Day Ten … Hello to Hollyford Valley

We began our day with a walk to the restaurant in Te Ana’s where we were treated to a lovely buffet breakfast. Delicious bacon and eggs, hash browns, baked beans, sausages, cereals, yoghurt and fruit plus delicious danishes. Whatever you could want to eat … it was there. So we all stored up some fuel for the upcoming adventure to Fiordland National Park which is a mere 1.2 million hectares in size (20% of Tasmania, bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined)!

Rich drove us down the Milford Sound road, stopping at Eglington Valley so that we could view the amazing mountains rising up out of fields below. The sheer expanse of the National Park is incredible and to think that we were only seeing such a small portion of it.

We stopped at Mirror Lake which has a short boardwalk that runs along the lake. The reflections of the mountain range in the lake were so beautiful. Almost a perfect mirror image and yet just a little further along the lake was filled with a mass of red reeds with ducks swimming amongst them. We also got to travel through the Homer Tunnel which travels 1.2 km straight through a mountain and was built in 1953.

Arriving in to Milford Sound, Rich drove us to the airport where we were met by Jack from Hollyford Wilderness Experiences. Jack was to be our guide for the next two days. So we said goodbye to Rich until tomorrow, and after being weighed (😳) we were allocated what helicopter flight we would be on. Ian and I, along with Jack were the first helicopter flight. Our pilot Dion flew close to the mountains, pointing out things along the way until we landed in a field close to Martins Bay. Jack walked us to the lunch tent, helped us get settled before heading back to the landing site to wait for our fellow travellers to arrive. Ian and I enjoyed sitting on the deck of the lunch tent, enjoying the sound of the birds and the cicadas and watching for the helicopter.

After a lovely lunch, and a toilet stop … an open air toilet looking towards the mountains … we began our hike for the day. Jack led us along the track that led to Martin Bay. We passed through beech forest, dry river beds, back into forest and then to where the river and the sea meet. The scenery was wonderful, with birds singing in the trees.

Ian headed on to the seal colony around the bluff with 3 of the group and Jack, whilst Judene and I stayed behind to enjoy the beach and the surroundings. We then boarded a jet boat which took us to Martins Bay Lodge where we would be staying the night. After a lovely cool shower we all convened in the lodge lounge to chat, hear stories of the area, listen to Anne and Ben our lodge hosts tell us about the lodge and what their job involves … all whilst enjoying an amazing cheese platter (our pre dinner snack).

We shared a group dinner … cooked by Anne and Ben … which was so delicious. I may have to beg Henry for the stuffed pepper recipe! 

Jack has now briefed us on tomorrow … which fills me with excitement (and a little trepidation). I have big juicy blisters on my little toes which Jack is going to wrap tomorrow before we begin walking. So … time to relax now in preparation for another exciting day.

Today’s tally …

Photos taken … 277

Steps walked … 18,065

Kms walked … 13.81 km

Helicopter rides … 1

Jet boat rides … 1