Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri has four arms, North, South, West and Hope, and some 33 islands, 22 of which are wooded. The Waiau River is its natural outlet.  The township of Manapouri lies at the edge of Fiordland National Park on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River.

Manapouri is a 20 minutes drive from Te Anau. It is the gateway to both Doubtful and Dusky Sounds and the starting point for local walking tracks. Manapouri is a popular destination during the summer months when visitors come to soak up the sunshine and enjoy Lake Manapouri’s clear waters.

The lake provides hydro-electric power via Manapouri Power Station, in the West arm, which discharges water through two 10-km tailrace tunnels to Doubtful Sound and the sea. In 1960 it was proposed to raise the lake by up to 30 metres for the power station but a strong nationwide protest prevented this from happening. The lake levels are carefully controlled to be close to natural fluctuations.

The lake is within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site and a tourist boat service operates from the town.