Jet Boating at Te Anau by Campervan: The Waiau River Between the Lakes

Quick summary: For campervan travellers heading to Fiordland and Milford Sound, Te Anau offers a jet boat ride on the Waiau River, which flows between Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapōuri through beech forest and wilderness on the edge of Fiordland National Park. The ride combines speed with scenery, and parts of the river appeared in The Lord of the Rings. Te Anau has holiday parks, supplies and fuel, making it the natural base for a campervan or motorhome before the Milford Road.

At a glance
River	The Waiau, between Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapōuri
Style	Scenic and fast, through forest and wilderness
Ride length	Typically 1 hour or more
From Queenstown	Around 170 km, about 2 hours
To Milford Sound	Around 120 km
Tours	Te Anau jet boat tours

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What is the Waiau River ride like?

The upper Waiau River flows out of Lake Te Anau towards Lake Manapōuri, winding through beech forest and wetlands on the edge of Fiordland National Park. Jet boat rides travel the river at speed, with spins and close passes of the banks, but the setting is wild and peaceful, with mountains rising beyond the forest. Guides point out film locations and share the area’s history.

How does a jet boat ride fit around the RV drive to Milford Sound?

Plan the ride for the day you arrive in Te Anau or the day after you return from Milford. The Milford Road is a full day trip, best started early from Te Anau, so a jet boat ride works well in the afternoon of your arrival. Te Anau is also the last place for fuel and supplies before Milford, so it’s a good place to spend two nights.

Where can you park the vehicle?

At a holiday park in Te Anau, a short walk or drive from the jet boat departure point and the lakefront. Te Anau is easy to drive around, with wide streets and plenty of parking. Check the departure point when you book.

What else is there to do in Te Anau?

• The Te Anau glowworm caves, reached by boat across the lake.
• Lake Manapōuri, around 20 km south, the starting point for Doubtful Sound cruises.
• The Kepler Track, with day walks along the lakeshore.
• The bird sanctuary, home to takahē.

What about Milford Sound?

The Milford Road from Te Anau is around 120 km, through the Eglinton Valley and the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound, where cruises explore the fiord. See our sister site’s Fiordland and Milford route.

Where can you stay?

Holiday parks in Te Anau and Manapōuri, and DOC campsites along the Milford Road. Freedom camping in a certified self-contained vehicle is limited to the sites Southland District Council or DOC has designated, so check before you stop.

How do you book a ride?

See every option on our Te Anau jet boat tours page, then book the ride for the morning after you arrive, leaving the next day as a back-up.

Where does the trip go next?

Back to Queenstown, around 170 km, or on to the Catlins and Southland’s south coast. See Queenstown and the Queenstown, Wānaka and Te Anau loop.

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Frequently Asked Questions