10 Cabins and one Caravan available for Hire, with a selection of Queen, Double and Twin Single.
Full Kitchen facilities available 
​BBQ and large outside Gazebo
Shared Unisex Toilet and shower Block

Monowai

Gateway to the southern part of Fiordland National Park

  • 🌿 Best things to do in Monowai🚶‍♀️

  • Lake Monowai / Borland Nature Walk
    • Short, easy loop through native beech forest
Great for birdlife and a peaceful wander
  • Family-friendly and right by the lake

  • Monowai Lookout Track
    • About 20 mins each way
    • Ends with a beautiful elevated view over the lake
    • Perfect picnic spot

  • Peninsula Lookout Track
    • Another short, gentle walk with lake views
    • Quiet, uncrowded, and very relaxing

  • 👉 These walks are the heart of Monowai—simple, peaceful, and stunning.

  • 🛶 2. Lake activities
  • Kayaking or boating on Lake Monowai
  • Swimming (if you’re brave—it’s cold!)

  • Fishing for brown and rainbow trout
  • It’s described as a “perfect playground” for water activities in Western Southland 

  • 🎣 3. Fishing & jetty area
  • Popular with anglers
  • A jetty and access improvements have been developed in recent years
  • 👉 If you like quiet fishing spots, this is gold.

  • 🚵‍♂️ 4. Explore Borland Road
  • Scenic drive into remote Fiordland edge
  • Access to:
    • More walks
    • Mountain biking trails
    • Epic viewpoints
  • There’s even a massive ancient landslide visible from Borland Saddle .

  • 🥾 5. Go bigger: tramping & backcountry If you want more adventure:
  • Green Lake Track (multi-day hike)
  • Nearby world-class tracks like:
    • Hump Ridge Track (multi-day, iconic)

  • 🦜 6. Wildlife & bird spotting You’ll likely see:
  • Fantails, robins, tomtits
  • Possibly kaka or even falcon
  • Native forest full of bird calls
  • 👉 It’s one of those places where the silence + birdsong is the experience.

  • ⚡ 7. Historic hydro station (quick stop)
  • One of NZ’s earliest hydro power stations (1920s)
  • Interesting if you like local history or engineering

  • 🌄 What makes Monowai special
  • Edge of Fiordland National Park
  • Very few people = true peace
  • No shops, no crowds, no noise
  • Old-school, rustic NZ feel

  • 👍 Good to know
  • Bring all your food + fuel (no shops nearby)
  • Sandflies are… enthusiastic 😅
  • Weather changes fast
  • ✨ Why visit? 
  • Lake Monowai offers something increasingly rare:
    Space
  • Silence
  • Untouched natural beauty
  • It’s a place to slow down, breathe deeply, and experience the wild heart of southern New Zealand.

 🌿 Discover Lake Monowai, Western Southland
Lake Monowai is a picturesque and unspoilt destination, well known for its excellent fishing, hunting, and peaceful natural surroundings. Popular with campers, trampers, and outdoor lovers, it offers a true back-to-nature experience in one of New Zealand’s most rugged landscapes.

🎣 Fishing, boating & lake Life
The lake is renowned for its large brown and rainbow trout, making it a favourite for anglers.
  • Boat ramp access available
  • Ideal for boating and kayaking
  • A beautiful, quiet spot to relax on the water

🚵‍♂️ Adventure & Exploring
There’s no shortage of ways to explore the area:
  • Mountain biking through remote terrain
  • Access to excellent tramping and hunting areas
  • Scenic drives with breathtaking viewpoints
One of the highlights is the Green Lake Track, along with a range of other rewarding hikes nearby.

🏔️ Incredible Scenery
Take in stunning views:
  • West into Fiordland National Park
  • East towards the Takitimu Mountains
  • Across dramatic granite formations around Mount Titiroa and Mount Eldrig
This is raw, untouched New Zealand at its best.

🌏 World Heritage Wilderness
In 1990, the area was recognized for its outstanding natural value and became part of the
Te Wahipounamu — one of the most significant protected wilderness regions in the world.

🦌 Hunting Opportunities
The wider Fiordland area is well known for hunting:
  • Red deer
  • Wapiti
  • Possums
  • Rabbits & Hares
  • Wild pigs and chamois (in certain areas)

⚡ A piece of History
Visit the historic Monowai Power Station, opened on 1 May 1925.
  • One of the oldest hydroelectric stations in New Zealand
  • Still supplying power to the Southland region today
Lake Monowai itself was raised by 2.5 metres in 1926 to support hydroelectric generation.
From above, the lake forms a distinctive U-shape as it winds through a long valley on the edge of Fiordland.

📖 A name with Meaning
The lake was named by surveyor-explorer James McKerrow, who recorded it as “Monowai,” meaning “channel full of water.”



Driving Times
Invercargill  - Monowai 1.15 hours                    
Monowai to Tuatapere 35 minutes via Southern Scenic Route
Monowai to Manapouri & Te Anau 45 minutes via Southern Scenic Route 


Adventure awaits — Hunting, Fishing, Tramping, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Caving & Boating.
Escape to Southland’s Ultimate Getaway.