Access

75 km from Te Anau along Milford Road, turn left at the signpost to Cascade Creek. The parking area by the start of the track is signposted shortly after on the right.

Track

The wide metalled track shortly forks to form a loop. Following the loop clockwise, make sure you take the short detour to the outlet of Lake Gunn. You’ll realise why when you’re there.

Back on the main loop there a few informal side tracks to the edge of Lake Gunn, with benches provided by narrow pebbled beaches on the lake’s southern shores.

The rest of the track continues to pass through the luxuriant forest, dominated by some massive red beech tress. An unusual number seem to be scarred with burls. Look also for the damaged areas caused by wind bombs.

Flora

Damage sustained by wind bombs are a feature of the landscape in narrow, steep sided valley areas. When storms occur, the rapid up movement of air associated with convective rainfall is balanced by a downdraught, which can be tremendously fierce. In some instances it can strip a tree of branches and create a light well, as seen in sections of the walk.

The red beech here are particularly lofty.

European History

Lake Gunn was named after George Gunn. In 1861 with David McKellar, the two wealthy Southland runholders climbed Key Summit (on today’s Routeburn Track) at the Divide and spied the lake. They also took note of the Hollyford Valley, which they felt was too densely timbered to be of use as pasture. Gunn eventually emigrated to Mexico, where he was murdered over a land dispute.