Milford track

Press, 7 February 1985, Page 20

Milford track

facilities

Sir, — One highlight of a New Zealand holiday was the Milford Track. The trip, organised by the T.H.C., in most respects lives up to the claim that it is “the experience of a life-time.” But my wife and I have a reservation. Nearly a third of all in T.H.C. parties end up at the hostel, where conditions can only be compared to a school camp, not at the hotel. We and other overseas visitors had our memories of New Zealand sullied by this inferior accommodation. Second, the guides who are a fine group of young people, are not allowed walkie-talkies, a relatively cheap and universally-recognised way of ensuring safety. The extra $lO or so a head that would cover better accommodation and surer safety measures. would lose no

customers, but very much improve the memories of those who walk the track. — Yours, etc., PROFESSOR P. W. MUSGRAVE. Armidale, Australia, January 24, 1985. [Mr M. Hay, chief executive of the Tourist Hotel Corporation, replies: “Because of the unprecedented increase in overseas visitors the whole Fiordland area has been under severe pressure for accommodation. On a first come, first served basis, track walkers are reserved in the Milford Hotel, but where this is not possible they are reserved in the Milford Lodge and are advised of this fact at the time of making their reservation. A discount of $l5 a person is applied to these walkers. If and when cancellations occur, track walkers who are reserved in the lodge are upgraded to the hotel if possible. As it is envisaged that track walkers will again have to stay in the Milford Lodge next year, substantial upgrading will be carried out at the lodge this winter. With regard to guides carrying walkietalkie radios, in the past the units that were available were only effective over a short, line-of-sight range and were, therefore, not suitable for use in this rugged terrain. However, the local radio club, along with T.H.C., has been carrying out tests this summer with a view to purchasing suitable units.”]