| Distance | Time | Difficulty | Dogs | Parking | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 km | 30–45 mins | Easy | No | Free | Free |
The Lake Gunn Nature Walk (also written as “Lake Gun Nature Walk”, same place, common misspelling) is a 1.4 km flat loop track in Fiordland National Park, starting from the Cascade Creek Campsite on Milford Road, about 78 km north of Te Anau.
It’s the best short stop on the entire drive to Milford Sound. You’re inside a moss-drenched red beech forest within 30 seconds of your car, birds are everywhere, and the end of the loop delivers a proper Fiordland moment: deep blue lake, pebbled beach, mountains stacked to the sky in every direction.
I’ve walked this several times and it still stops me. For a 1.4 km loop, that’s something.
From Te Anau: Drive north on State Highway 94 (the Milford Road) for approximately 78 km. The Cascade Creek Campsite is signposted on the left. Turn in and follow the access road for about two minutes to the carpark. Allow 55–65 minutes of driving from Te Anau town centre.
From Milford Sound: Head south on SH94 for about 40 km. The Cascade Creek sign will be on your right.
Parking: The carpark is free with no time limit. It’s large enough to handle campervans and motorhomes easily. There’s also a separate parking area for day walkers near the campsite entrance.
By bus: InterCity and Tracknet both operate services along SH94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound. Some services stop near Cascade Creek — confirm with your operator before booking as schedules change seasonally.
Important: There is no mobile coverage on this section of Milford Road. Download offline maps, pre-book your DOC campsite (if staying overnight), and make any calls before leaving Te Anau.
The track starts right at the Cascade Creek Campsite — you’ll see the DOC sign at the campsite entrance. It’s well-marked the whole way, with interpretation panels along the route worth pausing to read.
At the carpark — Head through (or past) the campsite to the track entrance. You’ll see the nature walk signage clearly.
Into the forest (0–200m) — The transformation is almost instant. Within two minutes of the carpark you’re surrounded by red beech with moss smothering every trunk and branch. The track is wide, well-graded gravel here.
The loop fork (~200m) — The track splits to form the loop. Either direction works. Going clockwise gets you to the lake beach sooner.
Side path to the stony beach (~400m, clockwise) — Don’t miss this. A short spur leads you out to a pebbled beach on Lake Gunn’s southern shore. This is the viewpoint that makes the whole walk. The lake is deep blue and extraordinarily clear, with the Fiordland mountains reflected in the surface. There are a few informal spots along the shoreline — wander around and find the one you like best.
The outlet detour — Keep an eye out for the signed detour to the outlet of Lake Gunn. Take it. You’ll see why when you get there.
Through the forest (the back half of the loop) — This is where to slow down and look carefully at the trees. Many of the red beeches are heavily scarred with burls — rounded knobby growths in the wood. Look also for sections of wind-bomb damage: in narrow, steep valleys like the Eglinton, violent downdrafts during storms can strip branches and punch light gaps straight through the canopy.
Back to the carpark — The loop returns you to the original fork and from there it’s a short walk back. Total time: 30–45 minutes at a comfortable pace.
Wheelchair and pram access: The main gravel loop is entirely flat and wheelchair/pram accessible. The beach spur track is loose shingle — manageable on foot but not suitable for wheels.
This is red beech forest (Nothofagus fusca), and it’s absolutely saturated with moisture. Fiordland receives some of the highest rainfall in the world — parts of the region average over 7,000mm per year — and the result is a permanently damp, luminous green forest where moss covers every surface. It genuinely looks like Middle Earth. That’s not a lazy comparison: the Eglinton Mountains nearby stood in for the Misty Mountains in The Lord of the Rings films.
Lake Gunn sits in a glacially carved valley between mountain ranges, and the water is strikingly clear and deep blue. The lake was named after George Gunn, a wealthy Southland runholder who — along with David McKellar — climbed Key Summit in 1861 and spotted the lake from above. You can recreate that same viewpoint on the Key Summit Track today. Gunn later emigrated to Mexico, where he was killed in a land dispute — a grim footnote for the man who lent his name to one of Fiordland’s finest lakes.
The Eglinton Valley is one of New Zealand’s best lowland forest bird strongholds. DOC has been running intensive predator control in this valley for many years, and the results are obvious: bird numbers here are much higher than most forested walks in the country.
