“VISIT MILFORD SOUND.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 24

“VISIT MILFORD SOUND.”

EXHIBITION VISITORS’ CHANCE. Since the Exhibition opened, and thousands of visitors have arrived from the north and overseas, the officers of the Tourist Department who are stationed at Logan Park have urged all callers to extend their trip and see the world-famed beauty spots of Otago. “It js a great pity to come all the way to Dunedin, perhaps for the first and last time, and return without having seen the beauty spots that are so close,” they argue. Another point is the cheapness of the fares at present being charged. The Milford Sound trip, for instance. Officers of the department say that it is actual lv cheaper to do a 10-day trip to Milford than it is to stay in Dunedin for 'the same length of time. Last evening Mr R. W Marshall, the tourist agent who is stationed in the New Zealand Government Pavilion, addressed radio listeners from the Exhibition station and told them interesting facts about the Milford trip. “It is admitted that New Zealand has the finest scenic resorts in the world, and many world travellers place the Milford Sound Track as being the premier scenic rc«ort in New Zealand,’ he commenced. “It i 8 not surprising, therefore, to find that the Milford Track is especially featured at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition now being held at Dunedin. “In the Southland Court there are three fine paintings of scenes in the Fiordland National Park. The largest scene takes up half of one wall of the court and depicts Mitre Peak from Deep Water basin, and is an exceptionally good study of this world-famous peak that rears its iceencased twin peaks to the towefing height of 5560 feet. Another subject is the graceful Bowen Falls. Tim famous fall is fed bv an unseen glacier on the Barren Range, and shoots out on to a rocky crag some 70 feet below and then, in one magnificent drop, falls 470 feet into the placid waters of the Sound. The third painting is looking up the Clinton Canyon, showing the Clinton River with Mount Mackenzie in the background. Towering mountains arc ranged on either side, like the walls of some giant fortress, grim and stern, with their battlements of snow, while the lower slopes are clothed with the riotous foliage of primeval forest. “In the Tourist Department’s Court are several beautiful photographs of various scenes along the Track, also a very finely modelled diorama showing a view looking up Milford Sound towards the entrance. On the left is the famous Mitre Peak and the right the inaccessible Mount Tutoko, the monarch of the Sounds district, while also shown are the Bowen Falls and the Stirling Falls, also Mount Pembroke and the Lion. “Besides these exhibits a film of Milford Sound is frequently shown at the Government kinema, and 13 always deservedly popular. Many tourists come from distant countries to see this wonderful district yet thousands of New Zealanders have never taken advantage of the cheap, convenient, and quick service available fir travel to this district. “On the first day the visitor travels by rail from Dunedin to Gore and on to Lumsden, and thence by car to Te Anau. A new and up-to-date hotel has just been orected at Te Anau and anyone not wishing to do the Track may spend a few days at this delightful spot. Te Anau is also the only place in New Zealand where Atlantic salmon fishing is available. After leaving by the steamer on the morning of the second day, the journey is oontinued up Lake Te Anau to Glade House at the head of the lake. As the head of the lake is approached the landscape grows in boldness of outline until the sublime magnificence of the 6cene reaches a climax in the lofty Mount Anau, which rises majestically from its pine-clad base to a height of 7000 ft. Arriving at the jetty at the head of the lake a snort walk brings one to Glade House, the comfortable hostelry maintained by the Tourist Department. This is the base for the walk to the Sound After lunch and leaving all surplus luggage at Glade House a start is made for Pompolona Hut; the first stage of the journey being 10 miles up the Clinton Valley The stage on the third day is to the Quin-tin Huts, a total distance of nine miles and a-half. As we proceed the ranges on either side gradually close in, forming a narrow canyon not more than a few hundred yards wide. Now the climb begins in earnest, and it takes a little time to get accustomed to the steepness of the trade which is to bring us out 3500 ft up into the Mackinnon Pass. No one enjoy ing normal heilth need anticipate any diffi duties in negotiating this path. It is well gri ded and has been traversed by persons of 70 years of age and children of six years “The summit of the famous M'Kinnon Pass is at least reached, affording a panorama of breathless interest. Nowhere in the world n anything be found to quite equal this extraordinary vista of Alpine scenery. The pass is about a mile long, and from it stretches away on either hand range and range of snowclad mountains and glistening in the clear air. Commencing the descent soon the bush is reached, and shortly the Quintin Huts. From here a short walk of a mile along a stately avenue of pines, moss-carpeted and bordered with myriads of ferns brings one

out into full view of the world-famous Sutherland Folk. This “matchless cataract” of 1904 ft calk for special notice. Though the volume of water is not oomparable to that of other falls met on this trip, its great height and picturesque surroundings invest it with a weird, compelling power “The dawning of the fourth day open* up the last section of the journey to Milford Sound, the distance being 13 miles down the Arthur River Valley, through further wonderful forests flanked by impressive walls and peaks. Hidden away in the forest lies Lake Ada, a sheet of gleam- ’ ing transparency reflecting in its mirrored depths every detail of the surrounding scenery. “Embarking in a well-equipped launch next day we set out down Milford Sound, t’ grandest of the Southern Fiords, for here, as James owan writes, ‘Th. gigantic scenery of South New Zealand reaches its culminating point.’ The glories of Milford Sound need to be seen to gain any idea of the magnitude and grandeur of the precipitous ioeclad mountains, and gleaming waterfalls, suffice to’ say that the many beauties of the trip to the sound have only prepared us for the unfoldii of the indescribable loveliness of the sound. “The remaining days are spent retracing our steps stage by stage from Milford to Quintin Huts, Qmntin Huts Pompolona Huts, and Pompolona Hi - 4 HJade House, and down the lake Te Anau. On the tenth day we return by rotor to Lumsden and connect with the train to Dunedin, after what is unanimously acknowledged as the ‘finest holiday yet.,’ spent in the most beautiful region of our Fiordland National Park, and truthfully called ‘The Finest W-lk in the World.”*