AG Outdoor | 51settlement was eventually abandoned.
Along this section of the trail, the forest is
more open, but still fi lled with ferns. More than
200 of the world’s 10,000 species of plants are
here and 40 per cent of them are endemic to
New Zealand. Some of the largest trees are sev-
eral hundred (up to 1000) years old. You’ll also
notice a lot more birdsong. Little fantails fl it
around, curiously following as you make your
way along the track; and you can also catch a
glimpse of the endemic tui and maybe even a
kakapo in a rimu tree, if you’re really lucky.
As you near the coast the infamous sand-
fl ies become more of a problem. In the colder
months, you’ll mostly be covered anyway, but
you’re still advised to slap on insect repellent
on uncovered skin. These little blighters leave
quite nasty bites that become itchy and sore,
with red welts lasting longer than a week.
You’ll fi rst bypass the Martins Bay Lodge,
private accommodation, and head towards
the coast for another 90 minutes to an hour.
The trail heads through the Jerusalem Creek
Destruction, where a huge fl ood wiped out a
Where: Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand.
Accommodation: Six public huts run by the
DOC, with a mattress, running water and toilets
provided. You don’t need to book, but you do
need hut tickets.
Best time to go: October-April. Sandfl ies are at
their worst at the peak of summer.
Highlights: A mix of Southern Alps mountains
and river scenery as well as beach and dense
forest.
Watch for: The nasty sandfl ies, mostly near the
beach end. Cover up and bring repellent.
How to get there: Take a two-hour bus ride
from Te Anau to the end of the Lower Hollyford
Road, not far from Gunns Camp.
Diffi culty: Moderate. No alpine sections, but
heavy rain can cause local fl ooding and cut off
bridges.
Tip: Check ahead with Hollyford Track guided
walks to grab a spare spot on their helicopter
transports.
Contact: http://www.hollyfordtrack.comTHE ESSENTIALS
section of the forest, and then into the goblin
forest, where the trees are covered in epiphytes
that give them a gnarled appearance.
Once you reach the hut, drop your packs and
head on a quick trip up to Long Reef to see
the resident New Zealand fur seals. From July
to November, you’ll also see Fiordland crested
penguins.
From Martins Bay you have several options.
Because the Hollyford is a one-way track, you
have the choice of backtracking to your vehicle
at the start or the luxurious option of hitching a
ride to Milford Sound by seaplane or helicopter,
where you can get a shuttle to your car. The best
option is to call ahead to the Hollyford Track
Guided Walks a week or so before your planned
hike, as they have regular chopper trips ferrying
supplies in and would rather not have an empty
fl ight back out.
The helicopter is the more reliable (and
braggy) option and gives you a chance to survey
the area from the sky, including the coastline of
Martins Bay, and the stunning Milford Sound- a fi tting end to a magnifi cent hike!
Clockwise from top left
Sand dunes at Martins
Bay cover what was once
the end of the glacier that
carved the valley; Long
Reef is home to a rookery
of New Zealand fur seals;
fantails are one of the
many small bird species
seen on the track.