Te Anau Airport

Inaugurated in April 2008 by Sir Tim Wallis, the Te Anau Airport at Manapouri was inspired by the aviation history of deer recovery in the region.  Combining tradition and modernity, its rural shed aesthetics were designed to enhance passengers’ travel experience by giving them a sense of the area’s heritage.

Throughout, the steel portal frame building is dressed with local materials including macrocarpa timber facings and dummy trusses, schist stone and corrugated steel, which helps foster a feel of tradition and authenticity.  On entry, kingpost truss bridges constructed from recycled hardwood span across purpose dug sunken gardens reminiscent of the region’s landscapes.

With a construction cost of $1.6 million, the terminal was also built to be as energy efficient and environmental-friendly as possible, boasting insulation well above code standards, high level opening windows for passive ventilation, Northern glazing for passive solar gain and corrugated clad water tanks to collect roof rainwater.

The upgraded airport now has capacity to host three operators, with expected footfall of up to 150 passengers at a time.  Created as a collection of inter-linked autonomous spaces including a display area, check-in zones, a 45 seat lounge, a commercial kitchen and restroom facilities, it is a flexible structure planned with future expansion in mind.