Those are certainly some words that could           be used  to describe the twin "cities" of Manapouri and Te Anau. Being the bigger and more substantial of the two, Te Anau is a great jumping off point for all of Fiordland's exciting excursions, but just a 15-20 minute drive south lies the quieter town of Manapouri. Both towns are located on their eponymous lakes, each dazzling and jaw dropping in their own right. Sure, you could use Queenstown as your jumping off point for all things Southland, but having done both options, I highly recommend spending some extra time strictly here, with Queenstown added as a shorter stay. 

 

But which town should you stay in? Picking between the two requires some reflection on what you want out of your stay in this corner of NZ. For us, Manapouri offered a quieter destination, with a much smaller population, which meant fewer amenities, but also meant fewer people to interrupt the amazing views of Lake Manapouri and the mountainous backdrop. Staying in Te Anau, on the other hand, means more amenities and a bit more hustle and bustle. Both are equally good choices, but Manapouri was more appealing to us. Driving into Te Anau for lunch and dinner was easy enough, and no deterrent. 

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So which will it be? Poke around this page and see which town will better fit your needs. No matter which one you pick, though, be sure to spend a good amount of time here - there's more to do than may seem obvious, and with so much gorgeous scenery around every corner, you're not likely to feel like you've lost out by staying a bit longer than you may have anticipated.  We can't wait to get back!

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