The main reason to be in Te Anau is the excursions from it. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are the big ones, both requiring a full day. Milford is the famous one, reached by the spectacular drive along State Highway 94; Doubtful is larger, quieter, and harder to get to, crossed via Lake Manapouri and the Wilmot Pass. The Milford Road itself is one of New Zealand's great scenic drives and worth the trip even without a cruise at the end.
