ŌTĀPARA | LAKE GUNN FOREST
This incredible image of the very green native beech forest along the Lake Gunn Nature Walk shows the true beauty of Aotearoa New Zealands native forests. A large fallen tree lies on the forest floor providing light for new growth to thrive.
Ōtāpara/Lake Gunn is a small lake located between Te Ana-au/Lake Te Anau and Piopiotahi/Milford Sound. The lake was named after Tāpara, a Waitaha tupuna (ancestor). Ōtāpara was an important mahinga kai (food-gathering area). It is also located on the ara tūpuna (traditional travel route) along the Upokororo/Eglinton River and Ōkare/Whakatipu-ka-tuku (Hollyford River), connecting Te Ana-au with Piopiotahi.
The English name ‘lake Gunn’ is named after George Gunn, a runholder who was the first European to explore the lake in 1861. Along with David Mckellar they were the first to reach the key Summit above Lake Gunn which has a panoramic view of the Hollyford Valley and surrounding areas.
Today, Lake Gunn lies adjacent to the Milford Road, offering a nearby campsite and serving as the gateway to the Lake Gunn Nature Walk. This short loop trail winds through the verdant beech-dominated forest, teeming with diverse plant species and birdlife, offering visitors a captivating immersion in New Zealand's green paradise.
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