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H—2

(h) Lake Te Anau (Te Anau Hotel) The 1948-49 tourist season saw this hotel booked to capacity and large numbers of people were unable to obtain accommodation. Te Anau is the starting-point for the Eglinton-Hollyford-Cleddau road to Milford Sound and for the Milford Track route, which is approached from Glade House after the voyage up Lake Te Anau. Plans for immediate extensions and improvements to the hotel have been ready for some time, but because of the current shortages of building labour and materials arising out of priorities for housing it has not been possible to implement them. A complete new fresh-water service has been installed. The bowling-green and the tennis-courts are being renovated. Some very interesting caves were discovered during the year. These are located on the opposite shore of Lake Te Anau only a short launch voyage from the hotel. A launch service operated by Fiordland Travel Co. provides transport for tourists who wish to see the caves. (i) Eglinton Valley (Cascade Creek Camp) This camp is normally open during the summer months and, in common with all other stop-over points in the Fiordland area, enjoyed a record season. The enlarged dining-room and lounge and the improved sleeping-quarters and hot showers proved a boon to the growing numbers of visitors to the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, as well as to those returning via the Homer Tunnel from Milford Sound or the Milford Track. It is estimated that the number of automobiles that visited the Eglinton Valley during the Christmas and New Year period alone was approximately 2,000. (j) Fiordland (The Milford Track) Extensive repair work on the Milford Track between Glade House and Milford Sound at the beginning of the season brought the surface back to its pre-war standard, but avalanche damage and continuous severe flooding during one of the wettest years yet experienced caused marked deterioration again by the end of the season. Early opportunity will be taken to carry out extensive repairs now necessary. Overseas visitors formed a fair proportion of the greatly increased numbers of trampers who walked the entire track. Glade House was completely renovated and all buildings were painted. This hostel is now very comfortable again and will be used increasingly next season to accommodate those who undertake the " World's Wonder Walk." (Jc) Milford Sound (Hotel Milford) Forward accommodation bookings for the Hotel Milford prior to the opening of the season gave promise of a most successful period, and despite late avalanche and flood damage to the access roads and consequent difficulties in transportation of staff and stores, a most satisfactory year's work was accomplished. The co-operation of the New Zealand Railways Road Services and of the Ministry of Works in dealing with the transport emergency made it possible for the hotel to open for the season on the advertised date. Some indication of the handicaps overcome may be gauged by the fact that a packhorse train had to be put into operation for a period of over two months to supply the hotel with necessary stores. Refitting of the launches during the off season permitted the operation of regular cruises on the Sound throughout the season. Day trips to Lake Ada and to the Giants Gate Fall proved most popular. Visitors to the Hotel Milford are unanimous in their praise of the service and comfort provided by the Department at this distant outpost.

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