Milford as Portal

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 6

Milford as Portal

OPENING UP SOUTH ISLAND Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. “Owing to the great depth of water in Milford Sound, the world’s largest liners can berth in perfect safety, and it is confidently anticipated that this resort will be largely used in future as a port of call for all ships carrying tourists to the Dominion,” said Mr. L. G. Sullivan, Minister of Railways, in an interview. “Overseas visitors will thus be enabled not only to enter New Zealand through a portal incomparable iu its loveliness and scenic grandeur, but will also be able to take advantage of tho road service provided by the Railway Department to visit the major points of interest in the Lakes district before proceeding to the chief centres of the South Island. “Although visiting liners and motor traffic will cater for a large number ot' visitors to the magnificent fiords, it is anticipated that ‘the world’s wonder walk,’ as the Milford Track is called, will still retain its present popularity, as providing a means of making a round trip. Visitors are enabled to travel one way by track and return by steamer or motor as desired. This would form an ideal introduction to many scenic uuders and attractions of the Dominion.” “Another important development which will have a marked effect on the Dominion’s tourist traffic is the construction of a highway from South Westland, over the Haast Pass, into Otago,” continued the Minister. “Tho construction of this road will enable tourists and others to proceed direct from South Westland into Otago au«l Southland via Lake Wanaka and Pembroke, and with the new road to Milford will enable a complete circuit to be made round the major scenic routes of Westland, Otago and Southland. Entirely New Circuit. “The completion of the Milford road and the new highway over the llaast Pass will open up an entirely new tourist route for visitors arriving at or departing from Milford. Comfortable vehicular road services can be then provided from Milford via Te Anau, urnsden, Queenstown, Cromwell, and tho Haast Pass to South Westland and the northern portions of the South Island. “This should remove the disability which at present militates against the South Island obtaining a greater share of the Dominion’s tourist traffic; that is, the inaccessibility or comparative inaccessibility of the chief scenic resorts, particularly in the southern portion »of the South Island, and the necessity for tourists having to retrace their steps over country already traversed ia proceeding to and from tho various points of interest.”