TRAMPING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 20061, 29 December 1928, Page 6

TRAMPING CLUB

LARGE PARTY FOR MILFORD A large party organised by the Otago Tramping Club lelt last Monday ior Milford Sound. After traversing the “ finest walk in the world,” the party will proceed by special cars to Manapouri, where a day or two will be spent on the lake. A tow of the party will arrange a cross-country trek to Tnatapero via Redclifis and Blackmont stations along the Waiau Valley. The Milford party is one of tho largest organised by the club. A number of smaller parties are “ doing the GTavc-Talbnt Pass the Howden and Greenstone, the Dore Pass—" Glade House—Routbnrn tracks, while others will take the ranges towards Mount Misery and The Gap. Tho club has been most successful in all its outings. All the members are now honorary rangers for the _ City Corporation reserves, and in this respect are already doing good work. The club is desirous that visitors should see our beautiful country, and is prepared to supply a guide for walking excursions. The president of the club is Mr J. Kennedy, " the Customs Department, and the secretary Mr George Pearson, of Messrs Wright, Stephenson’s.

High praise for tho new Government hornfat Milford ’found was given by a partv which recently went over the track. Members of this party told an Invercargill pressman that although they went to Milford fully prepared to seo a modern hotel, they had no idea it would be o luxuriously appointed. A picturesque exterior gives promise of a comfortable, cosy interior, and this promise is more than fulfilled. They were amazed to find rich carpets on the floor of their bedroom and drawing room, and lounges that were the last word in comfort and ease. Ono of the tourists, a New Zealander, who lias been round the world, said that he had never seen a hotel situated in a more majestic spot. Those who have done the track in previous years have had to bo content to spend the night in the rather uninteresting spot where the Sandfly huts were situated. Now a launch takes the trampers for a twenty minutes’ run up the sound, and there, v nestling among the magnificent r- untains, with the famous Mitre Peak directly opposite, is the pretty wooden hostel ‘that the 'Government has been enterprising enough to erect. The tourists declared that they received a shock of pleasant surprise, although they were expecting _ it. to sco so modern a building amidst such rugged grandeur. On the evening of their arrival, however, they appreciated fully the delight of such comfort and courteous service as they experienced in the hostel after their three days on the track. It was a wonderful privilege to awake next morning and see from their window tho full glory of tho sound. The accelerated steamer service between Glade House and Te Anau Hotel was also greatly appreciated. The boat used to take anywhere from five to seven hours on the journey. Now the average time for the trip is three hours and a-quarter.