot.

See

• 1 Manapouri Hall (Manapouri Community Centre), 11 Hall Rd, ☏ +64 22 190 2071, jacky.clan7@gmail.com. This might seem like an innocuous hall, but it was used to film a scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, in which Frodo, Samwise and Gollum attempt to enter the black gates of Mordor. (updated Dec 2023)
• 2 Doubtful Sound. This is probably the reason why you're in Manapouri in the first place – refer to the linked article for detailed information. (updated Dec 2023)

Eat

• 1 Manapouri Lakeview Cafe and Bar, 68 Cathedral Dr, ☏ +64 3 249 6652, toll-free: 0800 89 62 62, reservations@manapouri.com. (updated Dec 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Murrells Grand View House, 7 Murrell Ave, ☏ +64 3 249 6642, murrell@xtra.co.nz. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. $285/night. (updated Dec 2023)

Go next

• Te Anau

Routes via Manapouri

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S  NNE

→ Te Anau