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Sea-kayaking
is an excellent way to discover the fiords and enjoy their undisturbed
natural environment. Photo courtesy of Fiordland Promotions.
Short
and day walks
"The highway to Milford Sound is one of the most spectacular
scenic drives in the world. Although the 119 km distance from
Te Anau to Milford can be covered in two hours there are just
so many viewpoints and side trips on the way that a full day
should be allowed for the journey". John
Hall-Jones, in Discover
Fiordland - An Illustrated Guide.
There is a good choice of walks to discover
the many and often spectacular natural features of Fiordland.
Many of them are located along the road from Te Anau to Milford
Sound. There are also interesting walks from each of the other
roads giving access to the park, at lakes Hauroko, Monowai and
Manapouri.
The shorter walks offer quick and
easy access to native forest, alpine vegetation, spectacular
waterfalls, and many lakes large and small.
Several of the longer walks offer excellent
approaches to the wild shores of the great lakes Manapouri,
Te Anau, Horauko and Monowai.
One of the finest panoramas of Fiordland can be
obtained from Key Summit, encompassing the Hollyford, Eglinton
and Greenstone valleys and surrounding mountains.
Near Homer Tunnel a more difficult walk leads to
Gertrude Saddle, revealing the spectacular landscape of the
Cleddau Valley and Milford Sound.
The walk into the Tutoko Valley provides a good
introduction to the rainforest of Fiordland with its thick carpets
of mosses, lichens and ferns.
Tramping
Fiordland's immense wilderness of mountains,
valleys, lakes and fiords makes it an area of huge potential
for tramping. But the lack of tracks, bridges or huts in many
valleys, the steepness of the terrain, as well as the extremely
high rainfall, all contribute to making tramping there a very
challenging proposition, and which should be attempted only
by suitably experienced parties.
However there are also a number of more accessible
tracks of various lengths and degrees of difficulty. Among the
most popular, the Dusky Track runs from Lake Manapouri to Supper
Cover at the head of Dusky Sound. Another classic tramp is the
marked route that leads from Lake Te Anau's Middle Fiord to
George Sound. Both are reasonably demanding, requiring experience
and fitness. Three of New Zealand's Great Walks, the Kepler,
Milford and Routeburn Tracks, are in Fiordland National Park.
Mountaineering
Mountaineering in Fiordland is essentially
restricted to the Darran Mountains, which indeed provide some
of the best mountaineering in New Zealand. Nowhere is the spectacular
landscape of Fiordland more dramatic than in the Darrans. The
hard igneous rocks were deeply carved by the quaternary glaciers,
leaving lofty summits and low-altitude valley floors only separated
by sheer near-vertical rock faces, sometimes 2000 m (6560')
or more high. A disadvantage is the very high rainfall of the
region, which often turns these faces into huge waterfalls.
Tutoko (2746 m/9009') is one of the major objectives,
while the Homer and Adelaide areas (especially Mt Sabre) concentrate
much excellent and sometimes highly difficult rock climbing.
Winter climbing has also developed, both on frozen
waterfalls and in the faces and gullies of the major peaks.
Kayaking
The main runs are on the Hollyford, Cleddau, Tutoko, Arthur
and Eglinton rivers. Grades up to IV-V.
Sea-kayaking
Diving
Fishing
Fiordland holds a variety of fishing
waters. Access is easiest in the Eglinton, Hollyford and Cleddau
valleys, and to lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. Most other rivers
are remote and difficult of access. Because of the very high
rainfall of the area flash floods are a serious concern and
river crossings can be very dangerous. Tramping skills are usually
required. Most rivers have brown trout, some rainbow trout,
and eels are also common. Many rivers hold trout up to 4.5 kg
(10 lbs).
Hunting
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