TRAIN, TRAMP, AND MOTOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 13

TRAIN, TRAMP, AND MOTOR.

. OTAGO’S WONDER TRIP. OVER THE HILLS TO MILFORD. Of the many scenic attractions offered by New Zealand to the tourist, it is generally admitted that the walk to Milford Sound rivals, if not excels, the foremost of them all. Bush-clad mountains, waterfalls, and lakes of wondrous beauty combine to present a spectacle that is aweinspiring in its grandeur, and, most wonderful of all, in the midst of this almost outstanding beauty, there is set a hostel which brings to the traveller, sated with the rough life of the hills, all the comforts of civilisation. The new house recently opened by the Government is mp to date in every way, and -there is no doubt that, popular as this trip has been in the past, its attractions will be greatly enhanced by the erection of this hostel. Much has been told and written of the journey from the east to the west by this route, but few of those who have -not made the trip are familiar with is details. From Dunedin the journey is commenced by train. Gore is the first halt and from there another train is taken to Lumsden, which is reached in the afternoon. Service car is the next mode of travel, and by this means Te Anau is reached, after 52 miles of excellent road. The scenery on this part of the journey is good, but it does not even give an inkling of what is to come. The first view of the lake is somewhat unexpected, and, for that'reason, is all the more welcome. On the way to this point, flocks of wild duck are often seen, and good sport is obtained hero in the shooting season. Dinner is obtained at the Te Anau Hotel, and afterwards, the usual procedure is an exploration of the southern end of the lake. This is really beautiful, and it is hard to believe that the other extremity is even more so. After an early breakfast the traveller sets off with haversack and other necessary walking equipment for the landing,, where the steamer for the head of the lake is boarded. The trip on the water is 42 miles, and all the time the mountain scenery is increasing in grandeur. Three fiords are passed, the first being known as the southern fiord, the next as the. central, and the last as' 1 the northern. This is in the wapiti country, and occasionally the boat has to pay a_ call at one of the fiords to take provisions to a party’of stalkers. Such a visit is extremely interesting to the sightseer, for the mountain sides rear up from the water’s edge with an effect that is almost overpowering.’ At the head of the lake the Worsely arm stretches away to the left, while, on the right, are the Skelraorlie and Largs Peaks. From the landing, it is a,half-mile walk to the former site of Glade House, which is, an ideal place for a holiday,.. Mountain and river are the chief attractions, but there are enough of these to occupy one’s attention for a considerable period., Across tin.' Clinton River is the beginning of the track, with the Pamplona huts four miles .distant. This portion of the journey is accomplished on f6ot before •dinner, and on the way the depths of the native bush are penetrated. This, alone, is considered by many as the sight of a lifetime. There are, apparently, hundreds of small waterfalls, each one a silver ribbon of clear water, and all seeming at least 100 feet high. Only a few hours’ rain is necessary to convert them all into raging torrents. ■ The nest stage is to the Quenton huts, and this is a. more. exacting walk than that of the previous day. The route lies over the Mackinnon Pass, and, on the way, Pari-roa Heights and Lake Mintaro are the principal objects of interest. The track is ever-rising until the crest of the pass is reached at an altitude of 3400 feet. As the descent is commenced, Mount Balloon looms up on the east and Mount Hart on the west, with the Jervois Glacier in the distance. From the huts, which are soon reached,’ a trip is usually made to the Sutherland Falls, which drop from Lake Quill 1904 feet in a roaring cascade at the bottom. Next day the track is followed along the Arthur River valley to Lake Ada, where a motor,boat conveys travellers for a distance of five miles. Another two . miles away are the Sandfly huts, and from there a launch goes to Sutherlands, the site of the new hostel. ■ ■■ " : Around and about Milford; the scenery is no less enticing-than that seen on the journey, and there are numerous trips to be enjoyed. ’ It is claimed as a unique feature -of the track that the return journey ’is' always as interesting as the first walk over, and it is certain that few tourists who have made the journey have expressed themselves as bored.