Species you’re likely to see or hear on the Lake Gunn Nature Walk:
If you visit mid-November to January, look for lupins scattered around the lakeshore — Fiordland has fewer than the Mackenzie Basin, but they’re often here in small numbers during summer.
The walk is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) as part of Fiordland National Park. Key DOC information:
Easy — genuinely one of the easiest walks in Fiordland. There is no elevation gain to speak of (about 24 metres across the whole loop), the surface is well-maintained gravel, and the total distance is only 1.4 km.
There is no fitness threshold for this walk. Children, older walkers, those with limited mobility, and complete beginners can all handle it without issue. The main loop is accessible for wheelchairs and prams.
The only thing that adds difficulty is weather. Fiordland is notorious for rapid changes — even in summer you can go from sunshine to torrential rain in 20 minutes. Bring a waterproof jacket regardless of what the sky looks like when you leave the car.
Busiest time. Crowds peak mid-morning as Milford-bound traffic stops in. Get there before 9am or after 3pm for a quieter experience. Sandflies are most active near the lakeshore in summer — bring repellent. Lupins may be visible.
My preferred time, honestly. The beech canopy takes on colour, the morning fog clearing over the mountains is stunning, and there are far fewer people. Temperatures are still comfortable.
Cold, often wet, but genuinely atmospheric. The forest is at its most moss-saturated and vivid green. You’re likely to have it mostly to yourself. Dress warmly and bring waterproofs.
Bird activity picks up as breeding season begins — best time to hear kākā and riflemen. Good chance of seeing tomtits and robins at their most active.
Counterintuitively, this walk is better when it’s wet. The moss goes an electric, luminous green, and the whole forest glows. The main gravel track handles rain well. The detour towards the campsite gets muddier — wear something with grip.
Yes. Every time.
I know the stats look modest on paper — 1.4 km, flat, 45 minutes. But that misses what this walk actually does. Within two minutes of the carpark you’re genuinely inside one of the most beautiful forests in New Zealand, with birds following you along the path and moss covering everything in sight. And the lake view at the end earns its place alongside walks ten times the length.
The thing that surprises people most is how complete the experience feels. You’re not doing a “quick stretch” stop. You’re in wild Fiordland, and the walk makes that clear almost immediately.
If you’re driving to Milford Sound and you don’t stop here, you’ve left something on the table. The walk takes 45 minutes. Milford Sound will wait.
Who I’d recommend it to: Literally everyone on the Milford Road. Families with young kids, older walkers, first-time visitors, experienced trampers who just want a leg-stretch — it works for all of them. Walking clubs will find it fits neatly into a Milford day without taking over the itinerary.
My tip: Do it on the way back from Milford in the late afternoon, not the morning rush. You’ll have more of the forest to yourself, and the light through the beech canopy at that time of day is something else.
The Lake Gunn Nature Walk sits in the middle of one of New Zealand’s best day-walk corridors. The Divide, about 5 km north of Cascade Creek, is the hub for several excellent options:
For walks in the wider Te Anau area, check the Milford Sound Walks hub.
How long does the Lake Gunn Nature Walk take? Most people complete it in 30–45 minutes. 20 minutes if you’re just stretching your legs, up to an hour if you linger at the lake.
Is the Lake Gunn Nature Walk suitable for children? Yes — it’s flat, short, and the forest and birds keep kids engaged. It’s one of the better family stops on the Milford Road.
Is there a viewpoint on the Lake Gunn Nature Walk? The best viewpoint is the stony beach spur about 10 minutes into the clockwise loop, which opens up to a direct view across the lake to the surrounding mountains. The outlet detour also delivers a strong view.
Can I swim in Lake Gunn? There’s no designated swimming area, but people do wade from the shingle beach. The water is extremely cold year-round — this is glacially fed Fiordland. Don’t expect to stay in long.
What’s the difference between Lake Gunn and Lake Gun? The same place — “Lake Gun” is a common misspelling of Lake Gunn. Both refer to the same lake in Fiordland National Park named after George Gunn.
Do I need to book to walk the Lake Gunn Nature Walk? No — the walk itself is free and requires no booking. Only the Cascade Creek Campsite (where the walk starts) requires pre-booking through DOC if you’re staying overnight.
Is there phone signal at Lake Gunn? No. This section of Milford Road has no mobile coverage at all. Download maps offline and make bookings before leaving Te Anau.
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