Te Anau Sightseeing Cruise with Champagne
About this activity
- Your booking is confirmed immediately
- This activity is available in your language
- This option includes FREE cancellation—book now, risk-free!




Experience Highlights
Embark on an elegant 1930's historic yacht and toast with a glass of champagne as you cruise for 90 minutes on Lake Te Anau, photographing the hills and forests that descend to the water. Boarding takes place at the historic pier, a short walk from the town centre, and the activity is available all year round in small groups.
Your English-speaking skipper shares anecdotes about the boat's construction and Fiordland's history while the crew serve canapés and soft drinks for those who prefer them. Thanks to the open decks and glass-enclosed cabin, you can move freely and capture the golden sunset light reflecting off the Southern Alps.
- Toast with champagne and enjoy canapés included.
- Enjoy 360° views from a real naval jewel
- Relax unhurriedly: a leisurely route, no seasickness, no physical demands
What’s included
- 90 min panoramic cruise on a historic yacht
- Glass of champagne (non-alcoholic alternative) and gourmet canapés
- Live commentary in English on history and nature
- Life jackets and access to a heated covered cabin
Select participants and date
Step by Step
As soon as you set foot on the historic pier, you are greeted by the silhouette of a meticulously restored wooden schooner, a real museum piece that still sails daily. The captain invites you aboard, hands out life jackets - not compulsory on deck, but available - and after a brief safety briefing, the moorings are cast off and the hull begins to glide across the crystal clear waters of the lake.
At the stern, the lead crewman uncorks the bottle and pours chilled New Zealand champagne accompanied by a tray of smoked salmon and local cheese canapés. As you savour the toast, the captain recounts the days when steamships were the only means of transport between the isolated settlements of Fiordland. The upper deck is the perfect place to catch the reflections of the snow-capped peaks or look for birds such as the shag that often follow in the wake in search of fish.
The yacht enters sheltered coves covered in beech and tree ferns, where the waters take on an emerald hue. With the engine almost silent, the captain drops anchor so you can look out over the bow and see how the roots hug the volcanic rock. Here the guide points out hidden waterfalls that are only activated after rain and explains the importance of the southernmost temperate forest on the planet.
In the second half of the cruise, the boat heads back to the southern sector of the lake, where the sunset paints the sky in shades of mauve. The crew offers a second round of drinks - champagne or soft drinks - and encourages passengers to try the helm for an unforgettable photo. The return to the dock coincides with the first star over the Southern Alps, bringing to a close an experience that combines nautical heritage, relaxed luxury and picture-postcard scenery.