A Trip to Milford Sound, via Lake Te Anau.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1360, 14 May 1895, Page 3

A Trip to Milford Sound, via Lake Te Anau.

[BY ONE OF THE TARTY.]

( Concluded.) Itinerary of the Overland Rout TO AND FROM MILFORD SOUND T Lake’s Ie Anau and Manipourj The tourist has the choice of tw routes, first by one of the Unioi Steam Shipping Company’s magnificen steamers from Dunedin to Milfon Sound. This will be found to be tin easiest and pleasantest route for al tourists coming from Australia America, and Europe. The stearae makes a short stay at the differen sounds (en route) along the coast, thui giving passengers an opportunity o going ashore for picnicing and bo tanzing purposes and viewing th( magnificent scenery of those greal indentations which form a remarkabh feature of this part of our coast line. Arriving at the anchorage at the head of Milford Sound, the course is by boat to the lower boat landing thence on foot along an excellentj road through the bush, to the foot of ( Lake Ada. The tourist takes the Government boat over the lake. The best course through the snags is marked by iron rods driven into the stumps of trees. Reaching the head of the lake, the course lies up the Arthur river. Two shallow rapids occur in this part of the river when the stream is not in flood, and can be easily negotiated by jumping out into the stream and dragging the boat up the river; rowing two miles further he reaches the upper boat landing; thence walking along an excellent road running parallel with the river until he reaches the Beach Tint. Following a track to the right locking up the valley, the pathway leads through a lovely glen right up to the Sutherland Falls; returning to the Beach But, which lies 780 feet above sea level. The tourist wishing to continue the journey by the overland route, follows the bush track up the Roaring Creek ascending the pass at the rate of 1000 feet per mile for 2 j miles, until the highest point of M'Kinnon’s Saddle is reached ; travelling along the saddle following the snow poles for a mile the track descends into the valley of the Clinton at the rate of 1000 feet to the mile. At the head ot Lake Mintaro, stands the Mintaro Hut. This hub is fairly comfortable and boasts of an inner apartment for the use of lady tourists. Following a good bush track along the Clinton river for seven miles, you come to the Middle Hub which is divided into two apartments. Leaving this hut, you walk along a comparatively level bush track for another seven miles; you then come to tho first Government Hub at the head of Lake Te Anau ; the most comfortable hut along the route. In order to provide against detention at the head of the lake, arrangements should be made by the Union Steam Shipping Company with the owners of the Steam Launch, to meet through tourists on a day mutually agreed upon. Sailing from the head ot the lake you reach the jetty at the Southern end, a distance of 38 miles, and then coach from Te Anau Hotel to Manipouri, or direct to Lumsden, according to the option of the traveller. I have reason to believe that as the tourist traffic increases, the present owners of the Steam Launch will see it to be their interest to place a larger, safer, and more commodious steamer on the lake to keep pace with the times. The following table gives the distances between the different stages, and tho time occupied : From steamer to Lower Boat Landing, 2 miles by boat 1 hour To fuot of Lake Ada, 2 miles on foot ... ... ... 1 hour To Upper Boat Landing, crossing Lake Ada, and rowing 2 miles up the Arthur river—--4 miles by boat ... ... 2 hours To Beech Hut—s miles on f00t... 2 hours To Waterfall —li-miles on f00t... I hour Total distance, Handles ; time, 7 hours At this point the tourist can return by the same route to the steamer at Milford Sound, or continue his journey ' overland. From Beech Hut over the Saddle to Mintaro Hut— BJmiles on foot ... ... 3J hours To Middle Hut—7 mileson f00t... 3£ hours To first Hut at the Head of Lake Te Anau—7 miles on f00t... hours From Head of Te Anau to jetty at the Southern end of the Lake—3B miles by steamer (j hours To Lumsden —50 miles by coach 7 hours General Remarks, The best time of the year to make j the Overland Through trij>, so as to •avoid the rainy season, is the months of January, February, or March. The months of September, October, and November are not good months to explore those alpine regions, owing to tho danger from heavy avalanches, and the moiling of snow on the mountains, caused by warm rainy weather at times, and causing the streams to rise very rapidly to a considerable height. However, the waters subside almost as quickly, so that no great delay may bo apprehended from this cause. In making the through trip, the tourist should provide himself with a piece of waterproof sheeting, a blanket or opossum rug, a change of clothing, a billy and pannikin, ; }lb of tea, Hb of sugar, 2 tins preserved mutton, 1 tin (unsweetened) condensed milk, 1 tin marmalade, Bibs biscuits, Tib cheese, I candle, 21bs oatmeal, Hb butter, matches aud salt.—First day’s 1

