About This Route
South Arm of Lake Te Anau (22 km) features Hidden Lakes tracks, Mussel Cove jetty, and beaches for packrafting launches. Advanced paddlers portage to explore; avoid Murchison Mountains closure. Ties into Kepler Track; embodies rugged New Zealand Milford canoeing safety for multi-sport adventures.
Safety Considerations
Very rough in winds; expert water skills essential. Didymo rife: triple-clean packrafts (Alpacka or Kokopelli brands). No camping in takahē zones; permits rare Dec-Feb. Swell from fetch; fatigue risk on long days. DOC protocols: PLB, buddy system, weather windows.
Essential Gear
Packraft with spraydeck, wing paddle, PFD, PLB, drysuit. Repair kit, satellite messenger (Garmin inReach), thermals.
Emergency Tips
Portage to tracks if swamped; signal via inReach. DOC coordinates from Te Anau.