The Key.

What to do in The Key Southland New Zealand

The Key is a rural junction where Southland pasture meets the foothills of Fiordland. Days here revolve around the river, the gravel backroads, and early morning departures for the backcountry. It suits self-sufficient travellers, anglers chasing trout in the Mararoa, and anyone looking for a quiet rural pause between Queenstown and the southern fiords without the resort-town bustle.

24 hours in The Key Southland New Zealand

Start with a brisk morning walk along the shingle banks of the Mararoa River. Drive twenty minutes into Te Anau for a hot pie and provisions, then spend the afternoon casting or exploring the Borland Road viewpoints before returning for a quiet evening meal under unpolluted stars. Select 1 Day above to see it.

2 days in The Key Southland New Zealand

Dedicate your second day to the Takitimu Forest Park. Hike the tussock ridges from the Princhester Road trailhead, pack a thermos for the summit, and finish with a cold Southland ale and a plate of blue cod at a roadside tavern along State Highway 94. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.

3 days in The Key Southland New Zealand

A third day allows an unhurried exploration of Lake Manapouri's eastern bays or the remote gravel route toward Borland Saddle. You have time to hire a local fishing guide, drift the deeper pools, and let the slow agricultural rhythm of Southland set your pace.

The Key Southland New Zealand itineraries by interest

• Fly Fishing in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Cast for brown and rainbow trout along the gravel runs of the Mararoa River, best navigated with local nymph patterns and light fluorocarbon tippet.

• Country Pubs in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Stop for a pint of Speight's and a venison pie at roadside Southland taverns where local shearers and trampers trade stories over the bar.

• Day Walks in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Tackle trailheads into the tussock slopes of the Takitimu Mountains or the beech forest fringes near Borland Saddle off the southern highway.

• Scenic Drives in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Follow the gravel of Borland Road across the power pylons and subalpine scrub, climbing toward mountain views over the Grebe Valley.

• Farm Stays in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Book a cabin on working sheep stations across the Mararoa Plain, waking to frost on the paddocks and farm-fresh eggs on the stove.

• River Floats in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Launch an inflatable kayak into the quiet bends of the Mararoa River, drifting between willow-lined banks and wide shingle beaches.

• Local Baking in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Pick up cheese rolls and custard squares at bakeries in nearby Te Anau or Mossburn before heading out onto the open Southland gravel roads.

• Bird Watching in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Spot South Island robins, bellbirds, and fantails along the edge of native bush remnants bordering the farmland and river corridors.

• Stargazing in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Step outside on clear winter nights for unpolluted views of the Milky Way arching over the dark silhouettes of the Takitimu Mountains.

• Hunting in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Access public conservation land in the Takitimu Forest Park for red deer and chamois hunting along remote ridgelines and scree basins.

• Gravel Biking in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Ride quiet unpaved backroads across the Mararoa Valley, linking remote sheep paddocks with wide-open views of the Fiordland ranges.

• Wild Swimming in The Key Southland New Zealand

  Wade into the clear, cool pools of the upper Mararoa River on hot summer afternoons, finding deep swimming holes near the bridge crossings.