Lake McIvor 2 Day Guided Walk
(NZ) $799 Including Heli flight and boat crossing. Extra days (NZ) $295/day
Grade: Easy to Moderate
Season: October to April
Departs: On demand - Please enquire for further details
Start: Fly by Float Plane to Lake McIvor from Te Anau Township
Walking first day: 4km, 3-4hrs
Walking second day: 6km, 5-6 hrs
End: Boat out to Te Anau Township
Resources
Ref latitude: 45° 6'22.07"S longitude: 167°31'42.55"E
Facts and Features of this walk:
- Alpine Lake, 726 meters above sea level
- World Heritage Site (joining the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon as one of the most remarkable places on earth)
- There is an underground stream flowing from Lake McIvor to Lake Te Anau, we follow this overland
- Hidden Alpine Lakes, remote valleys
- 1000+ year old beech trees and moss gardens
- Deer spotting and possums
- Red deer, Possums
- Native birds such as Bell birds, Tūī, Fantails, Tomtits, Riflemen, Kea
- Possibility of seeing the camp's resident Kiwi
- Access to terrain adjacent to the Takahe Reserve
- Sensational remote Float plane flight
DAY 1
Te Anau Township to Lake McIvor by float plane 30mins
Duration: 3-4 hours
Distance: approx 5km (3 miles)
The adventure begins with a stunning flight across Lake Te Anau and the Murchison ranges before we land on Lake McIvor itself. Once the group is unloaded and the plane has left us alone in this remote, pristine environment, we commence our walk along the lake edge, through the native forest containing clusters of 1000+ year old beech trees and moss gardens.
The terrain is flat and easy walking all the way to our picturesque lunch spot which is approx 1.5 hours from where we started. Along the way your guide will point out the various flora and fauna that make this part of the world so special. After lunch we have a 2 hour walk through mainly Fiordland bush and alpine tussock following nothing but deer trails. Our camping site is in a remote valley nestled on the shores of a pristine alpine lake surrounded by the Barrier Peaks. Here you can chose to swim in the lake or relax before we have a traditional kiwi bush tucker dinner.
After a scrumptious dinner we walk to an adjacent clearing approx 20 minutes away in the hope spotting a few deer and other wildlife including numerous native birds. On previous trips the exceptionally rare Takahe as well Kiwis, Moreporks and Wekas have all been seen around our campsite area.
DAY 2
Lakeside Campsite in the Barrier Peaks range to Lake Te Anau
Duration: 5-6 hours
Distance: approx 6km (3.7 miles)
After a sound night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we commence our descent through green, luscious, native bush, down towards Lake Te Anau. There are no marked tracks, it's all deer trails following an underground river that has its’ source up at Lake McIvor. We break out of the bush and stop for lunch at a scenic waterfall overlooking the middle arm of Lake Te Anau and the Takahe reserve.
Afterwards we continue our descent, enjoying glimpses of the surrounding mountains and deep blue lake all the way down. We arrive on a small beach on the far side of Lake Te Anau at approx 4pm. From here we relax before taking the scenic boat ride back to Te Anau Township.
