From the grandeur of Doubtful Sound to the thrill of watching a Takahe in Te Anau - the Fiordland region has its arms open and is welcoming the world to visit its many and varied attractions.

Visitors are being assured there's a multitude of world-class experiences on offer while the Milford Road is partially closed.

 

Destination Fiordland tourism marketing manager Kate Hebblethwaite said all visitors to the region are blown away by the hospitality of the Fiordland community and that was a very special and unique part of the experience.

 

"We greatly appreciate industry supporting us to get the message across that there is an amazing range of activities and sights in Fiordland and that Milford Sound is still open."

 

The Milford Road has been closed from the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound since Thursday and could be closed for between 10-14 days.

 

A number of Milford Sound cruise companies are offering Milford fly-cruise-fly packages while the road is partially closed and Doubtful Sound is an excellent alternative option for visitors wanting to experience the grandeur of this region's fiords.

 

Operators in Doubtful Sound have significantly increased their operations to meet demand as a result of reduced accessibility to Milford.

 

On the small islands at the entrance to fiord, New Zealand Fur Seals and Fiordland Crested Penguins can be seen.

Fiordland has so much to offer and Destination Fiordland is encouraging visitors to consider the wide range of attractions and activities on offer in the region.

 

Fiordland offers some of the finest walking tracks in the world as well as a wide range of half- to full-day adventures including: the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves; jet boat trips; lake cruises; horse treks and farm tours. Te Anau, the gateway township to Fiordland, provides visitors with a large range of accommodation and dining options as well as wide variety of visitor attractions.

 

Visitors could soar over mountain tops and experience a bird's eye view of the Fiordland World Heritage National Park with a scenic flight by helicopter, fixed wing or float plane and have the adventure of a lifetime.

 

Lake Manapouri is often described as the 'loveliest' of all lakes with its array of 33 small islands, backdrop of the majestic Cathedral Mountain range, native bush clad edges, sandy beaches coves and many visitor activities.

 

Still to see along the Milford Road:

- Te Anau Downs

- Lake Mistletoe

- The Divide - Routeburn Track - Key Summit

- Knobs Flat

- Hollyford Valley Nature Walks

- Gunns Camp Museum

- Pops View

- Falls Creek

- The Mirror Lakes

- Eglinton Valley Lookout

- Monkey Creek

 

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) acknowledges the closure will be disruptive and has met with local tour operators and businesses to explain the situation and the need to move quickly to bring this unstable rock down in a managed way.

 

"While there is never an ideal time to do this sort of work, right now is likely to be the least disruptive with Milford visitor numbers at seasonal lows," says the NZTA Southland Area Manager Peter Robinson.

 

Part of the rock feature broke free in November 2012 causing disruptions to traffic on Milford Road.

 

"We have a limited window of opportunity before the on-set of winter to remove the remaining unstable rock feature using carefully targeted precision blasting but we have to act immediately," he said.

 

Mr Robinson says road user safety is NZTA's top priority. "Successful completion of this emergency work will ensure greater stabilisation of the rock face and ensure safe access is maintained between now and the start of the busy summer tour season.

 

The latest information about the status of the Milford Road is available at www.highwayinfo.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 444449.

 

For more information: Destination Fiordland tourism marketing manager Kate Hebblethwaite 03 249 7959; Kate@fiordland.org.nz

 

-Ends-

About Tourism New Zealand

Tourism New Zealand markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination. In the year ending March 2013, over 2.6 million international visitors came to New Zealand. International tourism is one of New Zealand's largest earners of foreign exchange, adding around NZ$9.7 billion annually to the nation's economy. www.tourismnewzealand.com  

 

New Zealand has also been named the top destination for 2013 by Flight Centre Australia.

 

Winner of the World Travel Awards 2012 for the World's Leading Destination Marketing campaign, "100% Middle Earth - 100% Pure New Zealand". The World Travel Awards were launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. For more information about the awards visit www.worldtravelawards.com

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Issued on behalf of Tourism New Zealand by Grebstad Hicks Communications.

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