[ journey to Beach Hue. j There are two huts at this cam * One hut cau be set apart for the use lady tourists. By making this the first stage, tl tourist will have two hours or more admire the scenery around the “ Falls Next stage will take the tourist i 3 the Middle Hut, a distance of 1C ) miles. Reaching the Te Anau Hot on the evening of the third day, ac j arriving at Lumsden by coach aboi 3 o’clock p.m. From this point tl k tourist can direct his course by ra j to Lake Wakatipu, or continue hj 3 journey by rail to Dunedin, tin | completing the circular tour. Tt imperative that the tourist shoal ’ secure the services of a guide, at leai . as far as the Upper Boat Harbor, an | if possible, right through to Te Anai ? The charge for a guide right throiigl one way, is usually 10s per heac i From Te Anau to Manipouri, distance of seven miles, the coach run ' every day. Arrangements may b made to visit Manipouri, aud retun direct to Lumsden. The Overland Route from Lums den to Milford Sound anj Return, via Manipouri, t< Lumsden. The tourist can take train fron Dunedin to Lumsden, a distance of 13' miles. There is a branch railway fron Lumsden to Mossburn, a distance of 15 miles; bub as the train only runs onci a week, coach can be taken fron Lumsden to Lake Te Anau. Arrange' meuts can be made with tho raai coach proprietor, to get a retun: fare from Lumsden to the head o Lake Te Anau, including steamer fare for £3 10s per head. The following table gives the dis tances and the times occupied : From Lumsden to Southern end of Te Anau—so miles by coach ... ... ... 7 houn To Head of Te Anau and first Government Hut—3B miles by steam launch (in good weather) ... ... 6 hours From First Hut to Middle Hut —7 miles on f00t... ... 3i hours To Mintaro Hut—7 miles on foot 4 hours To Beech Hut, over the Saddle—--3J miles on foot ... ... hours To Sutherland Falla—miles on foot ... ... ... 1 hour From Beech Hut to Upper Boat Harbor —5 miles on foot ... 2 hours To Boat Harbor, at the lower endjjpL Lake Ada—4 miles by boat ... ... ... 2 hours From Foot of Lake Ada to Lower Boat Harbor miles on foot ... ... 1 hour To Sutherland’s Accommodation House—2 miles by boat ... I hour General Remarks. y.tni The tourist undertaking the overland trip should start with a party of six persons (preferable) and not less than four ; the services of Ross, the guide, should bo arranged for to meet the party at the head of Te Anau. He charges 15s per head for six persons right through and return. Provisions aud blankets for the trip may be had from the landlady of tho Te Anau Hotel, Mrs Snodgrass. But it would be wiser for tourists to provide their own waterproof sheeting and blankets, except in the case of cyclists. The tourist should provide himself with a strong pair ot walking boots, one piece of waterproof sheeting, one blanket or opossom rug, a change of underclothing. (Knickers and stockings are by far the best garb to walk in.) Two leather straps to roll up the swags with, two long towels to fasten on to the straps of the swag, to go over the shoulders ; swags to be carried up and down the back. (The towels will be found to be much easier than straps for the shoulders.) A billy, tin pannikin, and plate. For each man provisions as follows : :}lb tea, -lib sugar, 41b oat meal. 1 41b loaf, 2lb potatoes, 1 tin marmalade, |4b salt, 2lb boiled ham, Hb cocoa, 2 tins of milk (unsweetened), lib cheese, butter, 21bs biscuits, 2lbs candles, 4 lib tins mutton, matches, and a llask of Old Highland whisky. Arrangements should bo made to leave a certain amount of provisions at each hut for the return. All top coats and waterproofs should be left at the first hut at the head of the lake, as they would prove an enoumberance. Tourists should leave by steam launch not later than 8 a.ra., reaching the head of the lake about 1.30. Tourists can take boat for two miles up the Clinton in order to avoid a aciffish climb at the start. This is a matter of opinion; I should advise to stick to the track, reaching the Middle Hut about G p.m., first halting place. Walking along tho bush track in the Clinton Valley, which is covered with springy moss, is comparatively easy and comfortable to the feet. Should the tourist feel stiff and sore at the mcl of his first day’s journey, rub the ;egs and joints with a weak solution of irnica and water, and this will speedily •ornovc all tiredness from the body. Jare should be taken to extinguish ill lires before leaving tho huts, and a jood supply of kindling wood and mag should bo provided for the next oarty, in case of wet weather. In walking along the saddle, care should be taken not to lose sight of the snow poles in case a fog should arise. Next halting place would be at the Beech Hut, on the other side of the saddle, visiting the Falls in the mornings. Blankets and rugs and all provisions should be rolled up and hung up to the rafters at this hut, making a change of inside clothing only, md a sandwich for luncheon. You reach Milford Sound at the end if tho fourth day. In thy event of

the party not being able to secure the services of a guide, care should be taken in leaving the Beech Hut not to miss the track in crossing the Roaring Creek. You have to walk about | mile down tho bed of tho creek, with only a bit of rag tied to a twig to guide you in striking the track which leads into the bush track on the opposite side. From the first boat landing, in order to navigate the river aud lake in safety, it is imperative that the services of a guide should be secured. Mr Butler, in charge ol the road party, will place a man, at the disposal of the party, to steer the boat down the river, avoiding the numerous snags and also guiding the boat safely through the snags —stumpsof trees—which abound in Lake Ada. Reaching the accommodation house at the sounds, the tourist party can profitably and pleasantly enjoy from one to three flays exploring the different places of interest in aud around the Bounds. The Bowen Falls, the Valley of the Cleddau ; but if they have only ouo day to spate, by all means engage Sutherland and his boat, to take a trip right out to tho entrance of the sounds. The charge, including boating to and fro from the lower lauding would be £2 for the party, time occupied in pulling out in calm weather 3£ hours. The day thus spent would be one of the most enjoyable of the trip. The return journey can be made in stages to suit the party, but arrangements must be made with tho captain of the steam launch to call at the head of the lake on a day agreed upon. On reaching the Te Anau hotel at the lower end of the lake, the tourist can take coach to Manipouri, where arrangements can be made to pass a really enjoyable day sailing amongst the islands of that lovely lake, returning to the Te Anau hotel to catch the Crosby or the mail coach leaving for Lumsden,