Moana, a tiny village on the shores of Lake Brunner, is one of the most picturesque places to spend a night on the West Coast. Watch the sunset over the mountains, do some short hikes through the forest and explore the calm coves and bays of Lake Brunner!
Looking for the best things to do in Moana and Lake Brunner? I’m here to help, whether you’re passing through or spending a couple of nights (which is what we did on our recent trip).
Stroll Around Town
Moana is a popular weekend getaway spot for West Coasters.
Hang out at the park in front of the pub, check out the train station / waterfront area or just head out with no particular destination. It’s a small place so you won’t get lost.
Moana Railway Station
The TranzAlpine train travels between Christchurch and the West Coast, with Moana being the last stop before Greymouth. Moana Railway Station, with the beautiful backdrop of Lake Brunner, is the most interesting sight in the town itself. It doesn’t take long to look around and it’s a great photo spot.
Lake Brunner Scenic Trail / Arnold River
Cross the bridge across the Arnold River and turn left and you’ll soon be on the Lake Brunner Scenic Trail. This recently opened (with parts still to be built) cycling and walking trail takes you to various coves and beaches and seems to be mostly flat.
We only did a very short section but the views were great, especially near the bridge. We spent lots of time there hanging out by the river (our son loved playing with the rocks). You could also check out the Arnold River Dam Walk further upstream (we ran out of time).
Rakaitane Walk
The Rakaitane Walks starts in the same spot as the Lake Brunner Scenic Trail — just turn right instead of left after crossing the bridge. It’s a pretty standard forest walk (no real views once away from the river) aside from one cool part — the enchanted forest! Our kid loved walking through the little fairy village and checking out their tiny homes. The walk should take around 45 minutes and there’s some light uphill walking involved.
Velenski Walk
If you’re looking for a quick walk through the forest you could check out the Velenski Walk. It’s a similar length to the Rakaitane Walk but it’s a bit steeper from what I remember. We were expecting views but only got one obstructed clearing. It’s the kind of track that could potentially be improved in the future by adding some more viewpoints.
These next few activities are outside of Moana and you’ll need transport to access them.
Iveagh Bay
You’ll struggle to find a more scenic spot in Lake Brunner than Iveagh Bay. The beach, lake, forest foreground and mountain background combine perfectly to make this a special spot to spend an hour or two. You can walk along the beach in either direction to find a quiet spot — we turned right and reckon we found the best spot (pictured below, 2-minute walk from the park).
After relaxing there I was keen to explore, so I went back to the main beach and continued in the other direction and saw some great views. No one else around either!
Mount Te Kinga
The track to the top of Mount Te Kinga starts at Iveagh Bay. It takes 6-8 hours and looks like a fun adventure — I’m planning on walking it next time we visit (let me know in the comments below if you have climbed it).
Carew Creek Falls
The start of the Carew Creek Falls track is a 30-minute drive from Moana. From there a fairly easy forest trail leads to the impressive waterfall. We visited Carew Creek Falls years earlier than our recent trip to Moana — it’s a good option to stop off at if you’re just passing through the area.
Eating and Drinking
There are two main places to eat in Moana – Hotel Lake Brunner and Platform 40. We ate at Platform 40 and loved the views (good food too), but while researching this post I saw that it says “permanently closed” on Google Maps etc. It’s a shame as it’s such a nice spot – I’m sure another establishment will take over at some point!
We had planned to eat at Hotel Lake Brunner (we stayed there) but ran out of time. It has awesome views too so if you want to eat and drink while enjoying the scenery you’ll be happy.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Hotel Lake Brunner and it was perfect for us. We had a big space (two bedrooms, kitchen, lounge) and a deck at the front where we could relax while looking at the lake. We loved our time in Moana and the accommodation was a big part of it.
Getting to Moana
Moana is a 30-minute drive from Greymouth, the biggest town on the West Coast. It’s close enough to do it as a day trip but try and stay a night or two if you can. You can also reach Moana on the TranzAlpine train which runs between Christchurch and Greymouth.
Are you planning a trip to New Zealand? Check out our South Island travel guide!
Jon Algie
Latest posts by Jon Algie (see all)
- Christchurch VS Dunedin: Which Is the Best City to Visit? - October 24, 2025
- 8 of the Best Things to Do in Moana / Lake Brunner, West Coast - September 17, 2025
- Iveagh Bay, Lake Brunner, West Coast - June 18, 2025