Te Anau Park & Ride design

ViaStrada developed concept designs for a proposed Park & Ride facility at the gateway to Fiordland National Park near Te Anau. The project was driven by a desire to improve visitor safety, particularly following flooding events that highlighted the challenges of managing private access to remote areas and popular Great Walks.
The concept centred on creating a transport hub where visitors could leave their vehicles and continue into the National Park via commercial transport services (such as shuttle buses). Key features included a central visitor building with ticketing, visitor information, road and weather updates, and café facilities.

The designs considered safe and efficient access from SH94 for buses, shuttles, tour coaches, and the public, with intuitive parking layouts and clear pedestrian connections throughout the site.

Additional opportunities explored as part of the concept included:
•    Dedicated campervan parking
•    Bus and shuttle parking and circulation areas
•    Emergency services access and a potential helipad
•    Future commercial development opportunities
•    An eco-hotel to support sustainable tourism growth

The result was a flexible set of concept designs that balanced visitor experience, transport efficiency, emergency preparedness, and future development potential, helping create a safer and more connected gateway to Fiordland.