Lake Gunn Nature Walk

Lake Gunn Nature Walk - Milford Road, Fiordland National Park

Lake Gunn Nature Walk

Milford Road, Fiordland National Park

21 Rankers Reviews

16 Face-to-Face

10 Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park

Your Nature Guide

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Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Information

Lake Gunn Nature Walk

1.2 km return | 45 minutes return

The loop track passes through red beech forest and gives glimpses of the birdlife typical of the Eglinton Valley. Side trips can be made to several lake beaches and sheltered fishing spots.

Walking Track

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.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Fiordland

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandFiordlandMilford Sound - Fiordland National Park

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.8939753715737

168.083059692383

Latitude
-44.8939753715737
Longitude
168.083059692383

Nearby

Reviews

    • Best little walk in NZ
    • Fantastic place on a cool lake.
    • Round walk 3km/45 min.
    • You feel like the trees are alive in there!
    • Beautiful!
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 8
    38%
    9/10 4
    19%
    8/10 6
    29%
    7/10 2
    10%
    6/10 1
    5%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    Best little walk in NZ

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

    SJ's avatar

    SJ

  • 4.0/5

    Good camp site if you get there early ( 4pm ) otherwise pretty average.

    Lots of toilets and cleanish. Water supply is plentiful.

    Road around the campground is very dusty in summer. Overall good for a one night stop over.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    nice walk

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    One of the best stops along the war to Milford.

    The walk through the rainforest is easy, beautiful and not overcrowded with tourists. Beautiful and tranquil view of Lake Gunn.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You feel like the trees are alive in there!

    That’s the only walk I will rate because it was so awesome 😍

    So beautiful

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Short walk inside a fairy forest that looks like Lord of the Rings decor.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 3.0/5

    Pretty walk and relatively easy but at times the correct route is unclear and muddy which can lead to some confusion.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful, really interesting walk through the forest.

    Felt a lot like Lord of the Rings territory. Could have been better signposted around the Lake.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 5.0/5

    Easy 30 minute track from Cascade Creek with beautiful views of Lake Gunn at the end.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Easy path, beautiful forest and amazing view of Lake Gunn.

    Well maintained.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.5/5

    It is only a short walk but it is absolutely beautiful.

    We felt like we were in Fanghorn Forest from Lord of the Rings. It is great

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 3.5/5

    Get a nice impression of New Zealand's landscape on a short walk (30 minutes).

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Best little walk in NZ

    Reviewed about 2 years ago

    SJ's avatar

    SJ

  • 4.0/5

    Good camp site if you get there early ( 4pm ) otherwise pretty average.

    Lots of toilets and cleanish. Water supply is plentiful.

    Road around the campground is very dusty in summer. Overall good for a one night stop over.

    Reviewed almost 3 years ago

  • 3.5/5

    nice walk

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    One of the best stops along the war to Milford.

    The walk through the rainforest is easy, beautiful and not overcrowded with tourists. Beautiful and tranquil view of Lake Gunn.

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    You feel like the trees are alive in there!

    That’s the only walk I will rate because it was so awesome 😍

    So beautiful

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Pretty walk and relatively easy but at times the correct route is unclear and muddy which can lead to some confusion.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Beautiful, really interesting walk through the forest.

    Felt a lot like Lord of the Rings territory. Could have been better signposted around the Lake.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 4.0/5

    Short walk inside a fairy forest that looks like Lord of the Rings decor.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

  • 5.0/5

    Easy 30 minute track from Cascade Creek with beautiful views of Lake Gunn at the end.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Easy path, beautiful forest and amazing view of Lake Gunn.

    Well maintained.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 4.5/5

    It is only a short walk but it is absolutely beautiful.

    We felt like we were in Fanghorn Forest from Lord of the Rings. It is great

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016

  • 3.5/5

    Get a nice impression of New Zealand's landscape on a short walk (30 minutes).

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Perfect lake and good/interesting nature walk.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Very impressive plants especially the trees and ferns.

    Reviewed about 11 years ago and experienced in February 2013

  • 5.0/5

    45 minutes of stunning red beech forest - but lots of time to stand and stare, take photos, meet with the birds and wonder at all that green moss.

    Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012

  • 4.0/5

    Round walk 3km/45 min.

    Explanations along the way and a real forest walk.

    Reviewed about 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 4.0/5

    Fantastic place on a cool lake.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful!

    Reviewed over 14 years ago