FINEST SCENIC ASSET

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 21 January 1936, Page 4

FINEST SCENIC ASSET

BEAUTY OF MILFORD VISITORS’ IMPRESSIONS “The new track to Milford Sound by way of the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys will be the finest scenic asset New Zealand will have, ’’ said Mr Gordon Short, who has returned to Wellington from Australia via the Milford track, 'having as his companions on the walk his wife (Dr Greta Short) and Dr Edgar Bainton, Mus., Doe., director of the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music at Sydney.

‘“We had the advantage of entering Milford Sound on the Marama on one of the most perfect, days imaginable/’ said Mr Short. “Everything was clearly revealed. After the glories of 'the Sound itself, majestic mountains rising from the mirrored surface of the Sound —we were amazed at the comfort that awaited us at the Milford hostel. We enjoyed every minute of the three days’ walk to Te Anau. No one has seen the best of New Zealand until he has trod this track. Then, when we got to Te Anau, we doubled back by service car up the Eglinton Valley, and then on up the Hollyford Valley, its head. This brings one within seven miles of Milford Sound once more, but between the head of the valley and the Sound is a very high range of mountains through which a tunnel is being made. We actually went into the tunnel. The men commenced to work there only last month, and they are now into the mountain about 50ft or 60ft. When we were there a mechanical shovel was being prepared for work inside the tunnel. This tunnel is going to make a wonderful difference. While the route opens up some of the most glorious scenery in Eglinton Valley, it reduces the journey between the Sound and Te Anau. This distance we took three days to cover on foot. By the new route it will be done in 3J hours by service car.

“No New Zealander can boast of being truly loyal to his country until he has seen the marvels of the Mil-ford-Te Anau country. There may be some excuses for those who live in the North Island, but in Dunedin I met several people who had never ventured over the track, nor had they thought of doing so. That to me was incomprehensible. My wife said it was so beautiful that she wanted to cry.’’